Hamilton Mania

Hamilton mania has hit Australia. As Gladys Berejikilian will proudly tell anyone, Sydney is the only place in the world where you can see the smash hit musical live on stage. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton tells the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, who was a profoundly influential figure in American military and political history between 1776 and his death in 1804. He was instrumental during the Presidency of George Washington and ensured the election of Thomas Jefferson. 

Perhaps like me, you had never heard of Alexander Hamilton until COVID Iso 1.0 when Disney put it up on their streaming platform. Despite our ignorance of American history, it didn’t take long for the Fortescue family to fall in love with Hamilton and yes, we have tickets to see it in April! We’re looking forward to the fast-paced, rollicking ride of hip-hop, R&B, show tunes and the vibe that is American then as told by America now. 

But there is one song that to me stands out as distinctively different. It’s Quiet Uptown brings together two significant moments in Hamilton’s life—the death of his son and the impact of his adulterous liaison. His wife Eliza cuts a tragic figure who has lost almost all she treasured. The son she loved is dead, the man she loved has betrayed her, and the haunting voice of the chorus sings that they are going through the unimaginable. The emotion of it all is enough to make even the most thick skinned Aussie shed a tear.

The lyrics call the audience to look in and if you see them walking the streets together to have pity, for Eliza has lost her son and her beloved. In response to this Hamilton says:

Look at where we are
Look at where we started
I know I don't deserve you, Eliza
But hear me out
That would be enough
If I could spare his life
If I could trade his life for mine
He'd be standing here right now
And you would smile and that would be enough

The betrayer wants to die for the dear Son but he can’t and he knows it and he is in despair. But then this.

There are moments that the words don't reach
There's a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable

They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza's side
She takes his hand
It's quiet uptown

Forgiveness, can you imagine?

And for most people it is unimaginable. This beautifully tragic woman, betrayed by her husband, a workaholic womaniser who was at least partially complicit in the death of her son. But she reaches out her hand and offers forgiveness. Can you imagine?

Well, for those who trust Christ, yes, we can. We know the story of a dead son and betrayal by those who are loved. We know the story of a hand outstretched in forgiveness. We know the costliness of it all. We can understand it. We can name God’s grace. We can more than imagine it. We cannot atone for our own sins, and neither could Hamilton despite his pleas, but we can know forgiveness, for God sent his Son to death and raised him to life for us. 

It is God the Father who goes through the unimaginable at the cross so we might receive forgiveness. And because of the resurrection of Jesus, we do not walk as those to be pitied but as those who have inherited eternal life. 

Perhaps the song gives us insight into God’s grief at our sin.

Certainly the song gives us cause for thankfulness that forgiveness is not unimaginable but available to all who would accept the hand of God by faith. 

And just perhaps, as Hamilton mania sweeps Australia you could take the opportunity to speak of your thankfulness for that forgiveness from God to those in your life who don’t yet know it.