My Dear Hamilton

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 9

Part 1, Chapter 10-Part 2, Chapter 20

Part 2, Chapter 21-Part 3, Chapter 31

Part 4, Chapters 32-38

Part 4, Chapter 39-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Themes

History and Legacy

Biographical fiction often foregrounds themes of history and legacy. My Dear Hamilton emphasizes these themes through the characters’ focus on how they will be remembered. Hamilton, in particular, is concerned with the name he will pass down to his children. Eliza notes, “An honorable name. It’s all my husband ever wanted. And when his father hadn’t given it to him, he made one for himself out of nothing but sweat and courage. Now that name belonged to our children” (305), highlighting how much of Hamilton’s actions revolved around his desire for honor. When he considers how he can revive his reputation after his affair becomes public, Hamilton writes “The Reynolds Pamphlet” to portray it as a personal misstep rather than as a betrayal of his public duties. Hamilton thinks of his legacy even in his last moments, throwing away his shot in the duel with Burr so he will be considered innocent in the annals of history.

Eliza is equally concerned with how he will go down in history, not only because she believes he deserves to be remembered but also because she is concerned for her children’s reputations. Eliza risks her reputation, health, and happiness to make sure Hamilton’s name is protected and the nation can develop as they hoped. After his death, Eliza reckons with the fragility of Hamilton’s legacy and her role in preserving it.

What was his legacy? Not the eternal bonds of love, not the earthly but enduring stone of monuments. Only paper. A worthless Constitution that the Republicans shredded with each successive administration. A few books filled with words he probably never meant in earnest. Just crates and crates of paper. And I wanted to set fire to it all (526).

After Eliza comes to terms with her marriage, all of her efforts go to ensuring Hamilton’s legacy is protected. She makes sure his writings are preserved by the government, memorializes Hamilton others who helped to shape the nation, and upholds their shared ideals of freedom and equality.

Eliza also begins to recognize how much she is part of history, referring to herself as one of the country’s “founding mothers.” My Dear Hamilton explores history and legacy more broadly in retelling historical events through the eyes of a character whose point of view is often overshadowed by her husband’s. In shifting the focus onto Eliza, Dray and Kamoie question how a story changes based on who is telling it.

The Power of Silence

Hamilton is known for his skill with words and using writing to get what he wants. Eliza, by contrast, understands that silence can be just as powerful. Eliza uses silence as a weapon. The historical Eliza is known for her silence, particularly after the release of “The Reynolds Pamphlet.” Dray and Kamoie mimic this in the novel, having Eliza repeatedly say, “Silence is often the only weapon available to ladies. And I wield mine expertly” (12). When Hamilton confesses his affair and is desperate for Eliza to tell him how she feels, she notes, “I said nothing at all. Because words were his weapon; silence was mine. And he couldn’t win an argument if I didn’t start one” (299). Eliza wields this weapon successfully, especially when the enemies are men. When Monroe attempts to reconcile with her, she snubs him in a way that illustrates her intentions as much as any words could.

Eliza’s silence highlights her strength and resolve, yet it also emphasizes the limitations of her position. Though Eliza learns to read and write as many upper-class women did at this time, her voice and those of her peers are given little respect. Nonetheless, Martha Washington tells Eliza that women are vital to the Revolution: “If our independence is to be won, our husbands must be willing to put themselves in harm’s way. But achieving independence also relies on the support of our women . . . in whatever manner best supports the cause” (150). By using silence, Eliza upholds the Schuyler family motto, semper fidelis, which translates to “always loyal.” She references this motto when using silence against Monroe. In staying silent, she remains loyal to and defends herself. Eliza uses the expectation of women’s silence to her advantage, undermining the power of the men around her.

The Price of Freedom

During and after the Revolutionary War, Eliza questions whether freedom can be attained and, if so, at what price. As a nurse on the frontlines and in the hospitals, Eliza sees how much the soldiers sacrifice even without receiving the pay they were promised. As the daughter of a general, she knows the impact of the war on families and, despite her patriotism, wonders whether the effort will be worth it. After witnessing the political turmoil that followed the war, Eliza notes, “What a high-minded thing revolution had seemed when it started; but now I wondered if, in trying to bring about liberty, we’d instead opened the gates of endless war, bloodshed, and immorality” (315). There is rioting in the streets and infighting in the government, with her family taking the brunt. When Angelica teases her for wanting to spend time with her busy husband, Eliza asks, “Was I so selfish for wanting my husband to belong more to me than to an ungrateful public?” (372). She knows how much the freedom won by the Continental Army cost its leaders. When Washington falls ill, Eliza notes, “We consumed him [...] we’d taken the best years of his life—his sweat, his toil, his wisdom, his vigor and energies. And what did we give him in return?” (413).

Eliza is in a unique position compared to the people she fears for. While men like Washington and Hamilton won national freedom, many Americans are not personally free. Eliza is confined by her role as a woman. She often remarks on what she cannot do as a woman, and the Constitution her husband helped draft leaves women’s rights up to each state. Eliza is also concerned with injustice against Indigenous and Black Americans, even those who contributed to the war effort. Eliza is astonished when she hears that James Armistead, a Black spy Lafayette recruited, was not emancipated after the war. Dray and Kamoie also mention the contributions of the Oneida Nation and other Indigenous groups in the Americans’ fight for freedom, despite the fact that it ultimately contributed to their further subjugation. The novel weighs the price of freedom for different groups of Americans.