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nordleuchten · 2 years ago

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Hamilton vs. History

As most people are certainly aware of, Hamilton: An American Musical is not an exact representation of history and never wanted to be one. But when a pop-culture medium is so widespread and in certain places almost as omnipresent as Hamilton is, there will always be a blend between fact and fiction. Certain aspects of fiction or pop-culture simply make such a strong impression on us, that they shape our view on reality/history. Some aspects appear so much more fun, so much brighter in fiction, that we often do not want to know weather said aspect really happened this way. Some other details are so minor, that they are hard to catch if you are not deeply interested in the topic at hand.

Since I do know a thing or two about La Fayette, I thought I take a little deep dive into his depiction in Hamilton.

As a little disclaimer, while I have read the book Hamilton by Ron Chernow and listened to the official cast recording, I have never seen an actual production and can therefore not take into account what the actors do on stage.

Appearance:

I would have hoped that I do not have to say it, but I have made the experience in the past that I indeed do have so say it; La Fayette was not dark skinned. He was as white as the rest of influential America and Europa at that time.

As to his costume, well, he wears two uniforms throughout the play (plus the white suit at the beginning and in the end and his civilian clothes at the beginning of Act I)

His first uniform is identical with Mulligan’s, Laurens’ and Hamilton’s uniform – not quite right since he was a Major-General and the others were not. A more suitable uniform would have looked something like this:

The second, and probably more prominent uniform, is this one:

La Fayette wore this uniform as a lieutenant general in 1791 towards the end of his military service during the French Revolution, so roughly a decade later, in a different country during a different revolution.

Aaron Burr, Sir

With this song we are introduced to La Fayette for the first time. As a disclaimer, La Fayette never met Hercules Mulligan, had very little contact with Aaron Burr and he also met Hamilton and Laurens at the same time.

[LAFAYETTE]

Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette!

The Lancelot of the revolutionary set!

I came from afar just to say “Bonsoir!”

Tell the King “Casse toi!” Who's the best?

C'est moi!

I like that La Fayette is speaking French in his opening lyrics because by the time of his arrival in America he only had a very limited knowledge of the English language and he needed a few extra months to feel entirely comfortable. Hamilton and Laurens both spoke French and this circumstance really helped in building their friendship.

La Fayette also makes a remark regarding the legendary (often described as French) knight Lancelot du Lac. Quite fitting, given that La Fayette hailed from a line of literally knights and these were stories and (self-)characterisations that he was quite attached to.

Other than that, the song is a bit too bubbly for my taste. Yes, La Fayette could be extremely energetic and optimistic, but he could also be incredibly self-conscious. He knew that he had no practical knowledge, that he barely understood the language, that his age was working against him, he even told Washington that he came to learn and not to teach – he would have never said “Who’s the best? C’est moi!” And while we are at it, he also did not like swearing.

My Shot

[LAFAYETTE]

I dream of life without a monarchy

The unrest in France will lead to 'onarchy?

'Onarchy? How you say, how you s-oh, 'anarchy!'

When I fight, I make the other side panicky

With my—

I suspect that the first line is directed towards the French monarchy, since France was where the vast majority of his life took place. If so – no, La Fayette did not dream of life without a monarchy. Later, during the French Revolution he was critical of the monarchy but never wanted to abolish it. He was not called a Counter-Revolutionary and Royalist by his enemies for no reason.

While yes, there had been unrests long before the French Revolution, as we know it, started, these problems were at this time of his life not on La Fayette’s mind.

As to making the other side “panicky”, well, La Fayette had no practically military experience at this point so there were very few people whom he made “panicky” (and I think half of them were members of the Continental Congress and Continental Army.)

But once again, I like La Fayette’s struggle with the English language.

The Story of Tonight

[LAFAYETTE/MULLIGANS/LAURENS]

I may not live to see our glory!

This line is rather interesting because while, yes, many of La Fayette’s ancestors have died young, his own father among them, and while La Fayette himself had been wounded early on in the Battle of Brandywine and also had been severely ill several times, he wrote these lines to his Adrienne on January 6, 1777 in regards to the birth of their second daughter Anastasie:

For the rest, if one must worry about the family name, I declare that I have decided to live long enough to bear it myself for many years, before I am obliged to bequeath it to another being.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 222-226.

He certainly was full of optimism to see their glory.

[LAFAYETTE]

Let's have another round tonight!

La Fayette was definitely not averse to a drink or two or fife with his friends. This line is very much in character.

The Story of Tonight (Reprise)

I would like to preface this song by saying that neither La Fayette, nor Laurens, nor Mulligan nor Burr were present at Hamilton’s wedding. The only guest on Hamilton’s side of the wedding party was Doctor James McHenry, former aide-de-camp to Washington and now an aide-de-camp to La Fayette

[LAFAYETTE]

Let's have another round tonight!

As I said previously, this is definitely something that La Fayette would have said. :-)

[LAFAYETTE]

You are the worst, Burr!

There is no reason to believe that La Fayette, even when a bit tipsy, had any ill feelings towards Burr. In fact, La Fayette had very few feelings towards Burr because he mentions the good Sir almost never. There are six letters in total, both to and from La Fayette, that mention Burr and the earliest is from 1807.

Stay Alive

[LAFAYETTE]

I ask for French aid, I pray that France has sent a ship

La Fayette lobbied extensively for the American cause, even before his first voyage home again to France.

[WASHINGTON]

Have Lafayette take the lead!

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

As we snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat

The Battle of Monmouth was a wild. Washington offered the command to Lee, who was not interested so Washington went to La Fayette, who gladly accepted the command. Suddenly, Lee’s interest was renewed, and he took command after all. The battle itself was disaster but La Fayette never officially took command but instead worked with Lee to try and safe the day and he was also in command of his own little sub-division.

Guns and Ships

La Fayette's most prominent number in the musical.

[LAFAYETTE]

I’m takin this horse by the reins makin’

Redcoats redder with bloodstains

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

And I’m never gonna stop until I make ‘em

Drop and burn ‘em up and scatter their remains, I’m

[COMPANY]

Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]

Watch me engagin’ em! Escapin’ em!

Enragin’ em! I’m—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

I go to France for more funds

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

I come back with more

[LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE]

Guns

And ships

And so the balance shifts

La Fayette went to France in 1779 and returned to America in 1780. He brought with him the promise of “guns and ships” but the French aide needed some time to arrive.

[LAFAYETTE]

We can end this war at Yorktown, cut them off at sea, but

For this to succeed, there is someone else we need:

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

Sir, he knows what to do in a trench

Ingenuitive and fluent in French, I mean—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

Sir, you’re gonna have to use him eventually

What’s he gonna do on the bench? I mean—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

No one has more resilience

Or matches my practical tactical brilliance—

By the time of La Fayette’s return to America, Yorktown was not yet chosen, or better destined, to be the decisive battle in the Revolutionary War, especially since Washington and the French commanders had different ideas about how to proceed.

La Fayette did try to mend Washington’s and Hamilton’s relationship, not only by talking with Washington but also with Hamilton. And no, he would have never said, that he was tactically brilliant – because he was not, simple as that.

Yorktown (the World Turned Upside Down)

[LAFAYETTE]

Monsieur Hamilton

[HAMILTON]

Monsieur Lafayette

[LAFAYETTE]

In command where you belong

[HAMILTON]

How you say, no sweat

We're finally on the field. We’ve had quite a run

[LAFAYETTE]

Immigrants:

[HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE]

We get the job done

This is such a lovely scene, isn’t it? But it never happened like that, quite the opposite actually. La Fayette chose one of his former aide-de-camps, Jean-Joseph Soubadère de Gimat, to take command of the storming of redoubt number 10. Hamilton was eager to be given the command but when La Fayette refused he went straight to Washington who decided in Hamilton’s favour and overruled La Fayette’s decision. While in the end this incident did not harm La Fayette’s and Hamilton’s friendship, La Fayette was anything but happy with the situation.

[HAMILTON]

So what happens if we win?

[LAFAYETTE]

I go back to France

I bring freedom to my people if I’m given the chance

As I have now already mentioned a couple of times, at this time there was not really any freedom that La Fayette wanted to bring to France. There were certainly political and social matters that he was interested in and some laws that he would have liked to see reformed – but I feel like these lines imply a fixed agenda that simply was not there yet.

[HAMILTON]

When we finally drive the British away

Lafayette is there waiting—

[HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE]

In Chesapeake Bay!

La Fayette and his troops played a vital role in cornering and keeping the British troops in Yorktown by making a retreat by land impossible.

[LAFAYETTE]

Freedom for America, freedom for France!

Again, freedom for France was not yet on the forefront of La Fayette’s mind.

Cabinet Battle #2

[Jefferson]

Did you forget Lafayette?

[Hamilton]

What?

[Jefferson]

Have you an ounce of regret?

You accumulate debt, you accumulate power

Yet in their hour of need, you forget

[Hamilton]

Lafayette’s a smart man, he’ll be fine

And before he was your friend, he was mine

If we try to fight in every revolution in the world, we never stop

Where do we draw the line?

La Fayette’s imprisonment was a headache inducing topic for many people at the time. Neither Hamilton, nor Jefferson, nor Washington for that matter, had forgotten La Fayette, but there was very little that could be done from their positions. What could be done however, was done and Hamilton and Jefferson both helped. Interesting is here the change of roles – Jefferson accuses Hamilton of not caring while Hamilton himself is rather optimistic. In reality it was Hamilton who did way more for La Fayette, even taking his son in, while Jefferson, although concerned and helpful, sometimes had a mindset of “Well, it is a revolution, shit happens.”

This post is not intended as a critique of the musical or the people who like it and listen to it, this is simply a little note for the curious. :-)

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oribun · 1 year ago

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[Company:]

1776. New York City.

[Hamilton:]

Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?

[Burr:]

That depends. Who's asking?

[Hamilton:]

Oh, well, sure, sir

I'm Alexander Hamilton, I'm at your service, sir

I have been looking for you

[Burr:]

I'm getting nervous

[Hamilton:]

Sir…

I heard your name at Princeton. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It's a blur, sir. He handles the financials?

[Burr:]

You punched the bursar

[Hamilton:]

Yes!

I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like I was stupid, I'm not stupid.

So how'd you do it? How'd you graduate so fast?

[Burr:]

It was my parents' dying wish before they passed

[Hamilton:]

You're an orphan. Of course! I'm an orphan

God, I wish there was a war!

Then we could prove that we're worth more

Than anyone bargained for…

[Burr:]

Can I buy you a drink?

[Hamilton:]

That would be nice

[Burr:]

While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice

Talk less

[Hamilton:]

What?

[Burr:]

Smile more

[Hamilton:]

[Burr:]

Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for

[Hamilton:]

You can't be serious

[Burr:]

You wanna get ahead?

[Hamilton:]

Yes

[Burr:]

Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead

[Laurens:]

Yo yo yo yo yo!

What time is it?

[Laurens/Lafayette/Mulligan:]

Show time!

[Burr:]

Like I said…

[Laurens:]

Show time! Show time! Yo!

I'm John Laurens in the place to be!

A two pints o' Sam Adams, but I'm workin' on three, uh!

Those redcoats don't want it with me!

'Cause I will pop chick-a pop these cops 'til I'm free!

[Lafayette:]

Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette!

The Lancelot of the revolutionary set!

I came from afar just to say "Bonsoir!"

Tell the King "Casse toi!" Who's the best?

C'est moi!

[Mulligan:]

Brrrah brraaah! I am Hercules Mulligan

Up in it, lovin' it, yes I heard ya mother said, "Come again?"

[Lafayette and Laurens:]

Ayyyyy

[Mulligan:]

Lock up ya daughters and horses, of course

It's hard to have intercourse over four sets of corsets…

[Lafayette:]

Wow

[Laurens:]

No more sex, pour me another brew, son!

Let's raise a couple more…

[Laurens/Lafayette/Mulligan:]

To the revolution!

[Laurens:]

Well, if it ain't the prodigy of Princeton college!

[Mulligan:]

Aaron Burr!

[Laurens:]

Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!

[Burr:]

Good luck with that: you're takin' a stand

You spit. I'mma sit. We'll see where we land

[Lafayette/Mulligan:]

Boooo!

[Laurens:]

Burr, the revolution's imminent. What do you stall for?

[Hamilton:]

If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?

[Mulligan/Lafayette/Laurens:]

Ooh

[Laurens:]

Who are you?

[Mulligan:]

Who are you?

[Lafayette:]

Who are you?

[Mulligan/Lafayette/Laurens:]

Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?

NO STOP IT

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samsammysamson · 4 months ago

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oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle lafayette the Lancelot of the revolutionary set i came from afar just to say "bonsoir” tell the king "casse toi” who's the best? c'est moi 🥖🇫🇷

-🥖 anon

I only caught half of what you said, but go off, 🥖!

#Anonymous #sdv ask blog #sdv sam #sdv

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belannaswlonkderfulworm · 1 year ago

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honestly my biggest achievement is that my two very, very non-hamilton friends will shout "OUI OUI MON AMI JE M'APPELLE LAFAYETTE THE LANCELOT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY SET I CAME FROM AFAR JUST TO SAY BONSOIR TELL THE KING CASSE TOI WHO'S THE BEST? C'EST MOI!" if anyone has the audacity to say 'oui' in their vicinity. or if they're just bored.

they haven't the slightest clue who laff is, but still.

#hamilton #hamilton musical #marquis de lafayette #lafayette

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canvas-madness-txc · 2 years ago

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Switching Hamilton & Ride the Cyclone Quotes

RTC-> Hamilton

Hamilton: (to Madison and Jefferson) And this is why you both SUCKED AT MATH. What part of "unanimous vote" is eluding you two geniuses? If you vote for each other? IF YOU VOTE FOR EACH OTHER!? OKAY!

_________________________________

Burr: (about Hamilton) Even in death I can't escape him. He's followed me into the afterlife! Well played, Satan, well played.

Hamilton-> RTC

Noel: Oui oui mon ami je m'appelle Lafayette (**Noel). The lancelot of the Revolutionary set. I came from afar just say "bonsoir". Tell the king "casse toi". Who's the best? C'est moi!

_________________________________

Ocean. Gentlemen of the jury, I'm curious bear with me. Are you aware we're making history? This is the first murder trial of our brand new nation, the liberty behind deliberation. I intend to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt with my assistant council.

Noel: Co-council. Hamilton, (**Ocean) sit down. Our client Levi Weeks is innocent. Call your first witness. That's all you had to say.

Ocean: Okay... One more thing!

________________________________

Mischa (About Talia): You walked in (**commented) and my heart went "boom"!

#hamilton musical #ride the cyclone #alexander hamilton #aaron burr #ocean oconnell rosenberg #rtc ocean #noel gruber #rtc noel #mischa bachinski rtc #mischa rtc #at this point im convinced you can swap any two things as long as the core aspects of the two things are still there #i might continue this

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g1gglee-rxccoon · 2 years ago

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Oui oui, mon ami je m'appelle Lafayette

The Lancelot of the revolutionary set

I came from afar just to say, "Bonsoir"

Tell the King, "Casse toi!" Who's the best? C'est moi

#LAFAYETTE QUOTES EHEHUEH

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certified-ruler-of-everything · 4 months ago

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Aye, oui, oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette The Lancelot of the revolutionary set I came from afar just to say bonsoir Tell the king casse-toi Who's the best? C'EST MOI!

it’s fun to stay at the Y

#Apollo talking #Apollo calls this music #strange-ass post #hamilton #lafayette

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womanovertheedge · 2 months ago

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[COMPANY]

New York City

[HAMILTON] Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?

[BURR] That depends. Who's asking?

[HAMILTON] Oh, well, sure, sir I'm Alexander Hamilton, I'm at your service, sir I have been looking for you

[BURR] I'm getting nervous

[HAMILTON] Sir… I heard your name at Princeton. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It's a blur, sir. He handles the financials?

[BURR] You punched the bursar

[HAMILTON] Yes! I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like I was stupid, I'm not stupid So how'd you do it? How'd you graduate so fast?

[BURR] It was my parents' dying wish before they passed

[HAMILTON] You're an orphan. Of course! I'm an orphan God, I wish there was a war! Then we could prove that we're worth more Than anyone bargained for…

[BURR] Can I buy you a drink?

[HAMILTON] That would be nice

[BURR] While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice Talk less

[HAMILTON] What?

[BURR] Smile more [HAMILTON] Ha

[BURR] Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for

[HAMILTON] You can't be serious

[BURR] You wanna get ahead?

[HAMILTON] Yes

[BURR] Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead

[LAURENS] Yo yo yo yo yo! What time is it?

[LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN] Show time!

[BURR] Like I said… [LAURENS] Show time! Show time! Yo! I'm John Laurens in the place to be! Two pints o' Sam Adams, but I'm workin' on three, uh! Those redcoats don't want it with me! Cuz I will pop chick-a pop these cops till I'm free!

[LAFAYETTE] Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette! The Lancelot of the revolutionary set! I came from afar just to say “Bonsoir!” Tell the King “Casse toi!” Who's the best? C'est moi!

[MULLIGAN] Brrrah brraaah! I am Hercules Mulligan Up in it, lovin' it, yes I heard ya mother said “Come again?”

[LAFAYETTE & LAURENS] Ayyyyy

[MULLIGAN] Lock up ya daughters and horses, of course It's hard to have intercourse over four sets of corsets…

[LAFAYETTE] Wow

[LAURENS] No more sex, pour me another brew, son! Let's raise a couple more…

[LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN] To the revolution!

[LAURENS] Well, if it ain't the prodigy of Princeton college!

[MULLIGAN] Aaron Burr!

[LAURENS] Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!

[BURR] Good luck with that: you're takin' a stand You spit. I'm ‘a sit. We'll see where we land

[LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN] Boooo!

[LAURENS] Burr, the revolution's imminent. What do you stall for?

[HAMILTON] If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?

[MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS] Ooh Who you? Who you? Who are you?

[MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS] Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?

I lvoe this one.

0 notes

suicideenthusiast · 2 months ago

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[Company:] 1776. New York City.

[Hamilton:] Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?

[Burr:] That depends. Who's asking?

[Hamilton:] Oh, well, sure, sir I'm Alexander Hamilton, I'm at your service, sir I have been looking for you

[Burr:] I'm getting nervous

[Hamilton:] Sir… I heard your name at Princeton. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It's a blur, sir. He handles the financials?

[Burr:] You punched the bursar

[Hamilton:] Yes! I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like I was stupid, I'm not stupid. So how'd you do it? How'd you graduate so fast?

[Burr:] It was my parents' dying wish before they passed

[Hamilton:] You're an orphan. Of course! I'm an orphan God, I wish there was a war! Then we could prove that we're worth more Than anyone bargained for…

[Burr:] Can I buy you a drink?

[Hamilton:] That would be nice

[Burr:] While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice Talk less

[Hamilton:] What?

[Burr:] Smile more

[Hamilton:] Ha

[Burr:] Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for

[Hamilton:] You can't be serious

[Burr:] You wanna get ahead?

[Hamilton:] Yes

[Burr:] Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead

[Laurens:] Yo yo yo yo yo! What time is it?

[Laurens/Lafayette/Mulligan:] Show time!

[Burr:] Like I said…

[Laurens:] Show time! Show time! Yo! I'm John Laurens in the place to be! A two pints o' Sam Adams, but I'm workin' on three, uh! Those redcoats don't want it with me! 'Cause I will pop chick-a pop these cops 'til I'm free!

[Lafayette:] Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette! The Lancelot of the revolutionary set! I came from afar just to say "Bonsoir!" Tell the King "Casse toi!" Who's the best? C'est moi!

[Mulligan:] Brrrah brraaah! I am Hercules Mulligan Up in it, lovin' it, yes I heard ya mother said, "Come again?"

[Lafayette and Laurens:] Ayyyyy

[Mulligan:] Lock up ya daughters and horses, of course It's hard to have intercourse over four sets of corsets…

[Lafayette:] Wow

[Laurens:] No more sex, pour me another brew, son! Let's raise a couple more…

[Laurens/Lafayette/Mulligan:] To the revolution!

[Laurens:] Well, if it ain't the prodigy of Princeton college!

[Mulligan:] Aaron Burr!

[Laurens:] Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!

[Burr:] Good luck with that: you're takin' a stand You spit. I'mma sit. We'll see where we land

[Lafayette/Mulligan:] Boooo!

[Laurens:] Burr, the revolution's imminent. What do you stall for?

[Hamilton:] If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?

[Mulligan/Lafayette/Laurens:] Ooh

[Laurens:] Who are you?

[Mulligan:] Who are you?

[Lafayette:] Who are you?

[Mulligan/Lafayette/Laurens:] Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?

I???

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