Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Hamilton and Macbeth
While reading act 5 scene 5 of Macbeth, I was very impressed with how Shakespeare was able to express Macbeth's negative feelings on life after Lady Macbeth killed herself as Macduff and Malcolm's army approached his castle. On page 177, when Macbeth expresses how he feels after finding out Lady Macbeth has died, I was surprised to read the quote, "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day" (5.5.21-22), because that is a line from a song called "Take a Break" in Hamilton! However, while Macbeth uses this quote to show how life is meaningless after his wife commits suicide, Hamilton uses this quote with a different meaning while writing a letter to Angelica. In this letter, he says, "My dearest Angelica, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day. I trust you'll understand the reference to another Scottish tragedy without my having to name the play." He is expressing how his life is a tragedy much like the tragedy of Macbeth, for his efforts to enforce a financial system are unsuccessful. Angelica tells him to take a break, but Hamilton is too determined to quit. This shows how the same quote from Macbeth is used in Hamilton, yet it carried a very different meaning.
This is a really cool comparison! I think that it is interesting that the same words can mean something completely different, depending on the situation. This is a perfect example of that.
ReplyDeleteI think in addition to the comparison to Macbeth in terms of tragedy, hamiltons rise to power was similar to macbeths. He says in that song that he is like Macbeth, Madison is like banquo, jefferson is like macduff, and congress is like Birnham wood. Hamilton wasn't a murder like Macbeth, but gained many enemies like him and because of this he was destroyed.
ReplyDeleteI love this!! You bring up the idea that the same reference can be used for two different plays with two different plots, and mean two completely different things. The idea that context can play a huge part in interpretation is intriguing! I also love the fact that while Hamiliton is actuallly referencing Macbeth, he still is able to make the phrase mean something else.
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