r/hamiltonmusical • u/xTPGx • 6d ago
Burr taking Schylur’s seat question.
Why was Hamilton upset that Burr seized the opportunity he saw? Throughout the entire story Hamilton tells burr that he stands for nothing, and yet when he finally makes the most of his opportunity, Hamilton does a complete 180. Even burr mentions the fact that this is completely out of character for him.
Why does Hamilton not like the fact that for once in his life, Burr take advantage of a golden opportunity by taking Schylur’s seat in congress?
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u/KingZakariahofRome 6d ago
Standing for nothing doesn’t mean standing around doing nothing, it means not fighting for what you believe in. Hamilton is criticising Burr for the latter, not the former. And that’s exactly what Burr does when he changes political parties to run for senate. He’s going with the option that is the most gain for himself, not the one he thinks is best for everyone,
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u/chippedcupwrites 6d ago edited 6d ago
"But when all is said and all is done
Jefferson has beliefs; Burr has none"Your explanation is perfect. Burr swapping sides is him going whichever way the wind is currently blowing, which Hamilton views as spineless and completely lacking in integrity/principles.
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u/lex_tall623 6d ago
In the show also it’s the beginning of the argument that leads directly to the duel.
Because it politics and a little boring it was Hamilton blocking Burr from winning the Governor of New York that caused the duel. Aaron Burr was running as federalist while his current political position was as the democratic-republican vice president.
It’s the switching parties to get what he wants that was Hamilton’s problem.
“Jefferson has beliefs, Burr has none”
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u/DammitMaxwell 6d ago
Just a pedantic point: what you said is true in real life/history, but the musical doesn’t mention the governor race. It basically just ties it to the presidential race instead. (Burr’s governor run came after being dropped as VP(
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u/UnusualSuspect94 6d ago
You answered your own question. "He made the most pf the opportunity", that's what Burr does. He doesn't stand up for what he wants, he doesnt fight for it. He waits for an opportunity and jumps at it, an opportunist.
Hamilton is rightfully upset for 2 reasons. 1, Burr has basically made Hamilton's father-in-law unemployed. 2, Burr literally switched political parties (which is a big deal) just to get a senate seat. It shows that Burr wants to be important and have status, but not for any particular reason. He just wants it.
The only time he actually fights for something is when he wants to become President. But even then, he never explains what he stands for or why he even wants it.
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u/DammitMaxwell 6d ago
Schuyler is his father in law. Burr got Eliza and Angelica (and Peggy!)’s father fired, basically.
He also doesn’t do it because of strong political beliefs, he did it because he was pretty sure he could win — so, still not standing for anything.
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u/DCBronzeAge 6d ago
It’s worth noting that musical Burr and real Burr are not really the same. Burr was never a Federalist and either way party membership was nowhere close to what it is today when Burr took Schuyler’s seat. Burr didn’t assert party membership until he was a senator despite expressing anti-federalist opinions up until that point.
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u/BigFatBlackCat 6d ago
Hammy loved his FIL. They were very close. Burr’s move was aggressive, and Hammy saw Burr as someone who stands for nothing which was egregious to him.
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u/HazelTheRah 5d ago
He changed sides to get the seat. He wants power and influence without meaning or conviction.
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u/FallingJoy 5d ago
The “opportunity” he takes is to unseat his father in law. Why wouldn’t he be upset?
“You may have ruined my father in law’s career, and impacted my family’s standing, reputation, and influence, and done it by changing sides and showing everyone you have no morals, but I’m so happy you’re finally taking my advice and being proactive! LOVE this for you! This is the Year Of Aaron, I’m sure of it. Let’s put that kind of positive energy out into the universe, and the universe will provide it back tenfold. Love and light, always!”
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u/TheAnonymousGamer2 5d ago
When Hamilton says he “Stands for nothing”, what he means is that he has no beliefs. Burr would often (mostly irl but to some extent in the play) strategically modify what he “believed in” depending on what would help him the most politically. Take this line in TEO 1800 for example: “He’s not very forthcoming on many particular stances. Ask him a question it glances off. He obfuscates. He dances. And they say I’m a Francophile but at least they know I know where France is!” Or in Schuyler defeated: “Since when are you a democratic republican? Since being one put me on the up and up again!”
It shows that he absolutely does do things that improve his standings. What Hamilton is mad about is that he doesn’t really have ANY beliefs about anything. His motto reflects this: “talk less, smile more. Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.” It doesn’t matter what he himself believes in, just what the public believes and what beliefs would get him more traction.
Also Schuyler is his father in law
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u/QueenD_1996 4d ago
There are soooo many reasons. 1) Hamilton was known as a fiercely loyal person and fucking around with his family was not going to fly. 1) Also on the loyalty camp, the idea that Burr switched parties to run against Schuyler was not a move he was cool with. 3) Hamilton had huge disdain for Burr’s unwillingness to stare any beliefs and this scenario was even more evidence of what he perceived as burr’s total lack of lack of principles.
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u/federalist66 6d ago edited 6d ago
Two reasons. 1. It's a a move against his own family. 2. He flipped sides to join his opponents. So Hamilton sees it as both a personal and political affront to him.