i find ‘wait for it’ hilarious because apparently Burr’s entire philosophy in life is “I can be master of my own self, but some things are beyond my control. life and death. love, my past, forces of nature. and Hamilton, I also cannot control Hamilton.”
Sources at the U.S. Treasury Department confirmed to Politico on Wednesday that Alexander Hamilton will remain on the $10 bill, while abolitionist Harriet Tubman will replace former President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. But wait it gets better, changes featuring people of color are coming to the $5 too.
Ugh I just…as much as I loved the video of Lin-Manuel and Emma Watson sorting Hamilton characters into Hogwarts Houses, I was hoping that we had maybe gotten to the point where we can stop automatically casting the protagonist in Gryffindor without any further discussion because seriously. Hamilton is a Slytherin.
Hamilton’s defining characteristic is his ambition, his burning desire to make a name for himself and to leave a legacy. It’s what motivates just about every decision he makes. That’s not a Gryffindor quality (I mean, I’m not saying that Gryffindors can’t be ambitious, any more than Slytherins can’t be brave – it’s just a much more defining characteristic of Slytherins [”And power-hungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition”]). From the beginning, Hamilton is obsessed with making a name for himself and while that allows him to make some choices that seem brave or noble on their surface, they’re all with the goal of rising above his station (consider: anything in the Revolutionary War; the Reynolds Pamphlet; even his death).
In many ways, Burr, who I also consider a Slytherin, and Hamilton represent both ends of Slytherin spectrum – both would use any means to achieve their ends, though their means are quite opposite. And for both of them, ambition and pride is their downfall, though again, in different and contrasting ways.
And in the Harry Potter universe, it becomes clearer that Hamilton would be a Slytherin. Imagine little eleven-year-old bastard orphan (son of a whore and a Scotsman…) Hamilton rolling up to Hogwarts with no name, just the burning need to make a name for himself. And when he puts the Sorting Hat on his head and tells him, “A nice thirst to prove yourself…You could be great, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness”, how could Hamilton say anything but yes?
(And of course, imagine little Hamilton running up to the Slytherin prefect Aaron Burr, when first-years aren’t supposed to just talk to prefects, to ask him in that piping voice, “Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?”)
(And then also imagine Burr and Hamilton many years later, facing each other, wands raised, both prepared to do whatever it took – Hamilton aiming his wand at the sky, Burr firing the curse that would kill Hamilton and break him, in the end.)
I’d go on, including more from Hamilton’s actual life instead of just the show, but instead I’ll stop here and say TLDR – #yourfavoritesareslytherin2k16
Before I go to bed tonight, I want you all to know that I spoke to
Barbara Howard (founder of the Women on 20’s movement) earlier and she
told me that the Treasury is apparently super embarrassed that they
launched a campaign to change the $10 right when ‘Hamilton’ became
popular
They called it “that play in New York” and their PR department is
reeling so badly that Secretary Lew has had to backtrack and say that “a
woman will be on the currency” rather than “a woman will be on the ten”
whenever people ask about it
She also said that they’ve been flooded with emails from
Hamiltonians, fans of the musical, and Andrew Jackson’s actual
descendants supporting Hamilton and condemning Jackson (his own family!!
wild!!)
Anyway isn’t that just the best thing
GOOD. PUT WOMEN ON ALL THE OTHER MONEY. BUT HAMILTON GETS TO STAY.
EVEN JACKSON’S OWN DESCENDANTS
“that play in New York” like it’s fucking Macbeth.
tbh i still can’t get over the fact that the reynolds pamphlet was 95 god damn pages long like
alexander honey there’s a line between ‘confessing your misdeeds’ and ‘writing erotica about yourself’ and i’m not an expert but i thiiiiiink you might have leapt the fuck over it
eirenical17 