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Act 2: Burn
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Hamilton, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Collaboration, Disagreement, and Democracy
Stories vs. History
Ambition and Mortality
Immigration and Diversity of Influence
Honor
Summary
Analysis
Philip is at college now, and he has grown to be just as charming and intelligent as his father. But when a young man named George Eacker mocks Hamilton in a speech, Philip is livid, challenging him to a duel in New Jersey (“everything is legal in New Jersey”).
Philip’s sense of honor is just as fierce as his father’s, and clearly, he is just as good at alienating people. As always, Hamilton finds little ways to align itself with the modern world, as in this New Jersey joke.
Active
Themes
While the music stays cheery, Hamilton helps his son prepare for the duel. Finally, Eacker and Philip face off—but before Philip can count to 10, Eacker shoots, mortally wounding him.
Active
Themes
