Summary

“Stay Alive” begins with a light, haunting melody sung by Eliza and other women, hoping that Hamilton will “stay alive” (Act 1, Scene 14). Hamilton then muses on how difficult the military side of the revolution has become, and on how he’s taken over much of Washington’s correspondence and administrative work. These thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Washington, who brings news that the time has come for the tactics of the revolution to change: they have to take charge. Hamilton agrees, supported by his trio of friends as he asks Washington to give him a command, and as Washington repeatedly refuses. His and Washington’s efforts are undermined by the weak-willed General Lee who is eventually replaced by Hamilton and who then trash talks both Hamilton and Washington. One of the trio, Laurens, decides to challenge Lee. Hamilton cautions him to...