Summary

Chapter 8, Introduction: McCarter describes first the historical reality of the relationship between the historical Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler, then comments on how the songs that tell their story follow the pattern of female rhythm and blues singers doing duets with rap singers. This section, which prologues the text of the show that dramatizes the meeting between Hamilton and Eliza, also includes a reproduction of a love note that the historical Hamilton wrote to the historical Eliza which, McCarter says, the latter carried with her for the remainder of her life.

Chapter 9, Introduction: McCarter writes about how actor Renee Elise Goldsberry almost missed becoming involved in the show, and how the song of her character, Angelica Schuyler, tells the story of Eliza’s courtship and marriage from her sister’s point of view. This chapter also discusses how the song reveals how attracted to...