Alexander Hamilton as Villain? - John Adams (2008) Discussion

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 13 years ago

Very one-dimensional and over-the-top, portraying a brilliant (if fatally flawed) man as a greedy, warmongering megalomaniac. If the show could make George III look like a decent guy why couldn't they do the same with Hamilton?

"I shall tread uncommon wary and keep my pepperbox handy."

reply

[–] Ithilfaen 13 years ago

That's my big problem with the mini actually. Not only with Hamilton. But there seems to be a tendency to portray most of the principals of the story as either saintly or villainous.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

reply

[–] suessis 13 years ago

That's because you are looking at the world through the eyes of John Adams. This was how he saw these people and how he wrote about them. Hamilton had his faults. He had some really big ones in fact. Even before seeing this mini-series I was not fond of him.

"These are only shadows of the real world..."

reply

[–] james-1609 13 years ago

I was delighted to see Hamilton cast as the villian.

NY Central Banker trying to get the country in war and debt. Which is the way I see him as well.

reply

[–] Yorick_Brown 13 years ago

The man wanted to avoid war. All the federalists like Hamilton did.

Oh, crystal ball
Hear my song
I'm fading out
Everything I know is wrong...

-Keane

reply

[–] csmonkey69 13 years ago

The man wanted to avoid war. All the federalists like Hamilton did.

That isn't true. Hamilton wanted war. Hamilton was pretty much a Monarchy. If it wasn't for people like Washington, Adams, and especially people like Jefferson and Madison. We would probably be living in a Monarchy today. Not even Washington or Adams liked Hamilton.

Washington and Adams were Federalists but they even knew that we needed a republic and checks and balances so that states have rights. Washington and Adams also weren't against the farmers and the working class but they believed that the Federalists policies of a national bank, and taxes/tariffs to fund infrastructure and public projects is important to help strength this country and all people in America. Hamilton favored the banking elitists and wanted to preserve all of the wealth to those specific people making one section of the entire country control the entire nations well being. Washington and Adams didn't agree with that as with other Federalists and the Jeffersonians were much more assertive in opposing it.

reply

[–] thexeminence 13 years ago

Hamilton was a brilliant man, and it's unfortunate he was portrayed in such a manner.

Also, for anyone who believes that the modern day Federal Reserve is the same as Hamilton's first national bank knows neither anything about economics nor America's history of banking.

reply

[–] csmonkey69 13 years ago

Also, for anyone who believes that the modern day Federal Reserve is the same as Hamilton's first national bank knows neither anything about economics nor America's history of banking.

No one is saying that Hamilton's first national bank is the federal reserve or like the federal reserve but Hamilton wanted a Monarchy, he wanted to name Washington King and he wanted all of the power of wealth to be centered in one area. People who claimed to be Federalists were pretty much against Hamilton's Monarchism and Jefferson's Anarchy type of hate towards government.

So pretty much people like Washington and Adams joined the Federalist party only because they understood the idea of modernizing and strengthening America and therefore that would require modernization, industrialization, infrastructure, education, a banking sector that can produce capital, etc. However most Federalists including people like Washington and Adams supported a checks and balance type of system and therefore favoring some elements of the Democratic-Republicans in terms of supporting the republic and giving states their own rights and there being a checks and balances between all of them.

Hamilton was against this and was much more militaristic and Aristocratic.

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6444) 4 years ago

Hamilton gets his revenge in Hamilton the Musical.

Both shows see the other through the eyes of their protagonists, which is only natural.

reply

[–] ATG6 (3000) 2 years ago

Well, he kind of was, at least to libertarians like Jefferson. Giving the wealthy people of the country a stake in its stability was a smart move, but not necessarily to the benefit of the freedom lovers.

Well played by Rufus Sewell, as have been many fine villains.

reply