‘Hamilton’ Retrospective: Eliza’s Lasting Impact 10 Years Later

When “Hamilton” premiered off-Broadway 10 years ago at the Public Theater in Manhattan, it became an immediate hit amongst both audiences and critics alike. When the musical made its Broadway debut in August of 2015, it secured its place as one of the most iconic and well-known shows of all time.

Best known for its witty lyricism, diverse casting, and hip-hop inspired songs depicting revolutionary America, “Hamilton” acquired an astonishing 11 wins and 16 total nominations at the 2016 Tony Awards, as well as winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in the same year.

Now, 10 years after its original premiere, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” continues to break new records, having grossed over $1 billion globally, released a pro-shot on Disney+ in 2020, and become the most listened to Broadway musical album on Spotify in 2024 with over 6.4 billion streams.

Obviously, after the opening number “Alexander Hamilton,” it is clear that the song’s namesake is a main character of the show, but he is certainly not the only protagonist. The musical tells the story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton as well as the story of Alexander.

In Act 1 of “Hamilton,” Eliza — portrayed by Phillipa Soo in the original Broadway Cast — seems to be little more than a love interest for Alexander (“Helpless”) and a sidekick to her older sister Angelica (“The Schuyler Sisters”). As the show progresses, however, it becomes clear that her role extends far beyond her relation to her husband and family.

Approximately halfway through the second act, Eliza learns of her husband’s affair with Maria Reynolds while she was away for the summer with their children. In response to this, she sings “Burn,” a devastating ballad, while sitting alone on the stage and burning the many letters her husband wrote her throughout their relationship.

While Hamilton features quite a few other ballads including “Wait for It,” “Dear Theodosia,” and “It’s Quiet Uptown,” “Burn” is notably the only song in the entirety of the musical that is a true solo. While Alexander, Aaron Burr, and Angelica all feature individually in various songs, theirs still include the backing vocals of the ensemble.

During “Burn,” Eliza is the only person on stage and the only one singing, making her the only actual soloist in the show. This is a feat that not even the namesake of the show is able to achieve during its 165-minute runtime.

After “Burn,” the show follows the death of Eliza and Alexander’s son, Phillip Hamilton, the battle for the presidency between Burr and Thomas Jefferson, and the death of Alexander at the hands of Burr. Finally, in the final song of the show, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” the focus returns to Eliza as she closes out the show by literally putting herself back in the narrative and detailing all her accomplishments in the years since her husband’s death.

While Alexander is the one remembered for his contributions to the American government and the Revolutionary War, Eliza’s accomplishments during her remaining 50 years rival those of her late husband. In both the musical and in reality, she interviews Revolutionary War soldiers, combs through her late husband’s writings, fundraises for the construction of the Washington Monument, stands against slavery, and establishes the first private orphanage in New York City.

Philippa Soo’s performance as Eliza began the tradition of closing the show with a final gasp while gazing off into the distance at the end of “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.” While exactly why she gasped was a popular point of contention amongst “Hamilton” fans for many years, Phillipa Soo confirmed in 2020 that those who theorized it was her breaking the fourth wall were in fact correct.

When Eliza gasps, she is seeing the audience and realizing that they have been watching and listening the entire time. She can finally rest knowing that she has told the story of her husband and family, but it is not only their story that she has told: It is her own as well. When considering the overarching themes of the show, Eliza exemplifies every single one of them just as much as her husband.

The more obvious themes of “Hamilton” like love and loss are present in Eliza through her devotion to her children, sisters, husband, and country. Many “Hamilton” viewers feel her deep connection to her family and cry with her when she loses her son far too soon.

Eliza is the quintessential example of what it is like to be a woman with passion and complex emotions not only in the 18th and 19th century but in modern times as well. On stage, we see Eliza cry, scream, fall in love, forgive, and overcome, all of which only support her strength as a character and person instead of taking away from it. She exemplifies that when women are able to publicly and shamelessly share their emotions, it actually contributes to their strength and power instead of making them “weak” and “fragile,” like it is still often believed.

Obviously, the story that most viewers take away from “Hamilton” is Alexander’s, but Eliza’s remains the most relatable, the most human, and arguably the most important. She is the one who has lived without recognition for far too long, and now, it is time for the musical theater world to recognize "Hamilton" for what it is: the story of both Alexander and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. 10 years after its premiere, “Hamilton” continues to be one of the most popular and beloved musicals of all time, inspiring new generations with the story of an overlooked founding father and his equally accomplished wife.