Summary

  • "The Room Where It Happens" delves into Hamilton's secret deal with Jefferson and Madison, shaping America's future.
  • Burr's character arc unfolds as he seeks political power, leading to a significant compromise in 1790.
  • Miranda's clever use of historical facts and wordplay enhances the song's thematic depth and narrative progression.

The Hamilton song "The Room Where It Happens" includes clever wordplay, but there's a much deeper "The Room Where It Happens" meaning. Starring Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, the Act II musical number explains the Compromise of 1790, in which Alexander Hamilton made a secret deal with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that affected the future of America. "The Room Where It Happens" is thematically about the legacy of the main performers, and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda incorporates historical facts for extra lyrical depth. "The Room Where It Happens" pushes the narrative forward by developing Burr's character arc.

Early on, Burr befriends Hamilton and gives him advice before shifting his attention to the wife of a British officer. As Alexander Hamilton (Miranda) becomes a more active politician, Burr watches events play out after the American Revolution. By Hamilton Act II, Burr realizes that his political peers made a dinner table deal with significant implications. In "The Room Where It Happens," Burr expresses his intentions to be a major player in American politics, and ends the song with the line "click-boom." However, while the narrative of the song is clear, "The Room Where It Happens" meaning goes much deeper.

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"The Room Where It Happens" Is Based On Manhattan's Mercer Street

The Street Was Originally Called Claremont Street & Had Been Renamed After Hugh Mercer

Miranda wanted to know about the backstory of Mercer Street in Manhattan, and he verified that it existed during Hamilton's time in New York.

According to Miranda (via Genius), the opening lyrics in "The Room Where It Happens" stem from a revelation that emerged during his research. Miranda wanted to know about the backstory of Mercer Street in Manhattan, and he verified that it existed during Hamilton's time in New York. Miranda also discovered that Mercer Street was previously called Claremont Street, and had been renamed after Hugh Mercer, one of George Washington's close friends who was killed at the 1777 Battle of Princeton during the American Revolutionary War.

In Hamilton, the opening lyrics about Mercer's legacy establish the tone for the back-and-forth banter between Hamilton and Burr. Per Miranda:

"What’s funny is how the two of them were obsessed with their legacies. So that’s one of those things where the line actually led me to a really cool historical story and away into the tune. So sometimes you’re working the rhyme to fit the circumstances, but sometimes the line leads you somewhere you don’t expect."

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"Pièce De Résistance" Has A Double Meaning

The Phrase Also Translates To "The Main Dish Of A Meal"

Burr is incredulous at Hamilton in the Hamilton stage show

Miranda also confirmed that the "pièce de résistance" line in "The Room Where It Happens" isn't merely a cultural reference to the Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette or a clever way to explain the gravity of Hamilton's compromise with Jefferson and Madison. Instead, various meta layers link to the song's title and the overall structure of the play.

Not only does the French phrase "pièce de résistance" translate to “an outstanding item or event, a showpiece," but it can also apparently mean “the main dish of a meal." So, there's a dual meaning in Hamilton because the big performance is essentially about how America's future was affected by a dinner meeting between three men.

The "pièce de résistance" line in "The Room Where It Happens" also links to a physical location, as "la pièce” translates to "the room" in French. So, Miranda took a familiar French phrase to reference the epic nature of "The Room Where It Happens," all the while knowing that general audiences would naturally connect the line to Lafayette.

From there, Miranda developed the song title by breaking down secondary meanings to arrive at a "room" where a meal is served; the perfect narrative set-up for the historical handshake agreement that's known as the Compromise of 1790, and also for the show-stopping Hamilton performance by Odom Jr.

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Other Hidden Meanings In Hamilton

Characters Walk In Ways That reflect Their Personalities

Eliza schuyler looks upset in Hamilton

Amidst the grandeur of Hamilton's spectacle lies a profound layer of symbolism, particularly in how characters traverse the stage, with none more striking than the dichotomy between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. At the heart of Hamilton's storyline lies the dynamic between Hamilton's revolutionary fervor and Burr's cautious pragmatism, a contrast that extends beyond mere words or actions into the very essence of their movement. While Hamilton's strides carve out sweeping arcs across the stage, embodying his boundless ambition and relentless pursuit of progress, Burr's gait remains confined to straight lines, a visual testament to his rigid adherence to convention.

With its bracing intensity and arresting cadence, this musical motif transcends mere introduction, offering a profound glimpse into the protagonist's inner turmoil and aspirations.

Additionally, the first notes reverberate through the theater, Hamilton's opening piano riff serves as a gateway into the thematic undercurrents that shape the narrative. With its bracing intensity and arresting cadence, this musical motif transcends mere introduction, offering a profound glimpse into the protagonist's inner turmoil and aspirations. Conceived from Miranda's vision of a sound akin to a slamming door, the piano riff emerges as a potent symbol of Hamilton's quest for renewal and self-determination. It marks not only the beginning of the musical but also the commencement of Hamilton's journey—a journey fueled by an insatiable hunger for greatness.

Hamilton is replete with hidden meanings, intricately woven into its sets, architecture, and staging, as well as subtly embedded within character actions and symbolic gestures. From the deliberate choreography of character movements to the poignant symbolism of Eliza burning her letters (because of their absence in the historical record), each element speaks volumes about Lin-Manuel Miranda's storytelling prowess and his unwavering commitment to resurrecting the past with authenticity and nuance. These hidden layers not only enrich the narrative tapestry but also underscore Miranda's genius in transforming historical events into a vibrant and resonant theatrical experience about America's founding era.

Hamilton Disney Performance Poster
Hamilton
PG-13
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Director
THomas Kail
Release Date
July 3, 2020
Cast
Lin-Manuel Miranda , Leslie Odom Jr. , Phillipa Soo , Renee Elise Goldsberry , Daveed Diggs , Christopher Jackson , Jonathan Groff , Anthony Ramos , Okieriete Onaodowan , Jasmine Cephas Jones
Runtime
160 Minutes