Alexander Hamilton Obstacles

The most American of all stories is the tale of rising from rags to riches. There have been many cases in American history where prominent figures were raised in poverty and through hard work and determination were able to rise to the top and achieve significant success. Since it has been accomplished by so many Americans, this story is the basis of the "American Dream." Ambition, determination, and perseverance are all traits that exemplify the American experience and are prevalent in American literature. The tenacity shown by Alexander Hamilton and his achievement of success is also demonstrated by Frederick Douglass in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, as well as other works of literature. Ambition is another well-represented …show more content…
Miranda begins Hamilton by introducing Alexander as an "orphaned son of a whore." Since Alexander was born into poverty and was parentless, his youth could have very easily proved to be an insurmountable obstacle. Instead, he worked hard, established his worth in the army, rose within US politics, and became one of the foremost architects of the American government. Hard work and determination, two values essential to achieving goals, are present in this success story. Hamilton's story is intrinsically American because he overcame adversity, heavily influenced the structure of the government, and created the American economic system, which is still in use today. Of the Founding Fathers, Hamilton had the biggest impact on the shape of the country and his actions remain relevant today. Hamilton's boldness and ego ultimately became his downfall and caused him to die in a very American fashion, by gunshot. Many Americans have died because of gun violence, both historically and today with our relaxed gun policies. Through exploring Hamilton's history, American literature reveals the risks of unchecked ambition and immoral …show more content…
Similar to how the poverty Hamilton experienced in his childhood was a hindrance, slavery held back Douglass, yet both he and Hamilton managed to defeat the challenges they faced and achieve amazing success. Douglass believed that "once you learn to read, you'll be forever free," and defied his masters by teaching himself to read. This was crucial for him, as once a slave became literate, "he would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master." Although it required hard work and determination, Douglass persevered through slavery's restraints. His ambition allowed him to "rise up" and gain the ability to write his autobiography. His narrative has had a profound impact on the world, and helped lead to the eventual abolition of slavery. The impact of Douglass' narrative reveals that American literature can be an important platform for creating significant change and a positive impact on social