In Defense of Aaron Burr

To what fictional character do you most relate, and why? You may select a character from animation, art, film, literature, television, theater or any other medium. (350-500 words)


When asked who is responsible for the death of Alexander Hamilton, the answer seems simple: Aaron Burr. What’s more likely is Hamilton’s fatal flaw: his arrogance. That answer, however, is exactly what Burr would suggest. We can only imagine the minds of our Founding Fathers through Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, where the characters are surely glamorized but complex enough to send the audience back to the 1700’s.

In 2018, I’m not found on the front lines. I strive where I can view the whole picture and envision my steps from there. According to Carl Jung, it’s an inherently feminine trait, which is why I admire Burr’s patience, even if it didn’t belong in the Revolutionary War. He is constantly berated by his peers for his hesitancy, but we as the audience only agree with them because we know how the story ends. For all the people in that time period knew, Burr’s strategy could have been the correct one. Unlike Burr, the other Founding Fathers made it a point to be aggressive and quick on their feet.

Whenever my family and I went to NYC to visit my grandpa, my dad always told me if I didn’t learn to act quickly I’d end up getting hit by a car. My brother, on the other hand, was never warned because he tended to be more nimble....

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