And secondly, actually busting a shot at him is going to require you to “summon all the courage you require”.
The ninth commandment then advises a dueler in two regards. First is to look your opponent squarely in the eye and to “aim no higher” than that. It also becomes more obvious at this point that the vocalists are promoting peace more so than war. For at the beginning of the eighth commandment they are once again espousing negotiation, as in now being the “last chance” for a dueler to do so. Then the two actual figures upon which this song is based, the aforementioned Hamilton and Burr, have a fictionalized conversation in that regard.Īnd anyone versed in the history of this dispute knows that the two of them did indeed go on to fight. And likewise in the song, these two figures are not able to put their differences aside peacefully. But all of that noted, now the moment has arrived to “finally face your opponent”. So you need to be ready for the adrenaline rush that follows. Seventh and Eighth CommandmentsĪs a matter of fact the seventh commandment directs the dueler to “confess your sins”, i.e. It seems that doing so would be just in case you don’t make it back, so they would at least know how you met your fate. And on that note, you should also start praying regarding the afterlife. Indeed the sixth commandment recommends that you “leave a note for your next of kin”. Apparently there were a number of advantages to conducting such activities during the early dawn. The fifth commandment also puts forth that a “high and dry” place should be chosen to hold the duel. And it seems that latter bit of advice is also in case you’re the one who ends up on the wrong end of a sword. The fifth commandment advises duelers to engage in combat before the rising of the sun. In fact in some places they were even illegal. As such, the doctor is also to be instructed to “turn around” once the fighting actually commences, so then he could not be brought as a witness to court. Also to note, duels were not necessarily free-for-alls where you just can just openly take the life of your opponent.
fashion, “to get some pistols and a doctor on site”.Īnd concerning said doctor, he’s to be paid in advance in addition to being treated well. Fourth CommandmentĪnd along those same lines the fourth commandment dictates that if peace is not possible, then it’s all good. your second and that of your adversary meeting. Ideally they are doing so to “negotiate a peace” between the two parties. Indeed the vocalist goes on to note that “most disputes die” without any shots actually being fired. But if such is not possible, then the two seconds should rather “negotiate a time and place” for the duel to transpire. Indeed the third commandment goes on to advise that you “have your seconds meet face-to-face”, i.e. your backup, by your side throughout such ordeals. The second rule focuses on what in dueling circles were referred to as seconds. A second, most simply put, is the homey of a dueler. And the role which these individuals served first and foremost was trying to resolve the dispute before it actually went to the guns. Also, according to Wikipedia, they were tasked with “oversee(ing) the mechanics” of the duel. And in some cases a second may even fight in place of the primary dueler. And what the second commandment is saying, comprehensively, is to always have your second, i.e. As such if your opponent apologizes beforehand, which would pretty much be the same as admitting defeat under such circumstances, then such is sufficient, as in “no… further action” being necessary. The first rule indicates, as duels tended to be, that the whole ordeal is about honor.
So perhaps the easiest way to go about analyzing this piece is by breaking down the “10 Duel Commandments” one-by-one. And the way they went about dueling was via the usage of pistols. More specifically, they are primarily referring to the 1804 duel between Alexander Hamilton, who was Vice President of the US at the time and his established rival, Aaron Burr. And as the title of this particular song suggests the cast of Hamilton, a play set around the turn of the 19 th century, are likewise putting forth 10 rules, albeit for one to be successful at dueling, which was an accepted mode of conflict resolution back in those days.
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