We all know that person who doesn't handle breakups well. They are pushy, mean, and aggressive when they realize they are being broken up with. Well i think Lin Manuel Miranda captures that person exactly in "You'll Be Back" sung by the character of King George III.
He fits the description of an abusive boyfriend who refuses to let his significant other(The American Colonies in this case) leave him. He brings up the fact that America depends on him. They can't leave because he supplies them with everything. Well you are wrong George, I guess you do not remember all the boy cots the colonists did. America can break free and it doesn't need you.
Even though George tries to play the "I'm your protector" card, he also tries to play the victim card, in the sense that he will be heart broken without America. He will go insane (probably because he won't be as rich anymore). He is a manipulative person, who says and does basically everything to try to get his way.
Worst of all King George threatens the colonists with violence. He comes right out and says that he will kill their friends and family if they don't stay with Britain, thus leading to the Revolutionary war. Sorry George, but your people end up getting killed as well. Breakups are always hard, but some people take it worse than others. King George takes it extremely bad. I wonder what would happen if a girl tried to break up with George..... It probably would not have gone well for her, or her family, and possibly her entire village.
Sorry George but America is a strong independent country that doesn't need a Tyrant telling it what to do and how much to pay. If you really wanted to win the war for our love, you should have had a better army!
I love this analogy Miranda makes between the relationship between America and England and he uses King George to symbolize the English politics on the matter. Something I find interesting is the shift from when George is very confident that America cant leave him for long, but it then shifts to what he will do to force America to come back to him. The lyrics shift from "You'll be back Time will tell You'll remember that I served you well" to "Cause when push comes to shove I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love". It shows tensions building in their relationship as America does more to distance itself from England.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with how George doesn't take break up's very well because in the song he threatens America with if they try and fight back then he will send his army up there and kill all of your friends and family members. He's trying to keep America close to him by threatening them with war and fear. And fear is a powerful thing because no one want's to get in trouble with the king because most likely he will kill you because you are just one out of million or more.
ReplyDeleteGeorge is that bitter ex-boyfriend that we all worry about. Thinking about his as a relationship between America and England is brilliant! I think that if George would have treated his lady, America, a bit better, perhaps she would've stayed by his side. However, I think in the long run America knew that she was too good for George and needed to spread her wings and explore who she was without George.
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