Amy Holbrook also be considered as a conceptual metaphor and this is the basic comparison that underlies several different metaphorical expressions used in a particular piece , and it is represented using small capital letters . Kövecses ( 2010 ) argues that , ‘ A conceptual metaphor consists of two conceptual domains , in which one domain is understood in terms of another . A conceptual domain is any coherent organization of experience . Thus , for example , we have coherently organized knowledge about journeys that we rely on in understanding life .’ ( Kövecses 2010 : 4 ). Here Kövecses draws on the notion that life is always compared to a journey to demonstrate what a conceptual metaphor is . If ‘ Satisfied ’ repeatedly drew on the same metaphor in an invariant fashion , then a conceptual metaphor such as LOVE IS ELECTRIC or ANGELICA IS BEN FRANKLIN could be drawn from the lyrics . There is a lot to be said about a simple metaphor , and more often than not it is not a simple metaphor but a part of a whole cognitive message that is being expressed ; individuals think and communicate in metaphors daily and it is no surprise that there is so much to be said about them .
Analysis Hamilton is riddled with metaphorical expressions focussing on war imagery and this is not surprising given that the musical is largely set during some of America ’ s most transformative battles that ultimately led to their independence from colonial rule . It is particularly interesting to see how these metaphors are used to reflect their
44 personal goals , relationships , and happenings across the period that Hamilton covers . Kövecses ( 2010 ) suggests that humans talk in metaphors every day so certain tropes become somewhat stereotypical such as , ‘ when we talk and think about life in terms of journeys , about arguments in terms of war ’ ( Kövecses 2010 : 4 ) and the latter is seen throughout Hamilton , with war connotations being attached to as much of the verbal and mental conflicts faced as they are to the physical .
One song that has become almost synonymous with Hamilton and has grown a significant amount fame outside of the musical is ‘ My Shot ’ and at 5 minutes 33 seconds it is the second longest song in the musical and packs in a lot of metaphors surrounding the shot analogy . It is sophisticated in its seamless interchanging of different connotations of the word ‘ shot ’ from opportunity to injury to even taking an alcoholic shot in the tavern setting the song is sang in on stage . The song opens with ‘ I am not throwing away my shot ’ and at this point Miranda positions Hamilton ’ s ‘ shot ’ as a visible metaphor for his opportunity to be ‘ more than anyone bargained for ’, as he puts it in a later song , and could even be considered conceptually as HAMILTON ’ S SHOT IS HIS LIFE . The notion of not throwing away his shot is echoed in many of the songs in Hamilton and runs as the current throughout the musical . The predicate relations in the ground between Hamilton ’ s shot and his life are implicitly referenced throughout but generally draw on being something that he has one go at , something he is striving or