HAMILTON's Secret Character YOU Completely MISSED!

The Bullet, an ensemble character, secretly foreshadows Alexander Hamilton's ultimate demise and the doom of other characters she interacts with. Her first significant appearance, highlighting her connection to mortality, is during King George's song "You'll Be Back," where she is killed by a British soldier as Hamilton watches.

The Bullet's earliest interaction with Hamilton occurs in the show's first song. The choreography is key to understanding her significance, as every movement furthers the story. When Burr raps about Hamilton planning for the future, Hamilton passes a book to the Bullet, hinting at her future role. The ensemble's skyward finger point also foreshadows Hamilton's final duel.

The Bullet appears significantly in "Stay Alive," carrying a bullet towards Hamilton that narrowly misses him, foreshadowing his eventual fatal duel. In "Yorktown," she teams up with John Laurens to kill a redcoat, signaling his later death in a gunfight. She had also noticed Laurens earlier in "Aaron Burr, Sir."

In Act II, the Bullet's connection to death strengthens as she directly interacts with characters, guiding them towards their fates. In "Blow Us All Away," she tells Philip Hamilton where to find George Eacker, leading to Philip's fatal duel. She also influences the events leading to Burr's confrontation with Hamilton, supporting Burr during "The Election of 1800" and providing him the quill to write letters for the duel in "Your Obedient Servant."

The Bullet completes her arc by bringing death to Hamilton during his final duel. As Burr fires, she appears, gradually moving towards Hamilton. Although the ensemble delays her, she keeps the bullet pointed at him, signifying his unavoidable fate. Her withdrawal when Eliza enters suggests Eliza's role in preserving Hamilton's legacy, aligning with the musical's themes of death, legacy, and memento mori.

The Bullet is present in other ominous moments. During "Ten Duel Commandments," she stands next to Hamilton when the ensemble sings "Pick a place to die" and dances with him as other fatalistic lyrics are sung. She's also near him when he sings the 9th rule, "Look 'em in the eye, aim no higher," which he later ignores twice, leading to his son's and his own death. This connects her role to the medieval Danse Macabre.

In "My Shot," while Hamilton contemplates his death, the Bullet is the last ensemble member to unfreeze. Ariana DeBose, who plays the Bullet, notes her character's constant awareness of aiming for Hamilton. The Bullet's genius lies in subtly foreshadowing Hamilton's fate until the very end, reflecting Hamilton's obsession with mortality and legacy.