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Osric is the wealthy courtier who delivers Claudius’s message about his bet with Laertes to Hamlet in Act 5, Scene 2, and he also serves as the referee during the sword fight. While he has little to do in terms of action within the play, his presence serves as yet another example of the corruption within Denmark’s royal court. Hamlet explains to Horatio that Osric is an affluent landowner who has used his money to work his way into Claudius’s good graces. Otherwise, he has a low intellectual capacity and does not benefit the kingdom in any meaningful way. Osric’s lack of substance emerges throughout his first exchange with Hamlet, especially when Hamlet intentionally mocks him or twists his words. Their debate about Osric’s hat, for example, highlights his people-pleasing nature as he agrees to Hamlet’s assertion that it is cold immediately after explaining that he was hot. Osric also attempts to make himself sound noble by using flowery language to discuss the upcoming duel, but his unclear use of words calls attention to the façade he has created for himself. Despite these shortcomings, Claudius nevertheless keeps him in his court and invites him to be involved in his plot against Hamlet by having him referee. At this point in the play, Osric’s primary role becomes narrating the fight for the audience. He does not necessarily make biased calls in favor of Laertes, but he does tend to Laertes instead of Hamlet after they injure each other with the poisoned sword. In all of the chaos at the end of the play, Osric manages to survive and announces the arrival of Fortinbras and the Norwegian army. His fate after this moment remains unclear, but the fact that he does not die alongside Claudius leaves the door open for the possibility that some corruption may remain in the kingdom even with a new ruler on the throne.
