Harry Du Bois
The broken detective searching for truth in a world of forgotten dreams.
Harry Du Bois is the player character and protagonist of Disco Elysium, a deeply flawed detective from Revachol's Citizens Militia. A man grappling with amnesia and alcoholism, he is thrust into a murder investigation that forces him to confront his own shattered identity. His personal politics are ambiguous, and he is not officially aligned with any political faction, including the Lime Coalition.
- Role
- Detective (Player Character)
- Affiliation
- Revachol Citizens Militia
- Nationality
- Revacholian
- Status
- Active within the narrative timeline
- Key Location
- Revachol, Second Precinct
Lore & Background
Harry Du Bois is a middle-aged detective of the Revachol Citizens Militia, assigned to investigate a mysterious hanging in the city's impoverished Martinaise district. Suffering from a catastrophic alcoholic blackout, he has lost most of his memory and must piece together both the case and his own past. His journey is one of personal redemption and self-discovery, not political ambition. His relationship with his partner, Kim Kitsuragi, is marked by Kim's patient professionalism, not cultural or ideological conflict.
In Their Own Story
The fluorescent lights of the Second Precinct hummed with a headache-inducing frequency as Harry Du Bois paced behind his desk. He didn't look like a man who slept; he looked like a man who had been forged from white noise and ambition. His eyes, sharp and unblinking, scanned the report on the hanging body not for clues, but for evidence of weakness. To him, the city was a patient in critical condition, and he was the surgeon willing to cut out any infected limb without hesitation.
Reader's Guide
Harry Du Bois serves as the ideological foil to the protagonist's internal chaos and empathy. As an Elysian Chief of Police, his role is to enforce the will of the occupying Lime Coalition, representing a hardline approach to justice that brooks no dissent. His character arc is defined by an unwavering commitment to order, which often masks a deep-seated fear of losing control. He possesses significant authority within the precinct and commands respect through intimidation rather than camaraderie. His skills lie in political maneuvering and maintaining a rigid chain of command. Defining moments include his initial confrontation with the protagonist regarding the investigation's direction and his eventual revelation as a figure who prioritizes political stability over truth. He forces the player to choose between submission to authority or resistance against an oppressive system.
Did You Know?
- Harry Du Bois is the protagonist and player character, not an antagonist or chief of police.
- His partner Kim Kitsuragi is a patient and professional fellow officer, not a source of tension over policing methods.
- The investigation into the hanging is a straightforward murder case; Harry's personal struggles with amnesia and alcoholism are the central focus, not a political vendetta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Harry Du Bois?
He serves as the Chief of Police for the Second Precinct and acts as a high-ranking official for the Elysian occupation government. His character embodies the aggressive push for order within the newly formed Lime Coalition administration in Revachol.
What role does he play in the narrative?
Du Bois functions as a primary antagonist who pressures the protagonist to align with political goals over justice. He represents the authoritarian face of the new regime that seeks to suppress dissent and maintain control.
Why is Harry Du Bois important to the game's themes?
His presence highlights the central conflict between old revolutionary ideals and the cold bureaucracy of foreign occupation. Through him, the game explores themes of authority, corruption, and the cost of stability in a broken city.
Where does Harry Du Bois originate from?
He is originally from Elysium rather than being a native Revacholian citizen. This background reinforces his status as an outsider enforcing new laws on a population struggling with poverty and political collapse.
How does his story conclude?
His final outcome depends largely on how the player concludes their relationship with the police force and local politics. In most timelines, he retains his position of power regardless of whether his specific plans for the precinct succeed.
More in Characters & Voices
Elsewhere in the Disco Elysium universe
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