The Handkerchief

"And here behold this bloody handkercher,
[He draws forth the handkerchief from his breast.]
Which at Horatio's death I weeping dipped
Within the river of his bleeding wounds.
It, as propitious, see, I have reserved,
And never hath it left my bloody heart,
Soliciting remembrance of my vow"
(IV.iv.122-127)

I find it interesting that Andrea's handkerchief became symbolic to Hieronimo in his plot for revenge against Horatio's murderers when it did not even belong to Horatio to begin with. Perhaps Hieronimo considered the handkerchief as nothing more than a keepsake to remember his son by, but why this item specifically? Why not another article on Horatio's body? It seems that the handkerchief was not simply a trivial item worn by Horatio to remember his old friend. Instead, it is almost as though it serves a greater purpose that would eventually find justice for its original owner, Andrea. This also makes me question how much of this plot against Balthazar (and Lorenzo) was to avenge Horatio and how much of it was actually to avenge Andrea, although not directly. Since much of the focus of the play is on Horatio's murder and his father's vow to seek revenge against the murderers, it pretty much takes the focus away from Andrea and Revenge, who make only brief appearances in the play. Andrea's handkerchief, his belonging, appears throughout the play, albeit also in brief instances, but in the end it plays a significant role when Hieronimo brings it out and says that it served as a remembrance of his vow, which, in return, brings Andrea's memory (and perhaps presence) back into the present moment. Could it be that all of the events that occurred from Andrea's death until Balthazar's slaying at the end have actually been "destined" to avenge Andrea and not so much Horatio? Could Horatio, as well as the other "victims" in the tragedy, have been a mere pawn in an ending that would result to be favorable only to Andrea? Interestingly enough, Andrea was the only character who, by the end of the play, was not grieving and was actually satisfied with the outcome.