What is the primary function of a narrator in a narrative?

The primary function of a narrator in a narrative is to guide the audience through the story. A narrator serves as the lens through which the audience experiences the events, emotions, and characters within the narrative. By providing context, background, and commentary, the narrator helps to shape the reader's understanding of the plot and the motivations of the characters. This guidance ensures that the audience can follow the story's progression and engage with its themes and messages.

While providing insight into the plot is an important aspect of a narrator's role, it is part of the broader function of guiding the audience. The narrator’s insights serve to clarify and enhance the reader's experience rather than functioning as a standalone purpose. Moreover, creating confusion among characters goes against the primary role of the narrator, which typically aims to clarify and illuminate the story rather than obfuscate it. Summarizing events at the end, while it may occur, is a less central function when compared to the ongoing, guiding presence of the narrator throughout the entire narrative.