Spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead.
Summary
Red Dead Redemption 2is noted for its intricate details and stunning world. It also features a narrative driven by characters that might be some of the best and most complex in gaming. It is through these characters that the themes are conveyed.
The big themes include, of course, redemption, as well as the change that comes with the passage of time. Revenge is also a big theme, andRed Dead Redemption 2seems to take an ambivalent approach. This leaves it up to the player to draw their own conclusions.
Vengeance rarely goes right. It often ends up hurting unintended people and seldom brings the satisfaction it promises. Most importantly, it opens up cycles of violence that can be near-impossible to break. This is seen with the O’Driscolls and the Van der Linde gang. After killingColm O’Driscoll’s brother, Colm retaliates by murdering Dutch’s lover. This sparks a back-and-forth that has the two gangs combating, resulting in a lot of unnecessary deaths.
Sadie Adleris sucked into this cycle of violence when her husband is killed by an O’Driscoll. After she is brought into the Van der Linde gang, she has a period of mourning, but soon after, she takes on a more violent persona, eager to prove she’s capable of anything a cowboy can do. She also develops a deep hate for the O’Driscolls and hunts them down, eventually killing her husband’s murderer.
It initially appears that the message about revenge inRed Dead Redemptionis simple. As Arthur Morgan says, “vengeance is a fool’s game”. However, this isn’t the whole story, as can be seen in the ending ofRed Dead Dedemption 2.
The game does a lot to make players absolutely loatheMicah Bell. As soon as he joins the gang, things go awry. He constantly mocks Arthur and gives bad advice to Dutch, playing a large role in the fall of the Van der Linde gang. As though that isn’t enough, in one of the possible endings, Micah is the one to end Arthur’s life.
RDR2’s ending features John Marston in a showdown with Micah. At this point,Rockstar’s gameseems to revel in the idea of revenge, allowing the player to enjoy finally punishing a hated character. Although it’s fun to leave Micah riddled with bullets, it also contradicts the idea of revenge being a fool’s game.
It’s ultimately up to each player to decide what idea is more appealing. For some, this is acontradiction withinRDR2, and it is ultimately a flaw in the narrative. For others, they may accept that no rules are absolute, and Micah is villainous enough to deserve what comes his way.
Justifying revenge is a dangerous route. It can lead to vengeance and cruelty, as seen several times withDutch van der Lindeand his foes. The shooter seldom finds the satisfaction they crave, and more importantly, dead victims can never find redemption. Still, the complicated nature of revenge cuts both ways.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
