The Red Dead series by Rockstar Games has always focused on the gray morals of outlaws and their journeys toward redemption, but how many actually reach that goal">failed heist in Blackwater. From the game's first mission, infighting and distrust run rampant as the gang scrambles for safety from the lawmen and bounty hunters pursuing them. As one of the veteran of the gang, players often find the duty of holding the camp as their responsibility.
Red Dead Redemption 2 hosts a cast of unique and diverse characters who live their lives on the wrong side of the law. Outlaws such as Hosea Matthews, Charles Smith, Javier Escuela, and Sadie Adler in RDR2 draw players in with their electric personalities shown through hours of dialogue within the Van der Linde camp. The gang's backstories encom tragic tales of misfortune and woe, with Dutch Van der Linde acting as a savior to each of them in one form or another. As the game progresses, the relationships and loyalties of these characters are laid bare, revealing which outlaws in the game have the potential for redemption.
After Red Dead Redemption 2's story, players witness the death of Arthur Morgan and the attempt at a law-abiding lifestyle by John Marston. Despite their fates and intentions, neither of these characters obtains redemption. Throughout the campaign, players see Arthur Morgan grow from a heartless outlaw to a mortal man trying to atone for his many mistakes. However, no matter how honorable the player guides Arthur Morgan to be, he has committed far too many crimes to ever be considered a good man. His most selfless acts come only after his terminal diagnosis and are geared toward individuals no more virtuous than himself. Meanwhile, in the epilogue, John Marston is allowed to salvage a lawful existence in the wake of the destruction of the Van Der Linde gang. Unfortunately, he abandons this new future in favor of a new quest for vengeance, eventually leading to the events of Red Dead Redemption.
Who Really Finds Redemption In RDR2
A member of the gang who does find redemption during Red Dead Redemption 2 is Tilly Jackson. Tilly has a past mired in illegal activity, though its details are not explored within the game. Despite this shadowy past and questionable present, Tilly is shown to be consistently comionate and friendly to most of the Van der Linde gang. Outspoken and brave, Tilly survives the events of the game and escapes her past to pursue a new and better future. The epilogue of the game sees her with a husband and child, finally distanced from the violence of her outlaw upbringing.
Charles Smith is another character who finds redemption from his outlaw ways. Having recently ed the Van der Linde gang, Charles is shown to be a capable survivalist. His comion and empathy for Arthur upon learning of his diagnosis continues to offer the protagonist some semblance of peace during his last days. During the epilogue of RDR2, Charles assists John Marston in building his new life and claiming vengeance for the murder of Arthur Morgan. His loyalty to his friend and determination to see the past put to rest only further proves his status as an honorable man. Eventually, Charles departs for Canada to make a new life for himself and raise a family there, successfully escaping his outlaw past.
Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a window into a world that exists in shades of gray, with the morality, honor, and purity of its inhabitants left up to the players. While the protagonists of each Red Dead installment fail to see a redemption arc able to atone for their crimes, their shortcomings lead others to happier endings. Tilly Jackson and Charles Smith are just two of the many lives impacted by Arthur Morgan throughout the events of Red Dead Redemption 2, which lead to their successful redemption.
