The conclusion of Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers a powerful and emotional experience that highlights the tragic journey of Arthur Morgan. Known for its gripping storyline and complex characters, RDR2 looked into the inevitable decline of Arthur’s life, mirrored by the disintegration of the Van der Linde gang.
As Arthur’s tuberculosis worsens, his struggle between redemption and the harsh realities of his violent past takes center stage. The slow collapse of the Van der Linde gang is paralleled by Arthur’s deteriorating health. As the game progresses, Arthur’s illness worsens, and gang members die or betray each other.
The decline of the Van der Linde gang mirrors Arthur’s struggle for redemption (Photo: Red Dead Redemption 2/Rockstar Games)Dutch van der Linde, once a paternal figure to Arthur, becomes increasingly paranoid. The arrival of Micah Bell, the antagonist, accelerates the gang’s disintegration, turning the Dutch against Arthur and pushing him toward dangerous and violent acts.
Arthur faces his inner battles, torn between his loyalty to the gang, his love for a woman, and his inevitable death. By the end of his journey, after John is abandoned by the gang and Arthur uncovers Micah’s betrayal, he confronts Dutch in a final stand.
Arthur is left with a choice: help John escape or seize the gang’s money. Depending on Arthur’s honor level, the outcome varies. A low-honor Arthur dies in a final battle with Micah, while a high-honor Arthur passes away after convincing Dutch of Micah’s betrayal, gazing at the sunrise before succumbing to his disease.
John escapes, and Micah takes the money, while Arthur’s story ends. The game also uses animal imagery to reflect Arthur’s moral state—a deer for a more repentant Arthur, and a wolf for the violent version of him. The epilogue follows John Marston seven years later, attempting to live peacefully with his family.
This segment is calmer compared to Arthur’s tragic end, ending with John hunting down Micah, avenging Arthur and everyone else who fell victim to him. While triumphant, players who know the first game can sense where the story is headed.
RDR2’s Ending Is Heartbreaking But Important
The end of RDR2 leaves a deep emotional impact, especially after witnessing Arthur’s character development and his relationships with Dutch and John. Seeing everything collapse is painful, particularly in the high-honor version where Arthur’s fate seems undeserved.
Arthur’s final choice offers a glimpse of hope in the middle of a violent, chaotic world (Photo: Red Dead Redemption 2/Rockstar Games)Yet, this conclusion fits within the larger themes of Red Dead Redemption—it’s a tale about the possibility of change, the cycle of violence, and the consequences of actions in a changing world. Dutch represents the contradictions of those who claim to seek change but remain stuck in their destructive schemes.
Micah and Edgar Ross embody the opportunists taking advantage of the lawless chaos at the brink of industrialization. Arthur and John are characters trying to change, but their pasts constantly haunt them.
Arthur’s tuberculosis results from a violent act against a man who had the disease, and John’s violent revenge on Micah leads him straight back into the cycle of violence that once claimed his gang.
How Does RDR2 Set Up Red Dead Redemption?
John’s quest for vengeance sets the stage for the events of the first Red Dead Redemption. His desire to get revenge on Micah brings him into the crosshairs of a corrupt lawman, dragging him back into violence and sealing the fate of his old gang members.
This leads to the tragic cycle where John is betrayed by Ross, just as Arthur had been. John’s son, Jack, eventually avenges his father by killing Edgar Ross, but this act feels more like a tragic repetition of the mistakes John made in his own life.
In terms of game mechanics, RDR2 ends with players taking control of John, mirroring how the first Red Dead Redemption ends with Jack taking over. This cyclical nature of violence is reflected in the gameplay, showing how these characters are doomed to repeat their pasts.
Returning players are aware of where the story is going, and the tragic irony of Arthur’s journey, leading directly to John’s fate, makes the experience all the more poignant.
However, there’s also an underlying message of hope in Red Dead Redemption—even someone as flawed as Arthur can try to be better, and while the past may never be fully escaped, people are not defined by their mistakes. Add this powerful game to your Amazon list and start playing today.
