Should You Accept Braithwaite Sapphire? A Deep Dive into Red Dead Redemption 2’s Moral Crossroads
The question of whether to accept Braithwaite Sapphire in Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t a simple yes or no. It hinges on your play style, your understanding of Arthur Morgan’s character arc, and your willingness to navigate the complex morality woven into Rockstar’s masterpiece. Simply put: Accepting the sapphire offers immediate financial gain and potentially facilitates quicker progression, but choosing to return it aligns with a high-honor playthrough and reinforces Arthur’s evolving sense of justice. Ultimately, the “correct” choice depends on the story you want to tell.
Understanding the Context: The Braithwaites and Grays Feud
Before diving into the ethics, let’s recap the situation. The Braithwaites and Grays are two wealthy, powerful, and violently feuding families in the Red Dead Redemption 2’s Lemoyne region. Caught in the middle of their petty squabble, Arthur and the Van der Linde gang become entangled in their web of deceit and manipulation. During the mission “The Fine Art of Conversation,” you have the option to either return a stolen sapphire to Catherine Braithwaite or keep it for yourself. This seemingly small decision carries weight.
The High-Honor Route: Returning the Sapphire
Returning the sapphire aligns with a more noble path. It demonstrates a flicker of integrity in a world where honor is often a luxury. Giving the sapphire back doesn’t immediately result in significant rewards beyond a slight honor boost and Catherine Braithwaite’s (likely insincere) gratitude. However, it solidifies Arthur’s internal struggle and hints at his developing moral compass. Choosing this path contributes to a high-honor playthrough, unlocking unique missions, dialogue options, and ending sequences.
The Low-Honor Route: Keeping the Sapphire
Keeping the sapphire is the pragmatic choice. It provides immediate monetary gain, which can be used to upgrade your camp, purchase essential supplies, or customize your weapons. This option reflects a more ruthless and self-serving Arthur, prioritizing the gang’s immediate needs over abstract notions of morality. While there’s no significant long-term consequence besides a slight hit to your honor, it steers you toward a low-honor playthrough, leading to different experiences and outcomes.
Beyond Immediate Consequences: Thematic Resonance
The decision regarding the Braithwaite Sapphire isn’t merely about financial rewards or honor points. It’s about thematic resonance. Red Dead Redemption 2 explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the decline of the Wild West. Arthur Morgan’s journey is one of redemption amidst chaos. Choosing to return the sapphire, even to someone as morally bankrupt as Catherine Braithwaite, reinforces the idea that even in a corrupt world, acts of kindness and integrity can hold meaning.
The Gray’s Perspective: A Complicated Situation
The Braithwaites aren’t the only players in this game. Their rivals, the Grays, are equally deceptive and violent. Choosing to help either family ultimately leads to tragedy. Regardless of your decision about the sapphire, the feud escalates, culminating in devastating consequences for all involved. This highlights the futility of participating in their conflict and reinforces the idea that Arthur’s time might be better spent elsewhere.
Factors to Consider
- Your desired honor level: High or Low Honor?
- Immediate financial needs: Does the gang require supplies?
- Roleplaying Arthur: Are you playing as a ruthless outlaw or someone seeking redemption?
- Long-term consequences: Are you aiming for a specific ending?
Choosing to accept or return the sapphire will subtly shift the trajectory of your game and the narrative surrounding Arthur. Make sure to consider the long-term effects of your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does accepting the sapphire lock me into a low-honor playthrough?
No, accepting the sapphire doesn’t permanently lock you into a low-honor playthrough. While it does decrease your honor, you can easily regain honor by performing positive actions such as helping strangers, completing chores at camp, and choosing honorable dialogue options. Red Dead Redemption 2’s honor system is fluid and allows for redemption.
2. What is the exact monetary value of the Braithwaite Sapphire?
The Braithwaite Sapphire can be sold to a fence for a substantial amount of money, usually around $75-$100, depending on the in-game economy and any perks you may have unlocked.
3. What are the tangible benefits of a high-honor playthrough?
A high-honor playthrough unlocks exclusive missions (such as those with Sister Calderón), discounts at stores, and a more optimistic ending. People in towns will also react more favorably to Arthur, making interactions easier and more pleasant.
4. What are the tangible benefits of a low-honor playthrough?
A low-honor playthrough offers no specific monetary or material advantages. Instead, it changes the tone of the game, altering dialogue options and encounters to reflect a more ruthless and cynical perspective.
5. How can I quickly increase my honor in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Quick ways to increase honor include: releasing fish after catching them, paying your bounties, performing chores at camp, donating to the camp funds, and helping strangers in need. The most impactful way is to consistently make honorable choices during missions.
6. Can I return the sapphire later if I initially choose to keep it?
No, once you choose to keep the sapphire, you cannot return it to Catherine Braithwaite later in the game. The decision is final and irreversible.
7. Does this choice affect my relationship with other gang members?
The decision regarding the sapphire has a negligible impact on your relationship with other gang members. The larger story arcs and your interactions with specific characters have a greater effect on your standing within the gang.
8. Is there a “best” choice regarding the Braithwaite Sapphire?
There is no objectively “best” choice. The ideal decision depends entirely on your personal preference and desired gameplay experience. Do you value immediate gain or long-term moral integrity? The answer to that question will guide your decision.
9. Does accepting/returning the sapphire change the main story?
While it doesn’t drastically alter the main storyline, the choice regarding the sapphire subtly influences Arthur’s character development and the overall tone of your playthrough. It contributes to the cumulative effect of your choices, shaping the narrative in small but meaningful ways.
10. How does honor affect the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2?
Your honor level significantly affects the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2. A high-honor Arthur is more likely to experience a poignant and redemptive death, while a low-honor Arthur faces a darker and more tragic demise.
11. Where can I sell the Braithwaite Sapphire if I choose to keep it?
You can sell the Braithwaite Sapphire to any fence in the game. Fences are located in various towns and hideouts, such as Saint Denis, Van Horn Trading Post, and Emerald Ranch.
12. Are there any other morally ambiguous choices like this in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled with morally ambiguous choices. From helping or robbing strangers to deciding the fate of captured enemies, the game constantly challenges your sense of right and wrong.
13. Is there any way to reverse the consequences of a low-honor decision?
While you can’t undo a specific decision, you can always work to improve your honor level. Red Dead Redemption 2 offers numerous opportunities for redemption, allowing you to shift your character’s moral compass.
14. Where can I find more information about the morality system in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Numerous online guides and forums discuss the morality system in Red Dead Redemption 2. You can also find valuable insights on websites dedicated to game analysis and strategy. Consider exploring resources from educational organizations focusing on gaming and learning, such as the Games Learning Society. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for articles and research on the impact of games on society.
15. Does the choice affect future encounters with the Braithwaites or Grays?
Your choice regarding the sapphire does not significantly alter future encounters with the Braithwaites or Grays. Their overall storyline remains largely the same regardless of your decision. The feud between the families will continue, and your interactions with them will primarily revolve around that central conflict.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. Choose wisely, gunslinger.