The Fates of Dutch and Micah After Arthur’s Demise in Red Dead Redemption 2
After the tragic death of Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, both Dutch van der Linde and Micah Bell embark on drastically different paths, marked by betrayal, regret, and ultimately, violent ends. Micah’s actions directly lead to Arthur’s demise, while Dutch’s flawed leadership and increasingly erratic behavior contribute significantly to the gang’s downfall. Here’s a detailed look at what happened to each of them.
Micah’s Descent and Demise
Micah Bell, the manipulative and treacherous gunslinger, doesn’t survive long after Arthur’s death. Following the gang’s collapse, Micah establishes a new gang of outlaws and returns to the mountains, taking over a hideout at Mount Hagen. His life after Arthur is one of callous villainy and continued violence. While his actions temporarily create a power vacuum in the region, his cruelty and lack of any semblance of loyalty ultimately seal his fate.
Micah’s reign of terror is abruptly ended during the game’s epilogue when John Marston, accompanied by Sadie Adler and Charles Smith, finally tracks him down. In a dramatic showdown, John confronts Micah in his mountain hideout. A tense standoff ensues, and Dutch appears, seemingly to side with Micah. However, Dutch shoots Micah, showcasing that he finally understands the extent of Micah’s treachery and the impact it had on the gang. Micah, bewildered by Dutch’s betrayal, stumbles, shrugs, and then collapses dead in the snow, thus ending his ruthless career. His corpse is later discovered by Edgar Ross and Archer Fordham, confirming his demise.
Dutch’s Path of Regret and Final Showdown
Following Arthur’s death, Dutch walks away from the carnage at Mount Hagen, visibly disturbed by the consequences of his actions and the revelations about Micah’s treachery. His departure from Micah signals his awareness of his own culpability in the gang’s destruction and his regret for not heeding Arthur’s warnings. He vanishes for several years, his whereabouts unknown.
However, Dutch’s story doesn’t end there. He resurfaces at Mount Hagen when John, Sadie, and Charles are about to confront Micah. When Dutch intervenes, his actions are initially ambiguous, but his decision to shoot Micah reveals that he has come to terms with the fact that Micah was the cause of the downfall of the gang. He recognizes that John is there for the same reason as him – to eliminate the treachery. This act showcases his remorse and a degree of redemption for his past misdeeds. After shooting Micah, Dutch walks away, leaving the consequences of his actions behind him.
In the original Red Dead Redemption, John Marston eventually tracks Dutch down. By this point, Dutch has created a new gang of Native Americans and is found on a cliff overlooking the land. This is where the original Dutch’s story ends. John finally confronts and kills Dutch, whose final words reflect the same disillusionment and broken ideals he exhibited in the second game. In his last moments, he remembers Arthur and seems to finally understand his downfall.
Dutch’s actions in Red Dead Redemption 2’s epilogue show his deep inner conflict and remorse for how everything unfolded. While he doesn’t explicitly apologize to John, his decision to aid in Micah’s demise, coupled with his somber departure, indicates that he understands the magnitude of his failures and the devastating consequences of his actions, particularly regarding Arthur.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the significance of Dutch shooting Micah?
Dutch’s decision to shoot Micah is pivotal because it demonstrates that he finally acknowledges Micah’s betrayal and the destructive influence he had on the Van der Linde gang. This act of retribution is also a sign of Dutch’s regret over ignoring Arthur’s warnings and his own poor leadership.
2. Did Dutch know Micah was a rat?
Yes, Dutch realizes Micah’s treachery in the final moments of Red Dead Redemption 2, particularly during Arthur’s dying confession and after seeing the situation at Mount Hagen. He sees the chaos and destruction Micah has wrought and it brings clarity to the situation.
3. Why did Dutch favor Micah over the other gang members?
There is no definitive answer but it’s implied that Dutch feels indebted to Micah for saving his life in a bar brawl before the game begins. Additionally, Micah might have preyed on Dutch’s existing vulnerabilities and narcissism to manipulate his way into Dutch’s favor.
4. Where does Dutch go after leaving Micah in RDR2?
After shooting Micah, Dutch walks away, and his whereabouts remain unknown until the events of Red Dead Redemption where he is revealed to have started a new gang of Native Americans before John kills him.
5. What mental illness does Dutch have in RDR2?
Dutch is believed to have a combination of narcissistic traits amplified by a head injury earlier in his life. This combination, coupled with the pressures of the gang’s situation, leads to his increasingly erratic and irrational behavior, and his fall.
6. Why did Dutch betray Arthur?
Dutch doesn’t directly betray Arthur in the way that Micah does. However, Dutch’s paranoia, poor judgment, and loyalty to Micah led him to disregard Arthur’s warnings, ultimately contributing to the gang’s downfall and Arthur’s tragic fate.
7. Did Dutch regret Arthur’s death?
Yes, Dutch shows clear signs of regret regarding Arthur’s death, especially in the epilogue when he assists in eliminating Micah. He appears disturbed by the consequences of his actions and is now aware of the truth.
8. What happened to Micah after he killed Arthur?
Micah returns to the mountains, establishes a new gang and takes over a hideout at Mount Hagen. He is ultimately killed by Dutch, John, and Sadie at the end of Red Dead Redemption 2’s epilogue.
9. What happens to Dutch in the original Red Dead Redemption?
In the original game, John tracks Dutch down years after the events of Red Dead Redemption 2. John eventually confronts and kills him, marking the end of Dutch’s story as a leader of a Native American gang.
10. Does John ever see Dutch again?
Yes, John encounters Dutch again in the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2, where Dutch assists in killing Micah. And again in the original Red Dead Redemption when John hunts Dutch down to kill him.
11. How old is Micah at the end of RDR2?
Micah’s age is roughly estimated to be around 39 at the end of Red Dead Redemption 2.
12. Did Dutch save John in the ending?
In a way, Dutch’s appearance at Mount Hagen helps John, as he shoots Micah, enabling John to finish the job. It is not a “save” as much as it is a display of remorse and a realization of his mistakes.
13. Does Arthur see Dutch as a father figure?
Yes, Arthur initially views Dutch as a father figure after being taken in by him at a young age. He believes in Dutch’s ideals and vision for many years, which is why his betrayal is so significant to the story.
14. Why did Dutch leave Micah at the end?
Dutch leaves Micah because he recognizes him as a traitor and the cause of the gang’s destruction. He understands the truth after Arthur’s death and after seeing Micah’s behavior firsthand in the mountains, so he has no choice but to finally turn on him.
15. Where does Charles go after RDR2?
Charles departs after the events at Beecher’s Hope, and is speculated to have gone to Canada to start a new life and pursue his desire to raise a family there.