Red Dead Redemption 2: The Price of Greed – What If Arthur Goes For The Money?

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In the tragic climax of Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan faces an agonizing choice: help John escape with his family or return to Beaver Hollow to retrieve the gang’s hidden money. Choosing the latter path, while seemingly offering a glimmer of financial redemption, seals Arthur’s fate with a dark and brutal twist. Instead of a bittersweet, honorable death witnessing the sunrise, Arthur succumbs to Micah’s ruthlessness. He’s stabbed in the side and then engaged in a brutal knife fight. The consequences of this decision reverberate through the game’s epilogue, painting a grim portrait of a man consumed by loyalty to a collapsing dream, even in his final moments.

The Grim Reality of Prioritizing Greed

Opting to go for the money transforms Arthur’s final moments from a poignant farewell into a desperate struggle for survival. Instead of a final, heartfelt exchange with John, guiding him towards a future free from the Van der Linde gang’s shadow, Arthur returns to the ravaged camp, driven by a sense of obligation and a desire to salvage something from the wreckage. He finds the money, but this is where it goes all wrong, leading to a vicious encounter with Micah Bell.

The ensuing confrontation is markedly different from the “high honor” ending. In the high honor ending, Arthur, weakened by tuberculosis, finds a degree of peace and acceptance. Here, driven by desperation and the immediate threat of Micah, Arthur fights with a primal ferocity. The game mechanics reflect this change; the fight is noticeably more brutal. The ending itself, regardless of player skill, results in Arthur’s death. Even with high honor, Arthur’s end is hastened by the conflict. There are no peaceful sunrises. The game emphasizes that even with all the money in the world, Arthur is destined to die.

The Impact on Dutch

The choice to go for the money also has subtle but significant implications for Dutch van der Linde’s character arc. In the high honor ending, Arthur’s dying words plant a seed of doubt in Dutch’s mind, suggesting Micah’s betrayal and the gang’s ultimate downfall was largely orchestrated by the traitor. This act of betrayal, however, is far less likely if Arthur dies in pursuit of money. With a dishonorable Arthur’s death, Dutch is robbed of that final moment of clarity, and the weight of his responsibility for the gang’s demise is slightly lessened. Even though Dutch will eventually understand his mistakes and shoot Micah, this final act may not be done in an honor of Arthur.

The Epilogue’s Echoes

While John Marston’s experiences in the epilogue remain largely the same, the underlying emotional current shifts depending on Arthur’s final choice. If Arthur died helping John, his memory serves as a guiding light, reminding John of the values of family, loyalty, and redemption. John works to build a life based on Arthur’s sacrifice.

On the other hand, if Arthur died while going for the money, his memory becomes more complex, tinged with regret and a sense of unfinished business. John may feel a greater burden to honor Arthur’s memory by providing for his family, but the knowledge that Arthur’s last act was driven by greed or a misplaced sense of loyalty can cast a shadow over his efforts. The moral ambiguity makes the epilogue a more nuanced experience, as John grapples with the complexities of Arthur’s legacy.

Reflecting On The Game’s Themes

Ultimately, choosing to go for the money serves as a powerful illustration of Red Dead Redemption 2’s central themes. It underscores the futility of clinging to material possessions in the face of mortality and the corrosive effects of greed on human relationships.

Conclusion

Opting for the money in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a stark reminder that sometimes, the noblest course of action is not the easiest or most profitable one. It highlights the true values of loyalty, and making the right decision. You can discover many more topics like this when you visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, to learn about video games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you navigate the complex moral choices in Red Dead Redemption 2:

1. Does Arthur get to keep the money if he goes back for it? No. Arthur manages to find the money, but he doesn’t get to keep it for long. Micah ambushes him shortly after. The money itself becomes a source of conflict and ultimately contributes to Arthur’s death.

2. Does Arthur’s honor level affect whether he survives going for the money? While a high honor level might influence the specifics of the final fight with Micah (like Arthur slashing Micah’s eye), it doesn’t guarantee Arthur’s survival. Arthur’s death will change depending on his honor and final actions. A dishonorable Arthur is killed by Micah Bell regardless of circumstances.

3. What specific changes occur in the fight with Micah if Arthur has high honor versus low honor when going for the money? With high honor, Arthur may inflict a lasting wound on Micah, such as slashing his eye. With low honor, the fight is even more brutal and one-sided. Regardless, neither leads to survival.

4. Can John retrieve the money Arthur goes for in the epilogue if Arthur chose to go back for it? The game doesn’t allow John to retrieve the money if Arthur goes for it in his final moments. Regardless of whether Arthur got the money, it disappears by the time John takes over.

5. Does Dutch react differently to Arthur’s death if he goes for the money? Dutch might be slightly less affected by Arthur’s death if he goes for the money. The seeds of doubt and realization about Micah’s betrayal are less strongly planted, potentially delaying or altering his eventual confrontation with Micah in the epilogue.

6. Does the ending cutscene change depending on whether Arthur goes for the money? The ending cutscene does not alter the ending. The sunset scene will not play out. The game emphasizes that even with all the money in the world, Arthur is destined to die.

7. Is there any way to save Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2? Unfortunately, no. Arthur’s death is a fixed part of the narrative, regardless of your choices or actions throughout the game.

8. If I go for the money, will John still be able to build his ranch in the epilogue? Yes, John will still be able to build his ranch in the epilogue. The events of the epilogue are largely independent of Arthur’s final choice. John can do everything that Arthur can.

9. Does choosing the money affect the dialogue between John and Abigail in the epilogue? The dialogue between John and Abigail may contain subtle references to Arthur’s legacy, but his final choice doesn’t drastically alter their relationship or the overall plot of the epilogue.

10. Does Arthur’s grave site differ depending on whether he went for the money? Arthur Morgan’s grave is located east of Donner Falls and northeast of Bacchus Station in Ambarino. It’s in a fittingly wonderful spot overlooking the valley and the mountains. Those who finished the game with high honor will find his grave covered in flowers.

11. If Arthur dies going for the money, does John ever find out about it, or does he just assume Arthur died helping him? The game doesn’t explicitly state whether John learns about Arthur’s decision to go for the money, which adds a layer of ambiguity to their relationship in the epilogue. It depends on the character’s honor and actions.

12. Does choosing the money impact the availability of certain Stranger Missions for John in the epilogue? While Arthur may have passed on, his work remains. John can complete (almost) all of the Stranger Missions that Arthur was undertaking, the only exceptions seemingly being the ones for Mary Linton, for obvious reasons.

13. Why did Dutch betray Arthur? Dutch misjudged Arthur’s intentions all throughout the game because Dutch believed that Arthur would betray him as soon as they got the money (last train robbery). However, he was speechless upon hearing and dismissing Arthur’s confession about Micah on ratting out on the gang.

14. Does John know Micah killed Arthur? It is mentioned that John knows that Micah ratted them out, but whether he actually knows that Micah killed/brutally beat Arthur is never directly said.

15. Will there be a rdr3? So, if we base our judgement on that, we won’t see a Red Dead Redemption 3 until 2026 at the earliest. However, there have been a few hints and teases from Rockstar Games that mean we’ll certainly be back hunting bounties on horseback at some point.