What is the Best Ending for Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2?
The “best” ending for Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 is undoubtedly the high honor ending where he helps John Marston escape. While Arthur’s fate is sealed regardless of your choices, this ending provides the most meaningful culmination of his character arc, demonstrating his ultimate redemption and selflessness. He chooses to sacrifice himself for a chance at a better life for John, Abigail, and Jack, securing their future at the cost of his own. This path offers a poignant and thematically resonant conclusion to Arthur’s journey from outlaw to a man striving for redemption.
The Honorable Path: Redemption Achieved
Choosing to help John Marston triggers the “high honor” ending. This sequence sees Arthur aiding John in his escape, leading to a final confrontation with Pinkertons and, ultimately, Micah Bell. Though Arthur succumbs to his tuberculosis and wounds sustained in the fight, he does so knowing he did everything in his power to ensure John’s family had a chance at happiness. A crucial element signifying this positive resolution is the appearance of a deer, a symbol of honor and rebirth in the game’s visual language. This symbolizes that Arthur chose an honorable path when deciding to help John Marston make his escape.
This ending aligns perfectly with Arthur’s character development throughout the game, particularly if you’ve played him as someone striving for good deeds, even amidst the chaos and violence of his life. It emphasizes the themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the possibility of change, even in the face of inevitable death. It underscores the idea that Arthur, despite his past transgressions, ultimately dies a good man.
Why This Ending Resonates
Several factors contribute to the high honor ending being considered the “best”:
- Character Consistency: It rewards players who have made choices aligning with a more honorable Arthur throughout the game, making the ending feel earned and narratively consistent.
- Thematic Resonance: It reinforces the game’s central themes of redemption and the possibility of change. Arthur’s self-sacrifice highlights the power of these themes.
- Emotional Impact: The sunrise ending, where Arthur passes away peacefully while watching the dawn, is incredibly moving and provides a sense of closure, even in tragedy.
- Legacy: By ensuring John’s escape, Arthur effectively sets the stage for the events of the original Red Dead Redemption, solidifying his importance in the overall narrative of the series.
The Alternative: The Low Honor Ending
The alternative ending, triggered by low honor, paints a much grimmer picture. In this scenario, Arthur focuses on getting money for himself, and he and John struggle atop a cliff. As he faces Micah, he dies in a more brutal and less dignified manner, either shot in the head or stabbed in the back. The appearance of a coyote instead of a deer further emphasizes the dishonorable path he chose. While this ending is still powerful, it lacks the sense of closure and redemption that makes the high honor ending so compelling.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Arthur’s Fate
1. Does Arthur Morgan get a happy ending?
Not in the traditional sense. Arthur’s story is inherently tragic, as he is ultimately doomed to die from tuberculosis. However, the high honor ending can be seen as “happy” in a redemptive way. He succumbs to his illness after making amends and ensuring the safety of John and his family. This is as close to a positive outcome as Arthur can achieve.
2. Can you save Arthur from TB in RDR2?
Unfortunately, no. There is no cure for Arthur’s tuberculosis in Red Dead Redemption 2. Once he contracts the disease, his fate is sealed. The game’s narrative is built around Arthur’s struggle with his mortality.
3. Can Arthur Morgan be saved in any alternate ending?
No, Arthur cannot be saved in any ending. His death is a central plot point of the game. There is no secret ending where he survives.
4. How many different endings are there for Arthur?
There are technically four different endings for Arthur, determined by your honor level and the choice you make in his final mission (helping John or going back for the money). These are broken down into high honor helping John, low honor helping John, high honor for the money, and low honor for the money. However, these are similar because they are essentially grouped by honor level, offering slight variations in the cutscenes.
5. Can you play as Arthur after he dies?
No, you cannot play as Arthur after he dies. The story shifts to John Marston, and you play as him for the epilogue.
6. Is there any way to avoid Arthur’s death altogether?
The only way to “avoid” Arthur’s death is to not progress in the main story missions after Chapter 4, before Arthur is diagnosed with tuberculosis. This way, you can keep playing as Arthur indefinitely.
7. What is the saddest ending in RDR2?
Many consider the low honor ending the saddest. Arthur’s death is more brutal, and he dies without achieving redemption or making amends for his past actions.
8. Why does Dutch shoot Micah at the end of the game?
Dutch’s motivations are complex, but ultimately, he shoots Micah because he finally acknowledges Micah’s betrayal and the role he played in the downfall of the gang and the death of Arthur. Some believe that, in a way, Dutch gains his redemption by shooting the man responsible for the downfall of his gang and the death of his surrogate son.
9. Is Arthur a better shot than Micah?
While both are skilled gunslingers, the game implies that Arthur is the better shot. Numerous characters comment on Arthur’s skill with a gun throughout the story.
10. Did Dutch regret his actions towards Arthur?
It’s never explicitly stated, but it’s highly likely that Dutch harbored regret over how things ended with Arthur. Despite his descent into madness and narcissism, Arthur was essentially a son to Dutch, making the betrayal and ultimate loss deeply impactful.
11. Is Arthur mentioned in Red Dead Redemption (RDR1)?
Arthur is not mentioned in RDR1. The game focuses on John Marston’s story, and Arthur’s existence was only established in the prequel, RDR2. It’s possible John chose not to speak of him to protect his family from the truth of his past.
12. Why did Dutch walk away at the end of RDR2 after shooting Micah?
Dutch walks away because he is at a loss of what to do and because he knows his entire life was a sham. His gang is gone. His way of life is gone. All his dreams are in tatters. This scene represents the death of his ideals and way of life.
13. How does Arthur’s story contribute to the overall themes of Red Dead Redemption 2?
Arthur’s journey is central to the game’s themes of redemption, loyalty, and the clash between the old west and the encroaching modern world. His struggle with his past, his relationships within the gang, and his eventual sacrifice all contribute to a powerful and poignant narrative.
14. Is there a planned Red Dead Redemption 3?
While nothing is confirmed, many believe that we will one day see Red Dead Redemption 3. Rockstar Games has hinted at future installments, but the development cycle for these games is extensive. Some predict an earliest release date for the next installment as 2026.
15. Does gaming have an impact on learning?
The gaming industry has a profound impact on learning, from its capacity to teach coding skills through modding to its ability to simulate social scenarios, helping children with social disorders to learn. The Games Learning Society website (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a great resource for learning more about the intersection of games and education. You can access the site here: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.