The Mystery of Arthur Morgan’s Untouchable Tuberculosis: Why Didn’t Anyone Else Get Sick?
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The tragic tale of Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 is forever etched in gaming history. His character arc, culminating in a heart-wrenching demise from tuberculosis (TB), is a powerful narrative. However, a common question lingers among players: Why didn’t anyone else in the Van der Linde gang contract TB from Arthur? The short answer is a complex mix of game mechanics, narrative convenience, and a dash of historical inaccuracy intertwined for dramatic effect. While the game strives for realism, some liberties were taken to prioritize the story.
Understanding the Contradictions: Gameplay vs. Reality
While the game accurately depicts the grim realities of 19th-century TB as a widespread and deadly disease, the transmission dynamics within the game world deviate from real-world epidemiology. In reality, TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing infectious droplets. Close and prolonged contact with an infected individual significantly increases the risk of transmission.
Arthur Morgan, particularly in the later stages of his illness, would have been coughing frequently, experiencing fatigue, and potentially spreading the bacteria. Considering the close quarters of the gang’s camps, shared meals, and other daily interactions, the lack of secondary infections seems improbable from a purely scientific standpoint. However, the game mechanics likely override these realistic possibilities.
Game Mechanics and Narrative Prioritization
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a complex and intricate game, but it’s still a game. Implementing realistic disease transmission would have dramatically altered the gameplay loop, potentially leading to widespread illness within the gang and significantly impacting the player’s ability to progress. The developers at Rockstar Games likely made a conscious decision to focus on Arthur’s personal struggle with TB, using it as a catalyst for his character development and ultimate redemption, without turning the game into a disease management simulator. It’s a classic case of narrative trumping absolute realism.
The story’s focus is Arthur’s journey and eventual demise from the disease. Introducing further cases of TB into the gang could dilute the impact of Arthur’s suffering and complicate the storyline unnecessarily. This narrative focus necessitates a certain degree of suspension of disbelief from the player.
A Touch of Historical Inaccuracy?
While the game gets some things right about TB in 1899 (it was indeed a leading cause of death), it also misses some nuanced details about the disease. TB is not always rapidly contagious, and the progression of the disease can vary significantly depending on factors like individual immune system strength, overall health, and environmental conditions. In the game, Arthur contracts TB relatively quickly after his encounter with Thomas Downes, but not everyone exposed to the bacteria will develop active TB.
Furthermore, hygiene practices, albeit limited in the late 19th century, could have played a role. While unlikely given the gang’s lifestyle, avoiding sharing utensils, limited physical contact, and perhaps even simply spending time outdoors (sunlight is known to kill TB bacteria) may have contributed to preventing transmission. It’s important to understand that these would likely have had a limited effect in reality, however.
FAQs: Unpacking the Tuberculosis Mystery in Red Dead Redemption 2
1. How is Tuberculosis contracted in reality?
TB spreads through the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks, sings, sneezes, or spits, releasing tiny droplets containing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Close and prolonged contact with an infected person increases the risk of transmission.
2. Why didn’t Arthur take precautions after his diagnosis?
Arthur does seem to take some precautions after diagnosis, though these precautions are not explicitly shown in the game. He often rides separately and may try to avoid close physical contact. However, it is more likely the game wants players to experience the story without extra precautions.
3. Could Arthur have survived Tuberculosis with modern treatment?
Absolutely. Today, TB is curable with a course of antibiotics, typically lasting six to nine months. Early diagnosis and adherence to treatment are crucial for successful outcomes. If Arthur had access to modern antibiotics, his fate would have been vastly different.
4. Was Tuberculosis always a death sentence?
Before the advent of antibiotics, TB was often a fatal disease, especially in its active form. While some individuals with strong immune systems could fight off the infection, many succumbed to the illness. The discovery of streptomycin in the 1940s revolutionized TB treatment.
5. Did Rockstar Games consult with medical experts on the depiction of TB?
While it’s difficult to say definitively, it’s likely that Rockstar Games did some research on TB, given the level of detail in other aspects of the game. However, the primary focus would have been on narrative impact and gameplay, rather than perfect medical accuracy.
6. Did Arthur give anyone else a disease?
There is nothing that says he gave anyone else a disease. Considering the prevalence of other diseases in that time, it would not have been a surprise.
7. Could artificial pneumothorax have saved Arthur?
Artificial pneumothorax, a procedure that involves collapsing a lung to allow it to rest and heal, was a treatment used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While it could sometimes halt the progression of TB, it was not a cure and carried significant risks. It’s unlikely it would have saved Arthur, especially given the advanced stage of his illness.
8. Is there a secret outcome where Arthur doesn’t get TB?
No, there is no way to avoid Arthur contracting TB in Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a fixed part of the storyline and a crucial element of his character arc.
9. Did Dutch know that Micah was a rat?
The game implies that Dutch may have suspected Micah was a rat but was blinded by Micah’s loyalty to him and his own deteriorating mental state. The dynamic between Dutch, Arthur, and Micah is a complex and tragic element of the narrative.
10. Would Hosea have sided with Arthur or Dutch?
Most players believe Hosea, being the pragmatic and rational voice of the gang, would have sided with Arthur. Hosea valued loyalty and integrity, and he likely would have seen through Micah’s manipulative nature.
11. Why was Dutch so easily swayed by Micah?
Dutch’s increasingly erratic behavior and descent into madness made him susceptible to Micah’s influence. Micah played on Dutch’s ego and ambition, manipulating him for his own gain.
12. Did Arthur know how he contracted TB?
Yes, Arthur explicitly knows that he contracted TB from Thomas Downes during one of the debt collection missions. The game visually shows the encounter, leaving no room for ambiguity.
13. Why did Arthur hate Micah so much?
Arthur hated Micah for his betrayal of the gang, his manipulative nature, and his role in the gang’s downfall. Micah’s actions directly led to the deaths of many members and ultimately contributed to Arthur’s own demise.
14. What was Arthur’s most memorable quote?
While there are several powerful quotes, “We’re thieves in a world that don’t want us no more” encapsulates the gang’s plight and the changing times, highlighting Arthur’s understanding of their inevitable decline.
15. How does Red Dead Redemption 2 contribute to game-based learning?
Red Dead Redemption 2, despite its fictional setting, offers opportunities for historical and social learning. The game world reflects aspects of late 19th-century American society, including its challenges with disease, poverty, and social injustice. Games can be complex systems that demand critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. To further explore the potential of games in education, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.