Why Didn’t Dutch Go With Micah? Understanding the Complex Motivations in Red Dead Redemption 2
The final confrontation in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a tense and dramatic affair. After the death of Arthur Morgan, John Marston, accompanied by Sadie Adler, finally tracks down the treacherous Micah Bell. There, they find a seemingly changed Dutch Van Der Linde, who, instead of siding with his former right-hand man, joins in the assault against Micah. But the question lingers: Why didn’t Dutch go with Micah? The simple answer is that Dutch finally realized, though belatedly, the extent of Micah’s betrayal and manipulation. It wasn’t a sudden epiphany, but a culmination of events, and most importantly, Arthur’s dying words which forced Dutch to confront the truth.
The Weight of Arthur’s Words
The final, heartbreaking moments of Arthur’s life are pivotal. As Arthur lays dying, he confronts Dutch one last time, desperately urging him to see Micah for the rat he truly is. Arthur’s plea isn’t just a moment of venting frustration; it’s a desperate attempt to save the last vestiges of the gang’s ideals, which he felt Dutch was sacrificing. These words, uttered with such raw emotion and conviction, planted a seed of doubt in Dutch’s mind. While his ego initially prevented an immediate acceptance, this seed grew, aided by the final showdown with Micah. Arthur’s accusations, combined with the mounting evidence, broke through Dutch’s deeply rooted narcissism, forcing him to acknowledge the truth he had tried so hard to ignore.
The Deception of Micah
Micah’s manipulation of Dutch was gradual but insidious. Following the gang’s return from Guarma, Micah secretly began working as a mole for the Pinkertons, further fueling Dutch’s paranoia and pushing him toward more violent and irrational decisions. Micah constantly fed Dutch’s ego, telling him what he wanted to hear and validating his increasingly reckless behavior. This created a bond based not on genuine loyalty or respect but on calculated deceit. The botched Saint Denis heist and Hosea’s tragic death exacerbated Dutch’s mental decline, making him more vulnerable to Micah’s influence. Micah positioned himself as the only one who understood and supported Dutch’s vision, isolating him from the other gang members, including Arthur.
A Realization of Loss
The climactic confrontation at Mount Hagen served as the catalyst for Dutch’s ultimate decision. He saw John Marston’s unwavering commitment to his family and the lingering loyalty of Sadie Adler towards Arthur, all of which contrasted sharply with Micah’s treacherous behavior. Seeing John, a man whom Dutch had once dismissed and even betrayed, returning to face Micah, drove home the magnitude of his errors. He realized that his desperate clinging to power and the pursuit of a misguided ideal had cost him everything. The man he thought was his loyal confidant, Micah, was responsible for the gang’s downfall, the death of many, including Arthur, and for the disintegration of the community he had tried so hard to build.
The Weight of Regret
Dutch’s decision not to side with Micah is, at its core, an act of recognition – a recognition of his own failure and a belated acknowledgment of Arthur’s truth. It wasn’t about a grand act of redemption, as much as it was a somber admission of being played. In a way, Dutch shooting Micah was his own form of penance. He understood he was manipulated, and it’s a testament to the depth of his character that he eventually rejected Micah, even though his ego had been deeply intertwined with the image of being a powerful, respected leader. This final act showed that, despite the narcissism and madness, there was still some semblance of the man he once was, the man Arthur had once admired.
In conclusion, Dutch didn’t go with Micah not out of sudden heroism, but due to a convergence of factors. Arthur’s dying words, Micah’s obvious treachery, and the weight of his own colossal mistakes finally broke through Dutch’s self-deception. While it doesn’t erase his past actions, it underscores the complexity and tragedy that defines Dutch Van Der Linde’s character within the narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why did Dutch trust Micah over Arthur?
Dutch trusted Micah because Micah told Dutch what he wanted to hear. Micah manipulated Dutch by constantly reinforcing his views and validating his actions, especially after the death of Hosea. Arthur, on the other hand, began to question Dutch’s decisions and the gang’s direction, leading to a rift in their relationship.
2. Did Dutch know Micah was a rat before the end of the game?
Not until the very end. As Arthur lays dying, pleading with Dutch to see that Micah is a rat, Dutch begins to piece it all together. Dutch didn’t fully understand the extent of Micah’s betrayal until Arthur’s last words and the final standoff at Mount Hagen.
3. What happened to Dutch after killing Micah?
After helping John and Sadie kill Micah, Dutch Van Der Linde walks away unharmed. He simply vanishes, leaving behind the remains of his former gang and the tragic consequences of his actions. He is not apprehended or killed in the game’s main storyline.
4. Why did Dutch wait so long to kill Micah?
Dutch’s delay in confronting Micah stemmed from his deep-seated narcissism and his inability to admit he was wrong. He was still clinging to his past, and Micah, in his mind, represented the culmination of all the events that went wrong. He needed that final confrontation to reconcile his view of the situation and finally act on the truth.
5. Did Dutch really care about Arthur?
Yes, Dutch did care about Arthur. Despite the many missteps and his own egotism, Dutch had a deep bond with Arthur, viewing him as something akin to a son. However, Dutch’s disappointment in Arthur’s lack of faith in him clouded his judgment, leading him to favor Micah’s manipulative praise instead.
6. What did Micah do to the girl?
Micah encouraged Dutch to kill a young woman to ensure the gang’s survival. While this incident is vague, it is one of the many examples of how Micah influenced Dutch’s descent into brutality. This decision marked a critical shift in Dutch’s character, moving him away from any moral ground.
7. Why did Micah manipulate Dutch?
Micah manipulated Dutch to serve his own interests and to weaken the gang so he could work with the Pinkertons. He used Dutch’s paranoia and ego to his advantage, gradually isolating him and destroying his relationships with the other gang members.
8. Why does Dutch hate John?
Dutch turned on John, viewing him as disloyal. Dutch’s increasingly paranoid state, coupled with Arthur’s skepticism, made him distrustful of those who challenged his authority. When John was left for dead, this solidified Dutch’s hatred and distrust towards him.
9. What mental illness does Dutch have in RDR2?
Dutch exhibits textbook narcissism, demonstrating a heightened sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and a need for constant validation. These traits worsened over the course of the game, leading to his increasingly destructive behavior.
10. Who was Dutch’s best friend?
Hosea Matthews was Dutch’s best friend and closest confidant. Their relationship was deeply rooted in mutual respect and trust, and Hosea’s death was a major factor in Dutch’s mental decline.
11. Did Dutch see Arthur as his son?
Yes, in a way, Dutch saw Arthur as his son. He took Arthur under his wing as a teenager, serving as one of his father figures alongside Hosea. This made his ultimate betrayal of Arthur all the more tragic.
12. Did Dutch ever regret killing Arthur?
It’s never explicitly stated if Dutch regretted how things ended with Arthur. However, it’s difficult to believe that he never felt any remorse or regret over the circumstances surrounding Arthur’s death, especially considering their history.
13. Why did Dutch shoot Micah instead of John?
Dutch shot Micah because he realized that Micah was responsible for the downfall of the gang and Arthur’s death. In a way, he did it for Arthur and sought a form of redemption for his own actions.
14. Why did Dutch turn evil?
Dutch didn’t suddenly turn evil. Rather, the pressures of the Pinkerton pursuit, the death of his friends, and the changing world caused him to become more and more ruthless, egotistical, narcissistic, and vindictive.
15. Why was Arthur not in Blackwater?
Arthur wasn’t present for the Blackwater robbery because he was with Hosea elsewhere, pulling off a con. He didn’t learn the details of the heist until after it happened, which allowed Rockstar to avoid making the opening heist playable through Arthur.