There's a lot of ways to compare Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan with his RDR1/RDR2 counterpart John Marston. They are similar in a lot of ways, including their capability of downright cruelty as an outlaw, but they also differ in a lot of ways. Though both could be described as men of action, only Arthur Morgan could really described as a man of thought.
The introspective nature of Arthur Morgan is on display throughout the game. Part of this reflects on the dying ways of the Wild West, as well as Morgan's own struggles with his lot and the plans of Dutch Van Der Linde. It's not surprising, as such, that Arthur Morgan constantly communicates with himself in Red Dead Redemption 2, but the sheer degree by which he constantly speaks to, communicates with, and entertains himself may be surprising. After all, it's not like there's many people to speak with, but an outlaw's best friend is usually his gun, not himself.
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The Introspections of Arthur Morgan
First off, it's worth addressing the obvious. Many chapters in Red Dead Redemption 2 begin with Arthur's thoughts about recent or upcoming developments. In-game, this is somewhat explained as Arthur writes in his journal, but such writing is introspective itself. Journals are often one's way of getting thoughts on paper, and that's no different for Arthur Morgan.
This form of self-communication is the most obvious throughout the game. Not only does it add context to the events, but if reflects on the overall character of Arthur Morgan, thus endearing him further to fans. His "speak softly but carry a big stick" approach carries on to the end; in the good honor ending of Red Dead Redemption 2, it's the absence of introspection that shows how he passes peacefully, in conjunction with the sunset. In contrast to the bad honor ending, where Micah kills Morgan, his last words are "d*mn us both!" Without the sunset, the peace that comes in the silence of his good honor passing, and the vocal communication of his honorless ways, it shows a great contrast not just in Arthur Morgan but how he communicates with himself and sees himself as a person.
The Odds and Ends of Arthur Morgan
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game jam-packed with details, and Morgan himself is a man with a big attention to detail. Many of these revolve around him too, and paying close attention means other odds and ends come out. For example, sometimes when reloading a revolver,Arthur Morgan will actually count the bullets. Players can see his lips moving as he does so, indicating that he has it in his head. The why here is obvious: knowing how many bullets he has in a revolver could be a life or death situation, from a role-playing and immersive POV.
Red Dead Redemption 2 players will also learn one detail about Arthur Morgan if they look in the mirror: he's not always his biggest fan. Arthur Morgan will comment on the things he's done while looking in the mirror, showcasing how aware he is of his character regardless of honor. It's one of those small details where a seemingly simple action sees Morgan revealing more of himself, and in this one way, it's clear he's depressed. He'll say things like "you ugly b*stard, you got old and kind of sad. No wonder they all leave you.'
At the same time, there's less serious moments. Morgan will hum to himself while riding a horse, which could be comparable to playing music while driving today. It's done for entertainment's sake, but it's part of his character too: good or bad, Morgan can constantly be seen communicating with himself in some regard.
All of this is to say that players should always keep an eye on ways Morgan communicates with himself. The game became an instant classic, so it's a safe bet many are still playing Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2021. With all of this said, there's a lot that goes unsaid in the game, and it's one movement of the lips away from being noticed by eagle-eyed fans.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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