Spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead.

Highlights

  • Red Dead Redemption 2 explores themes of revenge and redemption through complex characters.
  • The game shows the dangers of revenge, leading to cycles of violence and unintended consequences.
  • Although the game has moments where revenge is satisfying, it also conveys the message that revenge is ultimately foolish.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is noted for its intricate details and stunning world. It also features a narrative driven by characters that might be some of the best and most complex in gaming. It is through these characters that the themes are conveyed.

The big themes include, of course, redemption, as well as the change that comes with the passage of time. Revenge is also a big theme, and Red Dead Redemption 2 seems to take an ambivalent approach. This leaves it up to the player to draw their own conclusions.

Arthur Morgan riding his horse
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Red Dead Redemption 2's Case Against Revenge

Vengeance rarely goes right. It often ends up hurting unintended people and seldom brings the satisfaction it promises. Most importantly, it opens up cycles of violence that can be near-impossible to break. This is seen with the O'Driscolls and the Van der Linde gang. After killing Colm O'Driscoll's brother, Colm retaliates by murdering Dutch's lover. This sparks a back-and-forth that has the two gangs combating, resulting in a lot of unnecessary deaths.

How Sadie Becomes Part of the Cycle of Violence in Red Dead Redemption 2

Sadie Adler is sucked into this cycle of violence when her husband is killed by an O'Driscoll. After she is brought into the Van der Linde gang, she has a period of mourning, but soon after, she takes on a more violent persona, eager to prove she's capable of anything a cowboy can do. She also develops a deep hate for the O'Driscolls and hunts them down, eventually killing her husband's murderer.

It initially appears that the message about revenge in Red Dead Redemption is simple. As Arthur Morgan says, "vengeance is a fool's game". However, this isn't the whole story, as can be seen in the ending of Red Dead Dedemption 2.

Revenge is Baked Into Red Dead Redemption 2's Satisfying Conclusion

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The game does a lot to make players absolutely loathe Micah Bell. As soon as he joins the gang, things go awry. He constantly mocks Arthur and gives bad advice to Dutch, playing a large role in the fall of the Van der Linde gang. As though that isn't enough, in one of the possible endings, Micah is the one to end Arthur's life.

RDR2's ending features John Marston in a showdown with Micah. At this point, Rockstar's game seems to revel in the idea of revenge, allowing the player to enjoy finally punishing a hated character. Although it's fun to leave Micah riddled with bullets, it also contradicts the idea of revenge being a fool's game.

How to Make Sense of Revenge in Red Dead Redemption 2

It's ultimately up to each player to decide what idea is more appealing. For some, this is a contradiction within RDR2, and it is ultimately a flaw in the narrative. For others, they may accept that no rules are absolute, and Micah is villainous enough to deserve what comes his way.

Justifying revenge is a dangerous route. It can lead to vengeance and cruelty, as seen several times with Dutch van der Linde and his foes. The shooter seldom finds the satisfaction they crave, and more importantly, dead victims can never find redemption. Still, the complicated nature of revenge cuts both ways.