As the two protagonists of the Red Dead Redemption series, John Marston and Arthur Morgan's stories share some strong similarities. The games have taken players through the lives of both men as they travel, fight, and do their best to survive in the wild west against the law and rival gangs alike. The Red Dead Redemption titles have managed to make both men into interesting, complex, and sympathetic characters despite their long criminal pasts, thanks to their strong writing. When taking in the stories of both characters, it's easy to see similar moments in both of their lives.
Players can always find more things in Red Dead Redemption 2 even on subsequent playthroughs, and that includes the characters. There are a lot of character moments and interactions at camp that the player might miss the first time around. This is equally true in regard to Arthur and John's journals, which are filled out over time as the player completes missions and makes various discoveries. All of this helps to flesh out the characters of Arthur Morgan and John Marston further. However, the most important details about the two men come out over the course of the games' main stories.
Red Dead Redemption's John and Arthur's Lives Have Many Eerie Similarities
One backstory element shared by John and Arthur is that both joined Red Dead Redemption's Van der Linde gang early in life. Both Arthur and John lost their parents early in life, leaving them on the streets before they were even teenagers. Each of them survived on the streets through petty crime before being found by Dutch and Hosea and properly invited into the game. This made Dutch into a father figure for both of them, explaining their strong sense of loyalty to the gang. Although the Van der Linde gang would meet a tragic end, there's no questioning Dutch's influence on John and Arthur.
Attempts to start a family are another thing that John and Arthur have in common. Arthur had a son before RDR2, and he intended to be there for him and his mother. Tragically, Arthur never got to be a family man, as his lover and son were killed by robbers, which remains Arthur's greatest regret. John, on the other hand, got to experience married life and fatherhood, although his lacking approach greatly annoyed the still-mourning Arthur, though fortunately John eventually got his act together. Although their experiences were very different, both men did have their own attempts at having a family.
The last correlation between John and Arthur's lives came at their respective ends. After his final fight with Micah, Arthur dies in Red Dead Redemption 2, with the circumstance depending on the player's ending. Likewise, John meets his end in the first game's finale, being surrounded by lawmen with no way out. Both men ultimately died in an attempt to save those who were closest to them. Arthur sacrificed himself to secure a safe escape for the Marston family, while John died fighting to protect his wife and son. Both men were lifelong outlaws but gave their lives for their loved ones in the end.
Arthur and John were two men born years apart, but their lives saw a remarkable series of corollaries. Red Dead Redemption 2 had one of the greatest video game stories of its generation, and Arthur and John were the main contributors to its strength. Both men were outlaws in their teens, who attempted to have families of their own and died for the people that they cared about, making them noble figures in their harsh world. The Red Dead Redemption games are ultimately tragedies, proven by the echoing stories of their protagonists.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
