Rockstar Games loves to inject cameos, easter eggs, and especially mysteries in all of its games, from UFOs to Bigfoot. Red Dead Redemption in particular is chock full of arguably the most mysteries in any Rockstar Games titles to date. Whether its in-game representations of real-life phenomenon, or interpretations of common mythological tales and rumors, or delving into elements of the supernatural, Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 are full of all sorts of complex meta-stories. However, arguably the most nebulous mystery that extends between both games is the Strange Man, the enigmatic figure always dressed to the nines.
In Red Dead Redemption, the Strange Man's presence always seems to bring with him one commonality: Death. A lot of the speculation surrounding the Strange Man's existence is surrounded on the theory that he is, indeed, the physical manifestation of Death. A literal Grim Reaper. Others believe he is a presence of God, who's neutral nature is meant to spur on humans into either committing good deeds or sins. Many believe that the evidence in game suggests he is solely the Devil, a harbinger of evil. Considering Rockstar Games has never made an official comment on who exactly the Strange Man is, the mystery of his existence is all up to players' interpretation.
The Strange Man, Red Dead Redemption's Most Supernatural Mystery
All of the other mysteries in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 are, for the most part, based on real-life phenomenon or myth. Arguably, so is the Strange Man to some, but he doesn't concretely resemble any known entity like the many other mysteries in both games. Other than the UFO mystery that every token Rockstar Games title has, things like the Meteorites, the Viking Tomb, the missing Blackwater Athletics Team, these mysteries are all based on real-life events from around the world. The Strange Man does seem representative of some literary examples, but he holds no physical resemblance to anything like the many other mysteries in the game.
The closest resemblance the Strange Man has to any kind of real-life fiction is Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger, largely because of the events that occur in Armadillo at Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue. One of Mark Twain's lesser known works, the story tells of an aptly named stranger ("Satan") who appears in town just as strange things start to occur. For those familiar with the Armadillo epidemic mystery, Mark Twain's work will sound awfully familiar. Otherwise, the Strange Man's appearance and behavior are largely up to interpretation, unlike every other mystery in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Strange Man's Place Alongside John Marston
Most fans will know the Strange Man from his impact on John Marston, as part of the "I Know You" stranger missions. In two out of the three missions, players are presented with two moral choices, of which players can make the high honor or low honor choice. Either way, the Strange Man presents himself as a neutral party in these scenarios, at first seeming like a representation of John's subconscious. Yet, despite the players choices, the Strange Man shows up one last time at the place that would soon become John's gravesite. After a confrontational conversation, John fires three shots before his gun jams, and the Strange Man disappears without a trace.
This is where players' interpretations of God or Death stem from regarding the Strange Man. It's clear that the three shots are symbolism of Red Dead Redemption's climax, where John, Abigail, and Uncle pass away and are buried at the exact spot where the Strange Man stands. Many believe John's gun jamming on the fourth shot is emblematic of Jack Marston surviving the cycle of violence that Red Dead Redemption's events perpetuate. The Strange Man's neutrality throughout his stranger missions in Red Dead Redemption seem to infer he's some kind of arbiter of death, which is further emphasized of his actions prior to meeting John Marston as well.
Devil or Not, the Strange Man Always Brings Death
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the Strange Man has a much more subtly impactful presence compared to the first game. Throughout the main story, Arthur has no interaction with the Strange Man other than his mysterious shack that can be found in Lemoyne. However, it's the clues in the shack that point to an even larger, separate mystery that also involves the Strange Man. The outbreak of Cholera in Armadillo is also tied to the Strange Man, which is where interpretations of the Devil stem from. He almost stereotypically strikes a deal with Herbert Moon, the store owner, to decide between "happiness or two generations."
This is in reference to a letter that can be found on Herbert Moon, addressed to him from his daughter, who also mentions a grandson. The "happiness" end of the deal was likely related to the Cholera outbreak in Armadillo, which affects his business profit as well as those around him. Some took this event in Red Dead Redemption 2 as the closest thing to proof of the Strange Man's presence, not necessarily as an arbiter of Death, but perhaps as a harbinger of chaos like the Devil. To this day, it's still unclear which is the definitive answer to the Strange Man's reason to exist. There may not even be one at all.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
