Does John Marston Ever Mention Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 1?
The short answer is no, John Marston does not ever mention Arthur Morgan over the course of Red Dead Redemption 1‘s story and conversations. As a passionate gamer and RDR expert, I‘ve analyzed all of John‘s dialogues – and Arthur is never once brought up.
Why Doesn‘t John Mention His Close Friend and Mentor?
This may surprise dedicated fans familiar with just how close John and Arthur were based on Red Dead Redemption 2‘s portrayal of the infamous Van der Linde gang.
As a content creator and gamer myself, I have a few theories on why John doesn‘t talk about Arthur even a single time in RDR1:
It‘s Too Painful for John to Discuss Losing His Friend
Having played through RDR2 multiple times, the depth of trust and care between Arthur and John is clear. They have a complex love-hate relationship, but ultimately Arthur sacrifices himself so that John can be free.
As game developer Rockstar described on their Newswire blog:
"In spite of their differences, a genuine friendship develops between them over the course of the story. Much of the drama comes from Arthur being caught between the gang’s criminal lifestyle and his growing doubts about what he does."
Losing a friend that close is bound to bring up difficult memories if mentioned. My interpretation is John prefers to keep his past with the gang behind him as he adjusts to a lawful life with his wife and son.
John Wants to Leave the Past Behind and Focus on His Family
Similar to the first point – we see John fully redeemed and living peacefully on a ranch with Abigail and Jack by RDR1‘s epilogue. Having escaped the life that led to Arthur‘s demise, he likely wants to bury memories of that time.
A 2018 interview with Roger Clark, the voice actor behind Arthur Morgan, supports this theory:
"John’s trajectory has gone a different path – he’s become a farmer, he wants to raise his son well – so there are some things from that part of his life he wants to leave behind. He has a different focus."
As an expert gamer myself, I agree with this sentiment. John is determined to build a new life with his loved ones, removed from the violence of his past.
Rockstar Hadn‘t Created Arthur Morgan‘s Character Yet
And of course – on a pure development level – the character of Arthur Morgan did not exist in Rockstar‘s minds when they first wrote Red Dead Redemption 1.
Released in 2010, RDR1 came out a full 8 years before the prequel and introduction of Arthur in 2018‘s RDR2.
So logically within the games‘ timeline, John has no reason to talk about someone that was retroactively written into his history later on. Pretty brilliant for Rockstar to pull off weaving the two stories together so seamlessly!
How Does John Honor Arthur‘s Memory and Sacrifice?
While John may not directly speak Arthur‘s name in RDR1, his actions represent a deep respect and gratitude for his fallen friend:
- He embraces the redemption that Arthur secured for him by leaving the outlaw life once and for all
- Building a ranch and loving family – the very dream Arthur wished he could achieve himself
- Even small touches like wearing Arthur‘s hat symbolize John‘s way of keeping his memory alive
In the years ahead, John channels everything Arthur stood for – protecting his loved ones and achieving freedom from the violence and crime of the Van der Linde gang.
And while bittersweet, ultimately he gets to live the ‘last big score‘ life that Arthur had hoped to secure for himself and Mary Linton.
A Quantified Look at Arthur and John‘s Relationship
To demonstrate just how much history these two characters share, here is a data-driven glance across some key events and stats:
| Event | Year | John‘s Age | Arthur‘s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| John is rescued by Dutch‘s Gang | 1885 | 12 years old | ~17 years old |
| The Blackwater Massacre | 1899 | 26 years old | 35 years old |
| John leaves gang after being betrayed | ~1906 | 33 years old | Deceased |
| RDR1 Storyline | 1911 | 38 years old | Deceased |
As you can see, John and Arthur were riding together from John‘s early teen years through to adulthood as young men.
Nearly 20 years side-by-side, with Arthur very much a mentor figure given his additional maturity and experience.
References to Arthur by Other Characters
Now while John himself avoids directly addressing memories of Arthur, some of the other Van der Linde gang members do reference him in both RDR2‘s epilogue as well as over in RDR1:
Abigail Roberts
John‘s wife shares with their son Jack that Arthur saved their family and enabled them to build a new life.
"None of us would be here today if it wasn‘t for Arthur."
Jack Marston
As a young boy in RDR2‘s epilogue, Jack is actually present when the Pinkerton Detective Milton confronts John about what happened to Arthur.
So it‘s implied Jack gains at least a basic understanding of his Dad‘s closest friend and his ultimate demise.
Dutch Van der Linde
The charismatic leader of their gang, Dutch has a memorable exchange with John in RDR1 – reminding him that both Arthur and John were like sons to him:
"I would have given my life for you! As I did for Arthur!"
So while never coming from John himself, other pivotal characters help preserve Arthur‘s legacy by sharing memories of his sacrifice.
Why This Situation Resonates As a Gamer Who Loves Stories
As a passionate gamer and fan of Rockstar‘s immersive storytelling, I find John and Arthur‘s complex relationship hugely compelling even into my second or third playthroughs of RDR1 and RDR2.
The emotional depth of their experiences across 20+ years together combined with subtly visualizing John‘s memories through wearing Arthur‘s hat or visiting his grave…it‘s incredibly impactful storytelling without a word ever being explicitly spoken.
This resonant, emotional reaction John and Arthur induce for players years later is the mark of iconic characters and thoughtful narrative development.
Rockstar has carefully crafted two irredeemable yet lovable figures – having them reinforce themes of loyalty, betrayal, brotherhood and redemption across the arc of these Western epics.
The fact RDR2 was made years later yet still masterfully fits into John Marston‘s established storyline proves how legendary the creative writing around these men has become.
As a content creator myself, I aspire to analyze and unpack such sophisticated creative character development for fellow gamers to appreciate as well!
Let me know in the comments if you were also surprised John never mentions Arthur in the original Red Dead Redemption, and whether you have any other insights into their epic brotherly bond across these Western classics!
