How old is Arthur Morgan in RDR2?
As one of the most compelling and complex protagonists in video game history, Arthur Morgan‘s poignant redemption arc in Red Dead Redemption 2 is made even more impactful given his relatively young age of just 36 years old. For context on how Arthur‘s age shapes his backstory and character progression, let‘s analyze some key details around his life events and how they compare to infamous real-life Wild West outlaws of the era.
Arthur‘s Early Life and Hardened Path into Outlaw Life
Arthur Morgan was born in 1863, right in the heart of the Civil War era. His parents passed when he was very young, forcing him into a difficult upbringing. The exact details of his early childhood are unclear, though life was almost certainly hard for parentless youth at the time.
Seeking community, he fell in with Dutch van der Linde and his gang of outlaws as a young teen. Though criminal activities were his livelihood, Dutch‘s mentorship gave Arthur‘s life some stability when he needed it most. This shaped Arthur‘s fierce loyalty to Dutch that persisted well into adulthood.
By his mid 30s when Red Dead 2 is set, Arthur had natural skills with a revolver and survival instincts befitting years of hard-scrabble living as an outlaw gunslinger in the Wild West. His rugged talents betrayed his young age, as most men in his line weren‘t blessed with longevity.
Key Events in Arthur‘s Life
| 1863 | Arthur Morgan is born |
| 1870s | Orphaned as a young boy |
| Late 1870s | Falls in with Dutch‘s gang around age 13-14 |
| 1877 | Meets Mary Gillis at 14 years old, when she is 12 |
| 1890s | Has son Isaac with waitress Eliza at unspecified age |
| 1899 | Becomes afflicted with tuberculosis at age 36 |
| 1899 | Passes away by end of Red Dead Redemption 2 timeline |
As shown in this table of impactful life events, Arthur lived an extremely full existence by age 36 considering his environment and occupation. He forms relationships, bears a child, and assumes leadership ranks within his outlaw band – all while living violently and evading the wrath of civil society and lawmen.
How Arthur Morgan‘s Age Compares to Notorious Real-life Wild West Outlaws
Though a fictional character, Arthur Morgan‘s exploits and trajectory mirror some infamous real-life bandits of the era. Compared to a few notorious robbers, gunmen, and gang leaders known for their Wild West shenanigans, Arthur is relatively youthful:
Jesse James – Born in 1847, Jesse had been involved in criminal bands like the James-Younger Gang since the Civil War era, where he fought as a bushwhacker rifleman for the Confederates starting at just age 16. His years of bloody violence caught up at age 35 when he was killed in 1882. At the time of Red Dead 2‘s 1899 setting, Arthur was over a decade younger than Jesse ever lived to see.
Butch Cassidy – The famed train robber was born Robert LeRoy Parker in 1866. He had assembled the Wild Bunch gang and committed numerous ambush heists by 1899 when he was 33 years old. Arthur had lived as rough an outlaw life to this point as Butch, despite having a few extra years under his belt. Butch would flee the country in 1901 and not meet his end until around 1908 at approximately age 42.
Billy the Kid – Depicted in stories as a gunslinger in his late teens, Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty) was in reality around 21 years old in 1880 when he was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. So Arthur Morgan at 36 years old in 1899 would have been 15 years Billy‘s senior.
So even by the standards of dangerous company, Arthur Morgan was on the older end of notorious bandits, thieves and shootists running afoul of the law during the closing days of the Wild West. Most outlaws never reached middle age before meeting their end through violence or imprisonment.
How Arthur‘s Tuberculosis Diagnosis at Just 36 Factors Into His Redemption Arc
At the start of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 1899, a ruthless and experienced 36 year old Arthur Morgan is seemingly in the prime years of his strength. But after a unfortunate scuffle, Arthur is diagnosed with tuberculosis – a terminal illness with no reliable cure at the time.
Faced with his fading mortality, Arthur is forced to develop an existential crisis about his lifestyle and relationships – captured beautifully in Roger Clark‘s nuanced voice acting for the protagonist. This revelation catalyzes his push towards redemption in hopes of leaving the world a better-off place.
Yet the tragedy is highlighted even further considering 36 years old is still a relatively young age – even by 1899 standards – to be confronted by your own death.
Legendary lawman Wyatt Earp lived to be 80. Famed Wild West sheriff Pat Garrett who took down Billy the Kid was shot in a dispute at just age 55. So Arthur likely had good years left based on his grit and constitution, if not for the tubercular affliction that he couldn‘t outdraw.
In this context, Arthur‘s plight becomes even more relatable and potent. Creating an empathetic connection between player and protagonist that left many gamers around the world choked up by the conclusion of Red Dead 2‘s story campaign.
In Summary
Arthur Morgan‘s redemption arc leaves an indelible mark as one of gaming‘s watershed narratives. Portrayed as a complex anti-hero, made even more sympathetic by knowing he is just 36 years old when we meet him at the start of this Western epic in 1899.
A comparative spring chicken compared to his demise-meeting outlaw contemporaries. Yet sadly robbed of future years when tuberculosis comes calling for the world-weary gunslinger.
This context gives added emotional weight and anguish to Arthur‘s story. His quest for redemption and sacrifice made even more affecting and honorable knowing how young he still was in the grand scheme of things. And how brightly his light was dimmed when fate had other plans in his shortened yet memorable life.
