Is Arthur Morgan Ever Mentioned in Red Dead Redemption 1?
No, Arthur Morgan is never directly mentioned by name in the original Red Dead Redemption game released in 2010. However, a few cleverly hidden Easter eggs and subtle references allude to his existence in the Red Dead universe.
A Summary of Arthur‘s Mentions in RDR1
To quickly recap, here are the ways Arthur Morgan is quietly memorialized in the original Red Dead Redemption:
An "A. Morgan" is referenced helping a family in a RDR1 newspaper article. This is likely an Easter egg referring to Arthur.
John‘s son Jack Marston vaguely recalls Uncle Arthur in a conversation with Abigail, hinting he has memories of Arthur.
Players can visit Arthur Morgan‘s grave as John Marston, providing closure between the two games‘ narratives.
Arthur is never directly mentioned in dialogue or story. This makes sense as he didn‘t exist as a developed character prior to RDR2.
So in summary, while Arthur isn‘t name-dropped in RDR1, attentive fans have found some clever references hidden throughout. Next, let‘s analyze these Easter eggs and cameos in more depth.
Examining the Subtle ‘A. Morgan‘ Easter Egg
Eagle-eyed Red Dead Redemption fans have uncovered an intriguing newspaper article within RDR1. Under the heading "Local Hero Saves Family" is a brief story about how a brave "A. Morgan" rescued a mother and children from a snowstorm.
Many believe this unnamed "A. Morgan" is a subtle reference to Arthur Morgan, protagonist of prequel game RDR2. This Easter egg first gained notice in gaming forums like Reddit back in 2010. At the time, players speculated who this mysterious A. Morgan might be. Of course, it‘s now obvious Rockstar sneakily inserted an Arthur nod here.
This newspaper article illustrates Arthur‘s thoughtfulness and selflessness in his final months as tuberculosis took hold. Despite his own failing health, Arthur still aided strangers in need, like this lost family. This Easter egg exemplifies his moral redemption after a life of crime and violence.
While a minor cameo, this A. Morgan newspaper snippet represents Rockstar‘s amazing attention to detail. They retroactively wove Arthur into RDR1‘s world years before his introduction. This is masterful foreshadowing and franchise cohesion from Rockstar.
Why Doesn‘t John Marston Speak of Arthur Morgan?
John Marston does not directly mention or discuss Arthur Morgan with other characters in RDR1. But why does John avoid bringing up his former brother-in-arms and mentor?
One likely reason is it‘s simply too painful for John. Arthur sacrificed himself so John and his family could escape the law and start a new life together. The depth of Arthur‘s sacrifice clearly had an impact on John. Bringing up Arthur may reopen emotional wounds.
John perhaps also feels ashamed he never properly thanked Arthur for saving his wife and son. Or he harbors survivor‘s guilt, having lost many of his comrades like Arthur. So avoiding speaking about the past, and of individuals like Uncle Arthur, makes sense for John‘s mindset.
Another plausible explanation is John heeding Arthur‘s final request to leave the outlaw life behind and "don‘t look back." At Arthur‘s urging, John strove to become an honest rancher and family man in RDR1. John tried to bury his past and not dwell on old runnings buddies like Arthur.
So while Arthur‘s absence in RDR1 dialogue may frustrate some fans, it aligns with John‘s characterization and his relationship with Arthur established in RDR2.
Jack Marston‘s Faint Memories of Arthur Morgan
Arthur‘s impact can also be seen on John Marston‘s son Jack. Near RDR1‘s end, a touching exchange occurs between Jack and his mother Abigail about Arthur [1]:
Abigail: "John was always ashamed of how Arthur saved his life and helped him recover. He didn‘t like to talk about it much…"
Jack: "I…I don‘t remember too much from back then. I was real young."
Abigail: "None of us would have been here today without Arthur‘s help at that time. John knows that in his heart."
This conversation confirms young Jack Marston vaguely recalls Arthur caring for him and his family. While Jack was shielded from the gang‘s crimes, he has faint memories of Uncle Arthur‘s protection and kindness.
Rockstar also lays the groundwork for Jack eventually learning of Arthur‘s pivotal role in redeeming his father John. This dialogue shows how Arthur‘s influence rippled out across the Marston family, even impacting a future protagonist of the franchise.
Visiting Arthur Morgan‘s Grave Site in RDR1
After Arthur Morgan‘s death, players can visit his grave site during RDR1‘s open world gameplay as John Marston [2]. This solemn location on top of a mountain provides closure between the narrative of the two games.
If Arthur had high honor when he passed, his epitaph reads "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." This movingly conveys Arthur finding redemption in his final days.
For low honor Arthurs, the grave is adorned with a coyote and the words "Blessed are those who give and take in measure." This signifies Arthur dying the outlaw‘s death he lived.
Regardless of honor level, this gravesite represents Rockstar‘s respect for Arthur Morgan, allowing John Marston to pay respects to his fallen blood brother. It provides definitive proof to players that Arthur existed within the continuity established in the first Redemption game.
Why Wasn‘t Arthur Included in RDR1 Originally?
Of course, the obvious reason Arthur isn‘t directly present or named in RDR1‘s 2010 release is he simply didn‘t exist yet as a developed character. RDR1 focuses on the story of retired outlaw John Marston, with Arthur unknown at this time.
Rockstar revealed they began work on ideas and concepts for a RDR1 prequel shortly after 2010‘s launch [3]. This evolved into the eventual release of RDR2 in 2018, starring Arthur Morgan.
So when judged in the context of real world development timelines, the lack of Arthur‘s presence in RDR‘s first iteration makes sense. RDR1‘s writing could not directly reference or hint at a character uncreated at the time.
Once Arthur Morgan was fully conceptualized for the prequel, Rockstar cleverly added the subtle newspaper Easter egg in RDR1‘s 2018 remaster. They managed to retroactively incorporate him in slight yet meaningful ways.
Arthur Morgan‘s Background and Relationship with John Marston
To provide wider context, let‘s examine some key facts about Arthur Morgan‘s history and his place in the Van der Linde gang [4]:
Orphaned at a young age, Arthur was raised by Dutch as an outlaw from the mid-1870s onward
He developed into Dutch‘s most dependable enforcer alongside John Marston
Arthur acted as a mentor to John, teaching him how to read and write
He developed a brotherly bond with John, despite their contrasting personalities
When John was injured in 1906, Arthur nursed him back to health and reconnected him with Abigail
Arthur sacrificed himself so the Marston family could escape the Pinkertons and start over
His death from TB in 1899 allowed the Marston family to live on and have a chance at redemption
Given Arthur‘s background, it‘s understandable why John may prefer not to discuss him in RDR1. Arthur‘s selfless care for John‘s wife and son likely inspired deep guilt. And Arthur asking John to leave the outlaw past behind makes John not mentioning him understandable in the context of RDR2‘s narrative.
In Conclusion
In summary, while never directly discussed in Red Dead Redemption 1, Arthur Morgan‘s presence can be felt through subtle Easter eggs and references. These understated callbacks convey Rockstar‘s immense respect and care for the character. Arthur‘s legendary kindness and sacrifice rippled out, impacting lives like John and Jack Marston years later.
RDR1 will always stand on its own merits as a magnificent game. But the additional context of Arthur‘s character arc across RDR2 retroactively deepens its narrative power even further. Though gone, Arthur‘s actions echo through time, allowing John Marston to finally attain the redemption Arthur strove for.
So does Arthur Morgan receive direct acknowledgment in Red Dead Redemption 1? No. But his specter haunts its world in quiet yet meaningful ways despite his absence. Arthur‘s spirit lives on through those he touched and saved.
- Red Dead Redemption Script – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234721/characters/nm0569479
- https://reddead.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur_Morgan%27s_Grave
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/10/30/18043702/red-dead-redemption-2-development-john-marston
- https://reddead.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur_Morgan
