Red Dead Redemption analysis 4: Comparing characters

 

Continuing from the last post once we have defined the characters and set them in opposition to one another we can continue to explore how RDR2 uses the characters pitted against one another to express the theme. Each opponent or character for that matter is a variation of the theme of the story, each deals with the moral problem in their own way. John Truby, in Anatomy of Story, says in order to discover this we need to start with breaking down the elements of the characters now by comparison and define how the protagonist deals with the central moral problem. 

Once the central moral problem is defined, each character should be compared by the following traits: weakness, need, desire, values, power (Status and ability) and how each faces that moral problem. 

1) Central moral problem: How should one live in a world that is changing fundamentally from the wild west to an industrialized world where the government is more and more prevalent in peoples lives. 

Arthur

Weakness:  He is haunted by his lost family, and seeks refuge in the gang that Dutch invited him into. 

Need: He needs to understand that Dutch manipulated him into performing acts of violence on his behalf from an early age, and understand he is fighting against a world he cant fight

Desire: He wants to live in a utopian wild west world that Dutch envisions.

Values: Values the close relationships to him namely John and his family. 

Power, status and ability: He's the right hand of Dutch in a lot of ways and in the beginning helps Dutch run the crew but in the long run is betrayed by Dutch and Micah.

How he faces the central moral problem: At first he believes in Dutch's philosophy of returning to the old west ways, but learns these things are out of his control and so he turns on dutch and tries to secure his money for John's family so they can go on living.

Dutch

Weakness: He believes that merciless killing is justified in his anti government philosophy  

Need: He has to overcome his arrogance and realize that he cannot change the world 

Desire: He wants to return the world back to its old ways and away from the technological world that is overtaking America.

Values: liberty, freedom, equality 

Power, status and ability: hes the leader of the gang and has the ability to direct people how he pleases.

How he faces the central moral problem: He believes that the industrialized world is encroaching upon peoples rights, namely disenfranchised people and that this gives him license to rob and murder anyone who is enabling or apart of this system of oppression. 

John

Weakness: He is careless how he throws his family and others into harms way as he robs and murders

Need: He needs to wake up to his responsibility as a family man and to live for them rather than the gang.

Desire: To steal from the rich and give to the power

Values: The acceptance of the gang at first and the acceptance of Dutch as a father figure, later he comes into maturity and sees himself as a father figure.  

power, status and ability: Hes considered the golden boy of the group

How he faces the central moral problem: He agrees with Dutch's philosophy but later realizes that this was an excuse for them to rob and kill indiscriminately. 

Micah

weakness: He is dishonest, disloyal and hateful. 

Need: He needs to take responsibility for his actions and how they affect other people

desire: He desires whatever power he can get for himself, he says the world as a dog eat dog world.

Values: He values only himself, he is willing to betray anyone to get what he wants. 

power, status and ability: He works his way up in the gang and becomes Dutch's right hand man, replacing Arthur and Hosea

How each faces the central moral problem: he takes advantage of his status of living outside of societies rules and sees that life is purely meaningless and that there is no right or wrong, which justifies his nihilistic actions.

Charles

weakness: Directionless, akward, kind to a fault

Need: He needs to understand why he got pulled into the gang in the first place and to leave the gang as it does not serve him or the greater community

Desire: He is looking for his home, something to call a family

Values: He values relationships and is compassionate to people and animals alike. 

Power, status and ability: He is considered the kindest member of the group, however he is capable of violence when necessary.

How he faces the central moral problem: Once he sees the others turning into a band of murderers he leaves to go to Canada and start a family. 

Hosea

weakness: Intelligent yet remorseful, an enabler of Dutch and his tactics

Need: He needs to come to full terms that what the gang is doing is not correct and things need to be changed in order for them to survive.

Desire: He desires to have the gang go live their lives in the country side without the need for violence

Values: He values honesty, integrity and intelligence. He is a mentor to everyone except Micah.

power, status and ability: He doesn't use violence to get money but instead uses persuasion to swindle people out of their money. 

How he faces the central moral problem: He tries to be the angel on Dutch's shoulder and provides counsel to keep him from going too far off track. 

Molly

Weakness Vanity and narcissism.

Need: She needs to realize dutch does not love her and her status as the Matriarch of the gang is only as real as dutch is attracted to her.

Desire: To be with Dutch and continue to hold her position of power.

Values: She values the power that her status gives her

Power, status and ability: She is the Matriarch of the group and does not do any of the chores that the other crew members do.

How she faces the central moral problem: She is right along with Dutch when things are good, once she realizes she is not going to be able to get dutch she runs away and abandons the group.