Arthur Morgan's 8 Biggest Regrets in RDR2: Could Have Changed Everything

Throughout Arthur Morgan’s journey, he has done some bad things and made plenty of mistakes that players might be all too familiar with in Red Dead Redemption 2. One can only ponder what ifs when it comes to Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, and look back on his biggest mistakes that led him on the road that he ended up on.

Arthur Morgan’s multifaceted nature positions him among the most compelling fictional characters, with his lifelong outlaw status being marred by more than mere theft and murder. A closer look at his actions is necessary to truly understand the series of events that led to Arthur Morgan’s downfall.

Spoilers ahead for Red Dead Redemption 2!

8. Failing to Take Care of His Son and His Son’s Mother

Eliza and Isaac Might Still Be Alive if Arthur Was a Good Father and Husband

In the heat of my outlaw days as Arthur Morgan, I found myself with a family on the way. Yet, I realized that the perilous life I led was no place for an innocent child and a woman unaccustomed to such hardships. Therefore, I made the tough decision to leave them behind. Though I swore I’d visit, fate had other plans; my return was met with their graves instead. Eliza and Isaac were victims of a robbery, and while I wasn’t responsible, I can’t help but wonder if my presence might have altered their tragic ending.

In another scenario, if Eliza and Isaac had joined their companions, maybe they could have been safeguarded. Alternatively, had Arthur chosen to depart from the gang and establish a home with the woman who became pregnant with his child, it’s possible that all three of them might have survived.

7. Helping Herr Strauss

The Gang’s Descent into Preying on Penniless Victims Was a Descent into Darkness

Featured in: Money Lending and Other Sins

Leopold Straus, a man known for his harsh character, fled his unkind homeland in search of better prospects in America, where he believed he could find opportunities for the underprivileged who struggled financially to make ends meet. Over time, Strauss associated with the Van der Linde gang, using their assistance to carry out additional schemes. Arthur Morgan, a trustworthy ally within this group, was often tasked with dispensing physical force against those unwilling or unable to pay up.

Strauss operates as a ruthless lender, exploiting vulnerable individuals, which underscores the questionable nature of his profession. Arthur’s regrettable choice is to tolerate this business model, despite its troubling transformation. Earlier, Arthur and his gang exhibited compassion by helping people and even providing them with financial aid. Now, they seem to be crushing the hopes of innocent people instead.

6. Freeing Micah Bell

The Catalyst for the Gang’s Problems Was Locked Up Before Arthur Helped

Featured in: Blessed are the Meek?

Later in Strawberry, Micah Bell finds himself in a predicament that lands him in jail. Dutch van der Linde requests Arthur Morgan to rescue Micah from his cell. Although Arthur playfully suggests they should let Micah hang, he ultimately complies with Dutch’s request. This results in Micah causing chaos not only in Strawberry but also for the Van der Linde gang.

If Arthur had chosen not to keep Micah imprisoned in the Strawberry jail cell, it’s possible that the Van der Linde gang could have avoided their eventual disbandment. The calamitous Blackwater job was primarily attributed to Micah, and his actions also led to Arthur’s abduction by the O’Driscolls. Most regrettably, Micah had also managed to deceive Dutch and act as a Pinkerton informant, causing immense damage to the gang.

5. Not Shooting Agent Milton & Agent Ross

Two Prominent Members of the Pinkertons Could Have Been Killed Immediately

Featured in: A Fisher of Men

A pleasant fishing excursion between Arthur and Jack takes an ominous turn when they encounter relentless Pinkerton enforcers, who are hot on the trail of Dutch Van der Linde. Agents Milton and Ross confront Arthur and pressure him to betray Dutch for his own safety. The persistence of these agents in tracking down Arthur highlights their ruthlessness as government agents, demonstrating just how dangerous they really were.

Nevertheless, even when their attention was elsewhere, Arthur chose not to assassinate them. Eliminating both of them then could have temporarily hindered the Pinkertons’ pursuit while the Van der Linde gang fled, with Agent Ross deceased, John would still be present. It is plausible that Arthur spared them to preserve Jack’s clean record, but such a sacrifice was a minor price to pay for ensuring the survival of the entire gang.

4. Getting Too Violent with Thomas Downes

Arthur’s Aggression Led to His Own Demise

Featured in: Money Lending and Other Sins Part 3

According to Dutch and Strauss’ instructions, Arthur travels to the Downes Ranch with the intention of bullying Thomas Downes, a man who owes the gang a significant amount of money. Upon encountering Thomas, Arthur demonstrates that further discussion is no longer an option by physically attacking him, knocking him to the ground, and then proceeds to assault him further.

Thomas infects Arthur with tuberculosis by spitting blood into his mouth during a coughing fit. This unfortunate action, triggered by Thomas’s illness, ultimately leads to Arthur’s demise due to the same disease, as his anger escalates and culminates in a terminal tuberculosis diagnosis.

3. Refusing to Run Away with Mary Linton

Mary Linton Could Have Given Arthur a New and Happy Life

Featured in: Fatherhood and Other Dreams

Mary Linton was deeply in love with Arthur Morgan, but as their paths diverged significantly, they found themselves forced to part ways. Arthur’s dedication to living as an outlaw contrasted sharply with Mary’s longing for a peaceful, ordinary life, causing them to grow apart over time. Their reunion transpired first in the town of Valentine, and later in Saint Denis.

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, I found myself standing beside Mary once more, our hearts yearning for each other as they had before. However, despite the longing that bloomed between us, no actions were taken. With tears in her eyes, Mary begged me to flee with her – to jump on a train out of Saint Denis and escape to a place untouched by violence. Yet, I found myself unwilling to abandon my beloved Van der Linde gang, choosing instead to sacrifice my own peace.

2. Being Too Loyal to Dutch Van der Linde

Arthur’s Loyalty to Dutch Van der Linde is the Catalyst of His Downfall

Arthur’s devotion towards Dutch is truly praiseworthy, yet it has its limits. Since his childhood, Dutch and Hosea effectively took on the role of parents for Arthur, and he feels deeply grateful for their influence. In fact, Arthur declares that he would willingly give up his life for the Van der Linde gang; however, this was prior to him witnessing the grim future that lay ahead.

Despite the declining days of their gang at Beaver Hollow, Arthur seldom challenges Dutch, and even after numerous acts of betrayal and disagreements, he never contemplates shooting him or simply abandoning it all with the Marston family, though it appears everyone else is shrewd enough to discard their loyalty.

1. Going Back for the Money (Player Dependant)

Abandoning John Marston to Greedily Steal the Van der Linde Stash

Featured in: Red Dead Redemption (Return For The Money)

In the climactic phase of his journey, Arthur finds himself engaged in a fierce battle against both the Van der Linde gang and the Pinkertons, with chaos erupting in Beaver Hollow. As he acknowledges that he has reached his physical limits and realizes this is his last adventure, Arthur must choose the course of his final action – either rescue John Marston and aid him in reuniting with his family or forsake John and return for the money.

If players opt for the least honorable action of leaving John behind in pursuit of the money, it demonstrates that Arthur’s thirst for vengeance against Dutch, Micah, and acquiring the money for his own selfish desires, overshadows any enduring impact he could have on those who are most important to him.

2025-02-20 11:35

Arthur Morgan’s 8 Biggest Regrets in RDR2: Could Have Changed Everything