Most Selfish Characters in Red Dead Redemption

Key Takeaways

Selfish acts in Red Dead Redemption often have dire consequences, impacting relationships and leading to betrayal.
Characters like Dutch, Micah, and Catherine prioritize their interests over others, causing harm and chaos.
The Wild West setting of the game fuels selfish behavior, highlighting the survival-of-the-fittest mentality among its characters.

I’ve played through Rockstar Games’ masterpiece, Red Dead Redemption 2, several times and have encountered some truly self-centered characters. Among them are the deceitful Leviticus Cornwall, the greedy Leopold Strauss, and the manipulative Mary Linton, to name just a few.

In the lawless Wild West, survival often means relying on oneself, and when situations become challenging, it’s those who can endure that push forward. Trust is scarce, and life can be ruthless, leading some individuals to develop selfish tendencies (if they hadn’t already). However, certain circumstances may justify such behavior, especially in an age plagued by outlaws and thieves. Yet, there are several characters in the game “Red Dead Redemption” who offer no justification for their self-centered attitudes.

At times, actions motivated by personal gain might coincidentally serve a greater purpose, yet the self-centered personas within the Red Dead Redemption series prioritize their own needs above all else, showing little regard for others and stepping on nearly everyone to attain their desires.

1 Dutch Van der Linde

Manipulated The Gang’s Loyalty To Him

Most Selfish Characters in Red Dead Redemption

For a while now, there has been much discussion about whether or not Dutch is truly the primary antagonist in “Red Dead Redemption 2”. While characters like Colm O’Driscoll and Leviticus Cornwall may seem more villainous at first glance, Dutch’s actions are often questionable when considering the bigger picture. Though he may not always act morally righteous, it can be argued that his hands aren’t entirely free of guilt.

Above all, Dutch prizes wealth and prosperity, notably during the demise of the American Frontier. Playing the part of a caring family man convincingly, Dutch’s motives are consistently unclear. He desired loyalty from his gang members, expecting them to follow his orders without question – even if it cost them their lives. To him, dying for the cause was a noble sacrifice, as long as he himself wasn’t involved.

2 Penelope & Beau

Prioritized Eloping Over Their Family’s Safety

In the game “Red Dead Redemption 2,” Beau Gray and Penelope Braithwaite played the roles of Romeo and Juliet, with their families, the Grays and the Braithwaites, acting as the Montagues and Capulets in this comparison. Both families were deceitful and hypocritical, with their long-standing rivalry already established by the time Arthur encountered them. At the heart of this century-old conflict were Beau and Penelope, who were prevented from being together due to their opposing loyalties.

Arthur facilitated communication between them, leading to their eventual escape together. However, it might not be accurate to label Beau and Penelope as unselfish in this act. Instead, they seemed more concerned about escaping than considering the potential destruction their actions might cause for the Grays and Braithwaites. Moreover, they exploited Arthur’s goodwill to escape their own difficult circumstances.

3 Abigail Marston

Continuously Ridiculed John And Ultimately Left Him

Despite Abigail’s portrayal of him as a villain, John Marston is not as wicked as she suggests. In the games Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, John consistently puts Abigail and Jack first in his decisions, often facing trouble with law enforcement as a result. Motivated by his deep love for Abigail, John resolves to abandon his outlaw ways to build a peaceful life on their ranch and raise Jack with her.

He constructs their house from the ground up with Charles and his uncle’s assistance, then supplements his income by taking on a job as a ranch hand for the Geddes. Despite all this, Abigail remains unsatisfied and frequently voices her discontent to John. Eventually, Abigail decides to leave with Jack. Although it might seem that John was planning to involve them in dangerous situations, this was never his intention.

4 Micah Bell

Played Devil’s Advocate To Dutch And Snitched On The Gang

As the infamous antagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2 often gets tagged, it’s Micah Bell who I believe played a significant role in Dutch’s tragic downfall. In Chapter 1, Dutch appears as a compassionate soul, especially after bonding with Sadie Adler and offering her a comforting blanket. However, once Micah starts questioning Dutch’s decisions, he subtly steered him towards self-centered actions. Micah is all about greed, seizing opportunities, and can’t be trusted an inch.

He is indirectly responsible for the death of Molly, who takes the heat for being the rat that snitched on the gang to Ross and Milton when it was actually Micah who informed the authorities of the gang’s whereabouts and sold them out for some extra money. He also ridicules Arthur for suffering from tuberculosis, frequently calling him “Black Lung.” He holds no moral standards, treats everyone with contempt, and only cares about how quickly he can make a buck.

5 Colm O’Driscoll

Killed Dutch’s Lover And Uses His Men As Pawns

In the game “Red Dead Redemption 2”, Colm O’Driscoll serves as one of Dutch’s major adversaries. Their hostility escalated significantly when Dutch killed Colm’s brother, which in turn led Colm to seek revenge by taking the life of Annabelle, Dutch’s romantic partner. Since then, the Van der Linde gang and the O’Driscoll clan have been embroiled in a bitter feud. Throughout the game, it becomes evident that Colm holds little regard for the O’Driscolls, as he is unfamiliar with many of their names.

In simpler terms, as Kieran Duffy puts it, when Colm speaks kindly, it feels like you’re basking in the sunshine, but when he’s angry with you, it seems like you’re haunted by evil spirits. When Colm attempts to recruit Arthur during his kidnapping and torture, he undermines Dutch’s ideals and continues to persuade him solely with offers of money. He doesn’t really care about others; instead, he manipulates those around him as pieces on a chessboard, using them as tools to reach his desired goals.

6 Catherine Braithwaite

Cares Too Deeply About the Braithwaite’s Reputation

Catherine Braithwaite, the head of the Braithwaite family, met Angelo Bronte, an Italian gangster. She also started a shady business selling homemade liquor to the Lemoyne Raiders. Catherine values her social status, wealth, and family traditions more than she cares about most people, but she thinks poorly of anyone she considers beneath her. She puts the Braithwite family’s reputation above their welfare, keeping Gertrude Braithwaite in a shed for an uncertain duration instead of taking her to a hospital to examine her mental health issues.

It’s also thought that Gertrude might be under some sort of influence, yet Catherine seems to have chosen to ignore this issue. Above all else, what matters most to Catherine is her wealth and success, rather than the Braithwaites or the people she refers to as “Yankees,” whom she does not hold in high regard.

7 Edgar Ross

Violates An Agreement With John And Hunts The Van Der Linde Gang

In both “Red Dead Redemption” and its sequel, Edgar Ross is associated with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, an organization dedicated to ridding modern society of criminals like outlaws. While Ross technically reports to his superior, Andrew Milton, it’s reasonable to see Ross as the mastermind behind the plan to eliminate the Van der Linde gang. Milton appears to be following orders, whereas Ross develops a deeply personal grudge against Dutch and his followers. He frequently belittles members of the gang, even going so far as to mock young Jack Marston, and consistently reminds them that their time is running out.

Following Milton’s death, Ross takes charge, propelling the hunt for the gang members throughout the storyline of Red Dead Redemption. He breaks an accord with John concerning the protection of Abigail and Jack. Instead, he storms John’s ranch, ruthlessly shooting him down. This act forces John to make a selfless decision, giving up his life to ensure the safety of his wife and child.

8 Leopold Strauss

Loans Money To Individuals Whom He Knows Can’t Afford It

Leopold Strauss is well-known for being a cunning businessman, often lending money to people he believes won’t be able to repay him. He dispatches Arthur Morgan to retrieve the debts, using harsh methods such as physical force, despite the fact that many of these borrowers are barely making ends meet and may have to relinquish valuable family possessions or savings to cover these debts. Beyond his role as the Van der Linde gang’s accountant, he also runs a side business in loan sharking to increase his personal wealth.

During Arthur’s encounter with Thomas Downes, it is revealed that most of the loaners are impoverished and unable to repay their debts. However, Strauss pays no heed to the financial struggles of others and instead insists that Arthur collect what is owed. Later, Edith Downes may visit the camp and inform Strauss of her husband’s demise. Yet, rather than showing compassion, Strauss callously passes on the debt to Edith.

9 Mary Linton

Tugs On Arthur’s Heartstrings To Get His Help

Though Mary Linton isn’t the worst among them, she’s hardly ideal either. During their younger days, Mary was Arthur’s lover, but his life as a bandit caused her to distance herself from him. Eventually, she married a man named Barry who fell ill with pneumonia and passed away, leaving her a widow. Since then, this widowed Mary has persistently tried to reach out to Arthur for favors. Arthur is free to accept or decline these requests, but Mary, due to their past connection, manipulates him emotionally by playing on his heartstrings, knowing he’d respond because of the bond they shared.

As a gamer, I leverage the storyline to seek help from Arthur. He’s tasked with rescuing and rehabilitating my brother who’s gotten himself into trouble by joining a radical cult. I openly acknowledge that our relationship has had its share of issues, with blame on both sides. Yet, I can’t help but criticize Arthur for his life choices, all the while finding myself in similar predicaments.

10 Leviticus Cornwall

Serves As the Driving Force Behind The Campaign To Drive Out The Indians

Beyond simply funding the Pinkerton Agency, an action that’s questionable in itself, Leviticus Cornwall also embodies the stereotype of a wealthy, arrogant aristocrat. He was instrumental in persuading Colonel Henry Favours to forcefully evict Native Americans from their land, as he discovered it held valuable oil reserves. His actions consistently challenged the U.S. government’s authority and single-handedly ignited a longstanding conflict between American law enforcement and the Native American tribes, under the leadership of Rains Fall and Eagle Flies.

It was thought that only Dutch were being pursued by Pinkerton due to their connection with Cornwall, but after his death, Cornwall actually instigated a full-blown conflict which ultimately resulted in Eagle Flies’ demise – something he had orchestrated intentionally. Although Cornwall’s mission to expel the Native Americans was unsuccessful, he callously caused the deaths of numerous innocent people on both sides, needlessly escalating an avoidable war.

2024-11-19 09:34