Red Dead Redemption 2: 10 Mind-Blowing Secrets & Theories You Need To Know
8. Arthur Gets Reincarnated
Arthur Morgan is one of the most developed and complex protagonists gaming has ever known, and his tragically poignant ending is the perfect send off. However, some have picked out various examples of imagery within the storyline that suggest Arthur doesn’t really die; he’s just reborn.
Animals are a huge part of the symbolism in many Westerns, and Red Dead is no different there. Chapters are bookended by sepia tone visions of animals, with different creatures appearing depending on Arthur’s honour; this then occurs again in his hallucination after his diagnosis.
However, the use of spirit animals is not proof of reincarnation. More convincingly, when you visit Arthur’s grave, you see a different animal nearby, again dependent on his honour level, with an eagle reserved for the noblest players. If you try to shoot it, the aiming circle will be greyed out, making it the only wild animal you can’t shoot.
Another take on the reincarnation theory comes when Jack and Charles are building their house. A bluejay features in every scene of that montage, and given that Arthur’s default outfit is blue and bluejays often represent truth and loyalty, it may be a symbol of Arthur watching over John.