Red Dead Redemption 2is perhaps one of Rockstar’s greatest feats, as thegame is revolutionaryand ahead of its time in many ways.Red Dead Redemption 2is set in the late nineteenth century when gangs and cowboys slowly started to become outlawed. The game follows the story of Dutch van der Linde and his gang of outlaws as they stir up all sorts of trouble.
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Although the game takes place roughly two hundred years ago, some missions, quests, and interactions that Arthur has with other characters make apt social commentary on societal issues that are still prevalent today. The game cleverly gives the player very subtle hints throughout the game on the nature of these issues and how things have stayed the same as much as they have changed.
6Women’s Suffrage
The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were the beginnings of feminism in Europe and America. SinceRed Dead Redemption 2is historically quite accurate, Arthur encounters some women protesting for voting rights in the mission “Further Questions of Female Suffrage”. It is not a complicated or action-packed mission - Arthur is simply asked to drive the women into town while they protest for equal voting rights.
A further comment on feminism and women’s empowerment is the progressive female characternamed Sadie Adler, who helps the gang at times and goes on a few missions with Arthur.
5Poaching
Some time into the game, Arthur goes on a huntingmission with Charles. The two set out to hunt bison - majestic animals that roam the American countryside. Charles explains to Arthur that the Native Americans hunt the bison in a respectable way, using every part of the huge animal for clothing, meat, medicine, and so forth.
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Later on in the mission, the two encounter bison that have been killed, with none of the bison taken for resources. Here, the game draws a clear distinction between hunting animals for meat, and poaching - hunting animals for fun. The stance the game seems to take is clearly anti-poaching, as Arthur is given the opportunity to kill the poacher once he is located.
4Slave Trade and Capitalism
One of the most interesting parts ofRed Dead Redemption 2is when Arthur and the gang find themselves stranded on the Island of Guarma. Here the game shows the harsh reality of the sugar cane farms that used slave trade to establish and build the American economy.
To add to the comment of capitalism, the game goes to great lengths to show the branded items of food, alcohol, andcigarettes that Arthur uses. The contrast between the luxury items that the gang use and the poor conditions of those on Guarma reinforce the game’s stance on slavery.
3Animal Appreciation
In the mission called “Arcadia for Amateurs”, Arthur encounters an amateur photographer in the wild named Albert Mason. Arthur does a series of missions for Mason that involve taking daring pictures of the wildlife in the vast American wilderness.
Especially in the quest where Arthur has to help Mason getclose to an alligator, Mason explains how humans fear what they do not know, and that dangerous animals should not be killed since humans are the ones invading their territory and not the other way around. While Arthur is ready to kill the alligator at any time, Mason admires the creature and makes reference to its ancient origins, clearly indicating that animals were here long before humans were and should therefore be respected.
2Death Penalty
The alcoholic drink, Moonshine, plays a big part inRed Dead Redemption 2,as it played a large part in American society in the late 1800s. In the mission titled “The Mercies of Knowledge”, Arthur is asked to finda lot of Moonshinefor a scientist for a handsome fee. It turns out the scientist is the first to have invented the electric chair, a device commonly used to execute prisoners charged with the death penalty in the twentieth century.
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Arthur is invited to witness the experiment, which turns into a very gruesome death for the victim of the chair. This could be a very subtle comment on the death penalty and the cruelty of earlier execution devices, some of which are still in use today as Arthur and the player are confronted with the shocking scene.
1Murder And Violence
The entireRed Dead Redemption 2is quite violent, and Arthur and the gang often find themselves in situations or shootouts where there are many gruesome murders and high body counts. There is one instance in Guarma, however, where Dutch needlessly kills an old woman named Gloria and takesher goldafter she helps Arthur and Dutch escape through a tunnel.
It seems that here too, the game distinguishes between killing “bad” people and killing “innocent” people simply for the sake of killing, as Arthur puts his foot down and tells Dutch that he does not condone this action. In this way, while a game likeTomb Raiderembraces Lara Croft’s excessive violence uncritically,Red Dead Redemption 2seems to reflect on it by including instances like these, as well as a main character that is himself tortured by everything he experiences.
Red Dead Redemption 2is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
