Red Dead Redemption 2 is a modern masterpiece of gaming, led by an incredible protagonist in Arthur Morgan. Fans were a little skeptical of a new character, as John Marston is such a gaming icon and a major reason for the success of the first game. But Arthur instantly won over players with his sense of humor, charming personality, and pitiful fate.
But this is a Rockstar game, and Rockstar games aren't known for having morally sound protagonists. Depending on how he's played, Arthur Morgan can be downright unlikable, as is evident through these horrifying lines.
10 "I'll Keep Her In Black. On Your Behalf."
While visiting the Downes family to collect the gang's money, Arthur turns to the grieving Archie Downes and utters the most iconic line of the entire game: "Maybe when your mother's finished mourning your father, I'll keep her in black. On your behalf."
Arthur is simply threatening Archie with death, and he utters it in the coolest and most poetic way possible. It also proves that Arthur is a malicious villain, threatening a young teenager with death after viciously assaulting his father (and possibly causing his death).
9 "We Got Lawmen In Three Different States After Us."
Sometimes it's hard to forget just how villainous the Van Der Linde gang truly is. The gang is a relic of a bygone era - an era of cowboys and lawlessness. Now, "civilization" is encroaching, and the cowboys have nowhere else to go.
As Arthur explicitly states, "We got lawmen in three different states after us." The specific crimes aren't known, but this is paramount to the FBI hunting down a gang of modern-day criminals. The gang members are charismatic, but they are not good people.
8 "I Hope It's Hot And Terrible, Mrs. Downes. Otherwise, I'll Feel I've Been Sold A False Bill Of Goods."
Arthur Morgan truly is at his worst when dealing with the Downes family. It makes certain thematic sense, as Thomas Downes inadvertently gives Arthur TB, which of course, leads to his physical deterioration. In a certain karmic way, Arthur is cosmically punished while at his most morally repugnant.
The grieving Mrs. Downes essentially tells Arthur that he's going to hell, and Arthur responds in the most patronizing and nonchalant manner possible, even displaying a certain sense of pride.
7 "We're Thieves In A World That Don't Want Us No More."
Once again, this quote sums up the basic theme of the entire game. Arthur displays some self-reflection in the above quote, acknowledging the facts that a) the gang is composed of thieves and bad guys, b) that this makes them social outlaws in an increasingly modernized and civilized world, and c) that they have no place in modern society.
Arthur is a villain, but he certainly isn't stupid. Unfortunately, he feels as if he's too far gone, and he's committed to the atrocities of the gang.
6 "Yap, Yap, Yap!"
The great thing about these games is that players can customize their own Arthur Morgans while still adhering to the same general storyline and character arc. As such, players are given choices in how to respond to certain people and situations. In Saint-Denis, there is a feminist advocating for women's suffrage.
But rather than showing sympathy for her cause, Arthur can approach her and patronizingly utter, "Yap! Yap! Yap!" in what is, perhaps, the most reprehensible reponse someone can say in that situation.
5 "I Don't Care About Your Family."
Arthur's assault on Thomas Downes really pushes the limit between "likable playable character" and "hateful protagonist whom players might not even want to control." While beating Downes for the money, Downes pleads with Arthur and tells him that he has a family. Arthur, ever the career criminal, simply utters, "I don't care about your family."
This is an incredibly harsh and heartless thing to say, especially when said family is nearby watching their sick husband/father being beaten.
4 "You Want Trouble?"
Arthur Morgan is a misanthrope at heart. He just really hates people. It's possible to antagonize random people on the street, and sometimes Arthur will ask them, "You want trouble?" This will either result in the person pleading with Arthur to stop or chastising him and fighting back.
These people are simply walking down the street and minding their own business when Arthur approaches, asks if they want trouble, and possibly beats/kills them after they fight back. And this is one of the reasons why Arthur is a true villain.
3 "You Run Real Good!"
In some respects, Arthur Morgan is the equivalent of a late 19th-century serial killer. He kills people without remorse and without pre-planned care, often choosing his victims at random.
This is seen when he chases someone down the street or through a field while taunting them with screams of "You run real good," before executing them, showing just how evil he can be.
2 "You're A Sad Little Thing, Ain't Ya?"
No matter the game rating, children are off limits. Rockstar realizes this and continuously omits children from their open world games. Young Jack proves the exception, although he does little throughout the game.
However, it is possible to antagonize the young boy, and it turns Arthur into a truly despicable character. How low is it to call a young child "a sad little thing"? Very low indeed.
1 "Damn Us Both."
Arthur is nothing if not self-aware. During the "bad" ending (the ending received if a player has low honor), Micah will damn Arthur before executing him. However, Arthur gets the last word in, yelling, "Damn us both!" right before he is killed.
Arthur has no pretensions - he knows full well that both he and Micah are damned and that they have led a horrible life of crime and immorality. He damns Micah, but he also damns himself, and that is very telling indeed.
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