Even though Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn't call attending to it very often, the in-game periodical carried by Arthur Morgan and John Marston tells players a lot well-nigh their grapheme's personalities. Rockstar Games' latest massive open up world title is absolutely filled with small-scale details and flourishes, from the way real-life brute behaviors are emulated to hidden mysteries hinting at the inclusion of fantastical creatures like vampires and long-dead Giant skeletons.

Red Dead Redemption ii's vast open up world, based on the Southwestern United States in the year 1899, allows players the ability to perform actions similar hunting, line-fishing, stealing, murdering, and brewing coffee over a bivouac while their hair slowly grows over fourth dimension, just to name a few. Throughout the plot and subsequent epilogue ofCrimson Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan and John Marston each conduct a journal which they are occasionally shown writing in, and many players have likely noticed that both protagonists as well create picayune drawings depicting the plants and animals they come up in contact with.

Still, there'south a lot more toRed Dead Redemption 2'southin-game journal than merely the moments shown to the actor after cutscenes and pictures of crudely-drawn cougars. Flipping forwards or backwards through the journal at any given bespeak inRed Expressionless Redemption 2'sstory will provide players with an in-depth look at their current avatar's mentality, and when comparison the ii characters side-by-side the journal gives a fascinating look at the differences and the similarities between the gruff, silent Arthur Morgan and the more headstrong, emotional John Marston.

[Warning: Spoilers for the entirety of Ruddy Dead Redemption and Cerise Dead Redemption 2 will exist mentioned beneath. Go on with caution.]

Arthur Morgan'south Periodical

Arthur Morgan, although stoic and somewhat reserved in person, is much different on the page and in his caput. He writes long, eloquent paragraphs about the situations he finds himself in, and although the game does evidence the thespian these entries when they pertain to large story events in that location are many, many more which appear thatCarmine Dead Redemption two never tells the player about. Arthur writes about strangers he counters, pocket-sized interactions he has with NPCs, and even draws interesting items and locations he discovers throughout the game.

Arthur's periodical is the narration ofScarlet Dead Redemption two'southwardstory, and it's too some of the all-time proof of his second-in-command status as Dutch'south right-hand man. Arthur (and the player) deposits money periodically into a lockbox which acts as a camp fund, but in his periodical readers can encounter that he'due south likewise keeping rail of where all of the donated funds are going. Arthur's journal is organized, well-written, well-illustrated, and showcases some of his innermost thoughts which would never be expressed on the surface.

John Marston'south Periodical

John's journal, on the other manus, isn't quite as fanciful, despite him beingness a much more than verbose character in person. Equally the main protagonist ofRuby-red Expressionless Redemptionand the avatar which players take control of after Arthur Morgan'due south death inCerise Dead Redemption 2,John isn't afraid to let people know he isn't keen on keeping thoughts and feelings internal when they need to be expressed, and he isn't the type of person to go in for such highfalutin concepts as art and pedagogy. Although he still sketches each new creature that he comes across, John's drawings are simple, almost child-like, and when he writes he adds lines underneath his words so that he doesn't finish up scribbling all over the page.

The simple drawings and the need for guided structure symbolize a grapheme who was never educated past a course-school level, and his lack of involvement in learning how to do either task better showcases exactly how John Marston views himself and his identify in the world. He knows he isn't a good writer or a expert creative person, but he continues doing both things anyhow. For the thespian, this helps to continue the feeling of immersion and involvement with the world around them, but information technology also shows a subtle respect for the memory of Arthur Morgan.

Arthur & John Equally Brothers & Rivals

Although the player spent the bulk of the game in Arthur's shoes, information technology'southward easy to imagine how John viewed Arthur Morgan in military camp. Arthur would ride in, Hosea, Dutch, or one of the other gang members in tow, and John, still recovering from either being attacked by wild fauna on a mountaintop or being verbally abused by Abigail, would limp over to see what was going on simply to be ignored or brushed off. John Marston was a little brother to Arthur, and although both of them vied for Dutch's attention it was always Arthur who received the larger share.

Conversely, as Arthur'southward illness got worse and worse, he began to question everything he previously believed in, including how he had treated John over the years. John Marston had once abandoned him and the gang, an action which Arthur previously thought was an unforgivable sin, only every bit his own deteriorating wellness started to mirror Dutch's speedily sliding mental status he began to wonder if John may accept had the right thought all along. One of the terminal actions Arthur takes before succumbing to death is one which ensures that John Marston, his wife Abigail, and their son Jack all get away safely, and this human action of kindness conspicuously left an impression on John, just as John's initial abandonment left an impression on Arthur.

Trying, Or Trying To Endeavour

John Marston tin't draw. He can barely write, and when he does it'due south nowhere near as eloquent or detailed as the descriptions Arthur Morgan would have provided. Withal, these simply aren't things John'south always tried to do earlier. The simply reason John starts writing his own journal to begin with is because he saw Arthur doing so, 24-hour interval after twenty-four hour period, and at present that Arthur'south gone doing the same helps him retain a small form of connection.

John's crude, rudimentary drawings aren't just those of an uneducated criminal, but instead come across every bit the emulation of a younger sibling, like a person desperate to bear witness that they can also provide a service despite a lack of experience or grooming. John's acceptance of his ain faults and limitations is a trait his character has embodied since the showtime of Blood-red Dead Redemption, and while his frank and blunt nature often leads to tense situations and comedic moments information technology's the fleshing out of his grapheme inRed Dead Redemption 2 which truly completes Rockstar Games' tragic Wild W tale, one which ends with John's death and his son Jack Marston following in his footsteps despite all efforts to the contrary.

Arthur Morgan is different from John Marston in many ways, although they share numerous similar unhealthy passions. Despite these differences and unsafe similarities, however, the two men grew up as brothers, as rivals, and as on-and-off friends, and the choices both characters made influenced the other in small only subtle ways. Some of these influences are discussed in the full general plot and story missions of Red Dead Redemption ii , but many others are left for players to detect and infer for themselves. Thankfully, merely past searching though the in-game character journals of Arthur Morgan and John Marston, it'due south clear that there is lots of information on hand.

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Virtually The Author

Christopher J. Teuton (693 Manufactures Published)

Christopher J. Teuton is an author, game developer, film manager, and producer based out of Savannah, GA, in the United States. Owner of Filthy & Free Publishing. When not working on his various projects, acting equally Screen Rant's gaming editor, or spending time with his family, Christopher J. Teuton mostly enjoys playing with dogs and climbing on trees.

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