Arthur Morgan’s Grim Fate: Tuberculosis in Red Dead Redemption 2
Let’s discuss Arthur Morgan and his cough in Red Dead Redemption 2. This isn’t just a smoker’s hack. It’s tuberculosis, or TB, a severe illness in 1899 and even now. For players of RDR2, this issue isn’t minor for our favorite outlaw.
How Arthur Bites the Dust: Catching TB
How does Arthur get this disease? Blame Strauss and his debt missions. Arthur has to shake down a debtor, Thomas Downes, who has… you guessed it, tuberculosis. Screen Rant details how, during this meeting, Arthur becomes infected. Bad luck? Bad choices?
No Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card: Arthur’s Incurable Illness
The million-dollar question: can you save Arthur from TB? Short answer? No. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a tragedy. No matter how many health tonics you drink or how good you try to be (good luck in the Wild West), Arthur’s fate is sealed. Arthur consults a doctor, who says bluntly there’s no cure. Terminal—that’s the key word. The ‘Owl Feather Trinket’ can boost him a bit, but it’s like a band-aid on a bullet wound. It might help symptoms, but cannot reverse the inevitable.
TB’s Toll: Arthur’s Worsening Condition
Have you seen Arthur’s face change as you play? That’s the TB. His face turns pale, his eyes look sickly, and he gets red cheeks. It’s not a healthy blush, but the “white death” at work, a historical name for tuberculosis due to the pale look it gave victims. Historically, TB was also known as “consumption” for how it seemed to eat people from the inside, causing weight loss. Rutgers University’s Global TB Center offers insights into this disease’s grim origins.
More than looks, TB weakens Arthur. He moves slower, and food doesn’t heal him like before. It’s a slow, painful decline that mirrors the actual effects of the disease.
The Long Goodbye: TB’s Narrative Impact
Arthur catches TB early in the story. This dark event casts a shadow over the narrative. It isn’t just a late twist; it’s crucial to Arthur’s journey and influences everything that unfolds.
Dodging Destiny? Trying to Avoid the Inevitable
If you dislike tragic endings (who doesn’t?), you might wonder how to avoid Arthur getting TB. Can you skip it? Technically, you can prevent Arthur from getting TB by avoiding the story missions entirely. If you just explore the open world and ignore the main plot, Arthur can stay alive infinitely. But let’s be real; that’s not playing the game. It’s like owning a sports car and never driving it.
Rewriting Fate: Mods and Alternate Endings
If you truly refuse to accept Arthur’s fate, the modding community has options. Mods like “Arthur’s Redemption” let players give Arthur a different ending. These mods permit playing as Arthur post-game as if he never got sick. It feels like fan-fiction in video game form, exploring a “what if” scenario where Arthur gets a break.
Arthur’s Last Ride: Death at 43
In the unmodded Red Dead Redemption 2 universe, Arthur Morgan dies at age 43 in 1886. He was born in 1843. The TB isn’t his only end. Depending on your honor level, his final moments could differ. He might die from tuberculosis or meet a more violent end via a bullet or knife from Micah. Regardless, there’s no secret happy ending where Arthur rides off healthy and free. This is a true Western tragedy.
Life After Arthur: The Epilogue and John Marston
After Arthur’s tale, Red Dead Redemption 2 moves to the epilogue. You take on John Marston’s role, which sets up the original Red Dead Redemption events. Arthur’s legacy remains alive. You can visit his grave, reflecting your honor level in-game. If you played Arthur poorly, his grave is worn and neglected, guarded by a black coyote. The epitaph reads: “Blessed are those that mourn for they be comforted.” It stings.
TB in 1899: A Death Sentence?
Was TB really a death sentence in 1899, during RDR2’s setting? Yes. Gold salts were attempted as treatment since the 1830s, but effective cures would not arrive for decades. Modern antibiotics appeared only in the mid-20th century. So, Arthur’s incurable TB is accurate for that era.
Tuberculosis Today: Still a Threat
Is TB still relevant today? Yes. Cleveland Clinic confirms TB remains a major global health issue. It’s treatable now with antibiotics, but drug-resistant strains increasingly worry doctors. Treatment usually needs a 4-6 month regimen of multiple antibiotics, like rifampicin. Completing medication is vital; skipping risks drug-resistant TB that is harder to treat. And yes, pulmonary TB can inflict lasting lung issues if not addressed early.
Though not as contagious as the flu, tuberculosis is still serious with high historical mortality rates. Arthur’s fate may be fictional, yet the reality of TB then and now is all too real.
Red Dead Redemption 3: Whispers on the Horizon?
Let’s shift gears and discuss the future. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a major hit, so many are eager about Red Dead Redemption 3 (RDR3). Rockstar Games hasn’t announced anything yet. However, signals suggest it. With Grand Theft Auto 6 aimed for a 2025 release, speculation indicates RDR3 may come during 2026 to 2030.
What about the story? Don’t expect to see Arthur or John again. Rockstar tends toward new characters and storylines for each game. Some theories propose RDR3 could detail the Van Der Linde gang’s beginnings, serving as an even earlier prequel; others hint at stories set after RDR2, which might even follow Jack Marston. Only time will tell; one thing is sure: the Red Dead universe deserves more stories, even if they mirror Arthur’s heartbreak.
