InRed Dead Redemption 2, gang leader Dutch Van der Linde shows himself to be capable of villainous acts. Surprisingly, he does have a few positive qualities, and one of them is that despite living in a very prejudicial society, he prefers to keep a diverse gang, and he does not look down on the outcasts of society. Consequently, though Lenny is often mistreated in 1899’s society for being Black, he finds a sense of belonging within theVan der Linde gang.
Through Lenny, several important themes are introduced to the game, including the prevalence of slavery and racism in pre-industrial America. However, these aren’t the game’s main themes, so they aren’t explored in depth.Red Dead Redemption 2’s follow-up could address this by featuring a Black protagonist who delves deeper into issues such as the backlash against the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Lenny is one of the most memorable members of the Van der Linde gang, and he has a tragic backstory. Both his parents were slaves, but their hardships continued even after they were freed. When Lenny’s father is beaten to death by drunk men, Lenny retaliates and murders them, forcing him to flee to escape a lynching. He is eventually taken in by the Van der Linde gang, whereLenny and Arthur Morgan become close friends. He is the gang’s youngest member (if Jack’s not counted), and he proves himself to be quite intelligent, as he spends his free time reading.
Lenny’s story illustrates that even after slavery was abolished, the tribulations of those who were previously enslaved did not end. Some overseers did not embrace society’s change, leading to continued hostility and lynchings.Red Dead Redemption 2depicts this through characters like Jeremiah Compson who once worked as a slave catcher but grows resentful after slavery is abolished and his occupation is rendered redundant.
It is quite difficult to predict where a newRDRgame could go. There are a few characters that would make good candidates for a new protagonist, including Jack Marston andSadie Adler. It might also be a good idea to introduce a new character as the protagonist, as they could carry the torch for Lenny and delve deeper into the topic of slave emancipation and society’s reaction to it. The best way this could be done is by having a Black protagonist who experiences first-hand the prejudices and hostility that permeate society despite the abolition of slavery.
Though, as the name suggests,Red Dead Redemptionmainly deals with the theme of redemption, it also carefully interrogates the concept of change and how individuals react to it. This is seen inRDR 2where theVan der Linde gang struggles to maintain their outlaw lifestylein the face of an industrializing society. Similarly, aRed Dead Redemptiongame with a Black protagonist could delve deeper into society’s changing perceptions of race and equality, and how people either attempt to adapt or adamantly stick to their old ways.
RDR 2shows Rockstar at its best when it comes to open-world design and storytelling. This has gamers curious to see what the studio can do with current-gen technology. Though it appears that developers are currently focused onGrand Theft Auto 6, hopefullyRed Dead Redemptiondoesn’t become anotherforgotten Rockstar franchise.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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