Arthur Morgan on a rose gray Andalusian horse, standing on a cliff above Bacchus Bridge at sunset. He's looking down at the broken bridge.

Table of Contents: The Literary Allusions of Red Dead Redemption 2

Read Dead is dedicated to researching and analyzing the literary allusions found in Red Dead Redemption 2. Although all essays here can be read on their own, I structured my discussion of works, themes, and characters somewhat like a book, so you may get the most out of it if you read the pieces in the order found here. Sharing the essays is greatly appreciated. To explore the essays by topic, visit the Index.

i. Meta

  1. Exploring the Literary Works that Inspired Red Dead Redemption 2

I. Paradise Lost by John Milton

  1. Death and the Devil: Paradise Lost & Dutch Van der Linde
  2. “Desperate Revenge”: Paradise Lost & Micah Bell
  3. “Red Right Hand”: Arthur Morgan as a Christ Figure
  4. Knowing: Red Dead Redemption 2 & the Inversion of Paradise Lost
  5. Fate & Free Will: The Meaningless Choices of Red Dead Redemption 2
  6. To Turn Towards Death: The Secret Mythology in RDR2
  7. Virgin Lands: RDR2’s Dream of Colonizing Eden
  8. Pleasance and Eden: More Allusions to Paradise Lost in RDR2

II. Paradise Regained by John Milton

  1. Stand Unshaken: The Inspiration Behind RDR2’s Mournful Prayer

III. Arthurian Legend

  1. Death of a Golden Age: Arthurian Legend and Red Dead Redemption 2
  2. “A Loving Act”: The Grail in Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Negative Images: Arthur Morgan and Micah Bell III
  4. Love Kills: Arthurian Characters in Red Dead Redemption 2
  5. White Stag: More Allusions to King Arthur and His Knights in RDR2

IV. Interlude: Desperado

  1. “It’s Just a Girl”: Gender, Misogyny, and Homophobia in RDR2 Part I: Permeability
  2. “It’s Just a Girl”: Gender, Misogyny, and Homophobia in RDR2 Part II: Erasure
  3. “It’s Just a Girl”: Gender, Misogyny, and Homophobia in RDR2 Part III: Control

V. Wuthering Heights

  1. The Serpent Defanged: RDR2’s Misuse of Wuthering Heights
  2. A Lost Age: More Allusions to Emily Brontë in RDR2

VI. The Bible

  1. Prophets & Saints: 30+ Allusions to the Bible in RDR2

VII. The Inferno by John Milton

  1. In a Dark Wood: Dante’s Inferno in RDR2, Part I
  2. Mapping Hell onto Eden: Symbolism in the Camps of RDR2
  3. The Cold Heart of Hell: RDR2 and Sins of Betrayal

VIII. Works of William Shakespeare

  1. The Imperiled Daughter: The Tempest and More in RDR2
  2. The Usurped Son: More Shakespeare in RDR2

IX. Various Works

  1. His Dark Materials: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in RDR2