For players who just want to twirl revolvers and blast their foes, the Red Dead Redemption series allows for plenty of that. However, the games also contain striking commentary on the American Frontier myth and on common themes such as loyalty, mortality, and the ability of people to change. It is partly because of this that the IP continues to be a bestselling one for Rockstar.
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What Is the Frontier Myth?
Colonization of the North American continent was fueled, in part, by the desire to escape the social, political, and class hierarchies of Europe. America was seen as a land of opportunity where anybody, regardless of their origins could make something of themselves provided they had the brains and were willing to put in the hard labor. The Jamestown settlement in the colony of Virginia was the first permanent English colony, and it did not take long before expansion began.
As more colonies were formed and new settlements emerged, the spread of civilization traveled from the East Coast westward and the beginnings of a new nation formed. One of the last regions of the map to be touched by civilization was the West. Although European Americans had found their way there, formal social structures such as police forces were absent and technological advancements such as electricity had yet to be adopted. Farmers and cattle wranglers lived off the land, and miners dug the ground for precious minerals.
Over time, the West, also known as the American Frontier, gained a mythological status within the American imagination, especially within the Western genre. It became envisioned as a land beyond civilization where one could find infinite opportunities. This led to the rise of frontiersmen who would embark toward the West to seek their fortune. This reached its peak in the 1800s when gold was found in California, leading to a gold rush and the rise of the California Dream.
In modern times, the American Frontier has also been romanticized through the archetypal cowboy, who is a man that survives the rugged outdoors and uses his trusty revolver to settle disputes. Other characters within the American Frontier Myth include gunslingers, sheriffs, miners, and hunters. The Red Dead Redemption games have all this and more, including saloons and duels on dusty roads at high noon. However, the game also plays with elements of the American Frontier Myth, subverting them in thought-provoking ways.
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Is Life Without Law and Order So Great?
In the American Frontier myth, the West is glamorized for being a location where one can reinvent themselves away from the chains of civilization. The myth is fueled by the freedom of the open landscape and the opportunity to strike it rich if one can survive among savages. The Red Dead Redemption games interrogate this notion, and they make gamers question whether living in the Wild West would be fun. On the one hand, gamers are constantly treated to breathtaking views of the untouched American landscape and, when contrasted with cities like Blackwater, it does make one easily fall in love with the Wild West.
On the other hand, it is a place where one is far away from civilization and the helping hand of the law. While cowboys may be romanticized, folks like the members of the Van der Linde gang illustrate that the truth of it isn’t so cheery. Thanks to Dutch’s silver tongue, the gang views itself in a noble light, though their victims are often innocent people such as Heidi McCort who is murdered in the Blackwater massacre.
The Dark Side of the American Frontier
Although the American Frontier is often depicted in a romanticized way in the Western genre, some historical aspects are worth not glossing over. Part of the myth is the idea of the feud between “cowboys and Indians,” with Native Americans often depicted as savages. In reality, violent interactions between Native Americans and colonialists were often the result of complex political factors, including the growing pressure to expand civilization. Expansionism brought great benefits to civilization, but it came at the cost of the Native Americans who had already been inhabiting the land. In the bid to expand civilization, wars sparked between colonialists and Native American tribes, often resulting in death and loss of land for the natives. This is illustrated in Red Dead Redemption 2 through the Wapiti tribe.
The Chieftan of the Wapiti tribe, Rains Fall, fights against the soldiers at first, but eventually goes the pacifist route, choosing to sign a treaty that limits his tribe to a reservation. Rains Fall’s son, Eagle Flies, is far from a pacifist, and he leads his tribe to attack the US Army. Though the battle is fiercely fought, and players can help, Eagle Flies is wounded in combat, bringing unbearable grief to the Chieftan. Although Dutch van der Linde views himself and his gang as being the victims of expanding civilization, these missions show who the true victims are.
Since Red Dead Redemption 2’s release in 2018, Rockstar has yet to release a new title, though it has churned out remakes and remasters. However, gamers can look forward to Grand Theft Auto 6, which is confirmed to be in production. Although this is great news, hopefully, it does not result in Red Dead Redemption becoming another forgotten Rockstar Games franchise.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S.
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