How Did Arthur Morgan Get Tuberculosis
Alright, partner, gather 'round the campfire! We're gonna unravel one of the biggest mysteries in the Wild West (or at least, in the Wild West of video games): how did our beloved Arthur Morgan catch that nasty tuberculosis in Red Dead Redemption 2?
It's a question that haunts players even more than bounty hunters, and frankly, there's more speculation around it than tumbleweeds in a dust storm.
So, let's saddle up and dive into the theories, shall we?
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The "Downes and Dirty" Truth
Let's get the official version out of the way first, the one the game basically slaps you in the face with.
Arthur contracts TB during a particularly unpleasant debt collection mission for Leopold Strauss.
He's sent to rough up a poor, ailing farmer named Thomas Downes to get back money he owes the gang. Yikes!
Arthur, bless his conflicted heart, isn't exactly gentle. In the process of wrestling with Downes, the farmer coughs right in Arthur's face – a delightful cocktail of spit and TB germs.
Consider it the Wild West equivalent of getting sneezed on during flu season, only about a million times worse.
Game over, germs win.
Later, Arthur displays symptoms of Tuberculosis, as he is diagnosed by a doctor in Saint Denis, following a collapse after encountering a sister that he saved from an earlier robbery.
But Was It Really That Simple? The Conspiracy Theories Ride In!
Now, some folks aren't satisfied with that explanation. Where's the fun in a straightforward story? They think there's more to it, and honestly, I'm kinda with them.
Theory #1: The "Dutch Was Behind It All!" Gambit
Oh, Dutch van der Linde, you magnificent, manipulative bastard! Some players believe that Dutch, in his ever-increasing descent into madness, knew about Downes' condition and deliberately sent Arthur to collect the debt.
Why? Well, maybe Dutch saw Arthur as a threat to his leadership, a little too honorable for his liking. He might have figured a little "illness" would keep Arthur in line, or even remove him from the equation entirely.
It's a bit far-fetched, sure, but let's be real, Dutch wasn't exactly playing with a full deck by this point.
Theory #2: The "It Was Just a Matter of Time" Hypothesis
Life in the Wild West was rough. People lived in close quarters, hygiene wasn't exactly a priority, and everyone seemed to be hacking up a lung at any given moment.
Maybe, just maybe, Arthur was already exposed to TB before Downes. The encounter with Downes was just the final straw, the tipping point that triggered the full-blown illness.
Think of it like this: Arthur's immune system was a rickety wagon wheel, and Downes' cough was the final rock that sent it tumbling off the cliff.
Theory #3: The "Bad Luck Bandit" Breakdown
Sometimes, the simplest explanation is the right one. Arthur was a gunslinger, a bank robber, a brawler. He lived a life of constant danger, dodging bullets and outrunning the law.
Maybe, just maybe, he was due for a bit of bad luck. It wasn't a conspiracy, or a grand scheme, just the cruel hand of fate reaching out and saying, "Not today, Arthur."
Life in the Wild West had its own way of making sure even the toughest cookies crumble.
So, What's the Real Answer?
Honestly? It's probably a combination of things. The game clearly points to the Downes encounter as the catalyst.
But the harsh realities of Arthur's lifestyle, the potential for prior exposure, and even a dash of good ol' fashioned bad luck likely played a role too.
It all adds up to a tragic, heartbreaking moment in gaming history, and a stark reminder that even the toughest cowboys aren't immune to the ravages of disease.
The Takeaway? Wash Your Hands (Even if You're a Cowboy)
Okay, so maybe they didn't have hand sanitizer in 1899. But the lesson still applies: hygiene is important!
If Arthur had access to a bottle of Purell after wrestling with Downes, maybe things would have turned out differently. (Okay, probably not, but let's pretend!)
The more you know!
But Seriously, Though…
Arthur's story is a powerful one. It's a tale of redemption, sacrifice, and facing your own mortality.
Whether it was Downes' cough, Dutch's treachery, or just plain bad luck, Arthur's illness adds a layer of depth and emotion to an already incredible game.
And that, my friends, is what makes Red Dead Redemption 2 so damn special.