What Age is John Marston in Red Dead Redemption 1?
The game Red Dead Redemption (RDR1) and its sequel Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) have left us with many questions regarding John Marston’s character and his journey. In this article, we’ll dig into the details of what we know about John’s age in RDR1.
John’s Death Date and Age
According to the game’s credits, John Marston died in 1911, leaving us to calculate his birth year. His grave bears the inscription 1873-1911. This means John Marston was 38 years old when he met his untimely death in the original Red Dead Redemption.
But Before We Dive Deeper, Let’s Take a Trip to RDR2 First
In Red Dead Redemption 2, set twelve years prior to RDR1, we encounter young John Marston (15-16 years old during the events of the prequel). This setting makes it clear that RDR2 takes place during his formative years.
Now, let’s look closely at John’s timeframe in RDR2:
- Year of birth: 1873
- Age at beginning of RDR2 (1885): 12
- Age by events of RDR2 ending: 26
- Year of death: 1911
So, how does this apply to our original question: "What age is John Marston in RDR1?"?
What we know so far
Given John’s birthdate as 1873, by the time RDR2 ends, he has 26 years under his belt. Fast-forwarding twelve years to RDR1, we can add an additional 12 to account for the time jump:
26 (RDR2 ending) + 12 (years between games) = 38!
Conclusion
It has been established that John Marston was 38 years old during his time in Red Dead Redemption. Keeping in mind his birthday was in 1873 and his death in 1911, we calculated the intervening years to come up with this age.
Next time you play through the game, remember this – John Marston was old enough to have learned lessons from his past mistakes in RDR2 but also young enough to hold out hope for redemption and possibly find a new way amidst the chaos of RDR1.
FAQ Bonus
- Who’s Micah Bell in relation to John Marston’s story? Micah Bell is a Van der Linde gang member who plays a significant role in Arthur Morgan’s story but serves as a rival for John Marston in Red Dead Redemption.
- Were there any notable themes discussed in RDR1 apart from redemption? Discussing themes like greed, power, and control help deepen the understanding of Dutch Van der Linde and the gang’s tumultuous journey.
Fun Stats and Trivia: Table
| Topic | Statistical/Fun Fact | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| In-Game Timeframe | RDR2 lasts between 1899 to 1907, then cut to 1911 during RDR1. | The time jump of RDR2 to RDR1 is significant to contextualize John’s actions between games. |
| Game Length | RDR2’s main story campaign spanned around 13 days. | This mirrors RDR1’s condensed setting by taking place over 65 days. |
| Curtis Weaver and Mac Farlane | Outlaws who join Arthur for a while in RDR2. | Mac remains a loyal friend for a brief period, contrasting John’s eventual betrayal at hands of Dutch. Curtis proves unreliable, foreshadowing John’s encounters later on. |
Take an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned regarding John Marston’s character age and the context it unfolds in.