The most selfish character in Red Dead Redemption

Key things

• Selfish actions in Red Dead Redemption often have dire consequences, affecting relationships and leading to betrayal.
• Characters like Dutch, Micah, and Catherine put their own interests before others, causing damage and chaos.
• The game's Wild West setting encourages selfish behavior and emphasizes a survival-of-the-fittest mentality.

In the Wild West, it's every man and woman for themselves, and when the going gets tough, the going gets tough. No one can be trusted and it's a dog-eat-dog world, so it's no wonder that a good number of the characters become incredibly selfish (if they weren't already). There are several circumstances in which selfish actions are justified, especially when outlaws and thieves are on the rampage, but some Red Dead Redemption the characters have no excuse for their one-sided attitudes.

Sometimes acting in self-interest can also benefit the greater good, but the most selfish characters in the world Red Dead Redemption franchises don't look out for anyone but themselves and will stomp on just about anyone to get what they want.

1 Dutch Van der Linde

He manipulated the gang's loyalty to him

Whether or not Dutch is the “real” villain has long been debated Red Dead Redemption 2. Compared to Colm O'Driscoll and Leviticus Cornwall, Dutch doesn't look so bad in the grand scheme of things, but his moral compass doesn't always point to justice and his hands are never clean.

Above all, Dutch values ​​wealth and prosperity, especially during the collapse of the American frontier, and he plays the role of caring family man convincingly, but Dutch's intentions are always ambiguous. He always wanted the members of the gang to be loyal to him and do what he says – to trust him unconditionally – even if it means they die. He believed that dying for a cause would be a noble sacrifice if it wasn't him.

2 Penelope & Beau

Prioritizing escape over the safety of their family

Beau Gray and Penelope Braithwaite were Red Dead Redemption 2's interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, with the pair appearing as two star-crossed lovers, and the Grays and Braithwaites being the Montagues and Capulets in this analogy. Both families are liars and hypocrites with a rivalry that was set in motion by the time Arthur met them. At the center of this decades-long feud are Beau and Penelope, who are forbidden to see each other because of their rivalry.

Arthur helps them contact each other and they end up running away together, but it wouldn't be fair to say that Beau and Penelope aren't being selfish. They both cared little how the Grays and Braithwaites would end up destroying each other as they only cared about escaping. They also abused Arthur's kindness as a ticket out of a bad situation.

3 Abigail Marston

He constantly taunted John and eventually left him

John Marston may not be a perfect man, but he is far from anything Abigail makes him out to be. Through both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2John makes every decision in the best interest of Abigail and Jack, even if it gets him into hot water with the local authorities. Driven by his love for Abigail, John vows to give up his outlaw life for her so they can live happily on their ranch and raise Jack together.

He builds their house from scratch with the help of Charles and his uncle, then earns some extra money the old-fashioned way by becoming a ranch hand for the Geddes. After all this, Abigail is still not happy and keeps letting John know about it. In the end, Abigail takes Jack and leaves. While it's understandable that she wouldn't want Jack involved in violent situations, it's not like John ever intended to hurt them.

4 Micah Bell

Played Devil's Advocate To Dutch and Snitched On The Gang

Often referred to as the overarching antagonist Red Dead Redemption 2Micah Bell is also to blame for Dutch's descent into apathy. In Chapter 1, Dutch is shown to be compassionate and caring, especially after he meets Sadie Adler and throws a blanket over her. Once Micah starts playing devil's advocate, he slowly manipulates Dutch into acting selfishly. Micah is greedy, opportunistic and completely untrustworthy.

He is indirectly responsible for the death of Molly, who takes heat for being the rat who stole the gang from Ross and Milton, when it was actually Micah who informed the authorities of the gang's whereabouts and sold them out for some extra cash. He also mocks Arthur for suffering from tuberculosis, often calling him “Black Lung”. He has no moral standards, treats everyone with contempt and is only interested in how fast he can make money.

5 Colm O'Driscoll

He killed Dutch's lover and used his men as pawns

As one of several secondary antagonists in Red Dead Redemption 2Colm O'Driscoll is Holland's archenemy. Their rivalry came to a head after Dutch murdered Colm's brother, prompting Colm to retaliate by killing Annabelle, Dutch's lover. Since then, the Van der Linde gang and the O'Driscolls have been embroiled in a blood feud. It is made clear during the events of the game that Colm O'Driscoll doesn't care as he doesn't even know many of their names.

As Kieran Duffy says: “When he talks nice to you, it's like the sun is shining, and when he's mad at you, it's like the devil is at you.” When Colm tries to hire Arthur during his kidnapping and torture, he scoffs at Dutch's philosophy and remains steadfast in his efforts to influence Arthur with nothing more than the promise of money. He doesn't really care about anyone but himself, so he uses everyone around him as pawns to achieve a means to an end.

6 Catherine Braithwaite

He cares too deeply about Braithwaite's reputation

Catherine Braithwaite, the matriarch of the Braithwaite family, met an Italian crime boss named Angelo Bronte. She also began illegitimately selling Lemoyne Raiders moonshine. Catherine is very concerned about her social image, the Braithwaite wealth and family values, but she doesn't care much for anyone she deems unworthy. He puts Braithwaite's reputation ahead of their well-being as he keeps Gertrude Braithwaite locked up in the outhouse indefinitely rather than transport her to a sanatorium to assess her mental instability.

Gertrude is also believed to be possessed, but Catherine has simply adopted an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. Catherine's wealth and prosperity mean the most to her, not the Braithwaites and not the “Yankees,” as she unfavorably calls them.

7 Edgar Ross

He breaks the deal with John and hunts down the Van Der Linde Gang

It occurs in both Red Dead Redemption and its sequel, Edgar Ross is a member of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, which seeks to rid modern civilization of outlaws. Although Ross answers to his superior, Andrew Milton, it can be argued that he is the real mastermind behind the plot to wipe out the Van der Linde gang. Milton appears to be merely following orders, while Ross develops a personal vendetta against Dutch and his henchmen as he repeatedly taunts the gang members – even doing so to a young Jack Marston – and constantly reminds them that he is running on borrowed time.

After Milton dies, Ross becomes the driving force behind the continued pursuit of the gang members throughout the events Red Dead Redemption. He breaks the deal he made with John to keep Abigail and Jack safe, instead descending on John's ranch to mercilessly shoot him and force John to sacrifice himself for the sake of his wife and child.

8 Leopold Strauss

He lends money to individuals he knows can't afford it

Leopold Strauss is one of the most shifty businessmen because he deliberately lends money to individuals he knows cannot afford to repay. He then sends Arthur Morgan to collect the debt by any means necessary, including brute force, even as many lenders struggle to support their families and give up family inheritances and life savings to settle these debts. He serves as the Van der Linde gang's accountant, but has started a loan sharking business to earn extra income.

During Arthur's confrontation with Thomas Downes, he specifically learns that many lenders are penniless and have nothing to give, but Strauss is unconcerned with the financial troubles of others and instead demands that Arthur collect the debt. Edith Downes may visit the camp at some point and inform Strauss of her husband's death, but Strauss instead selfishly bequeaths the debt to Edith.

9 Mary Linton

He pulls on Arthur's strings to get his help

While Mary Linton is certainly not a bad apple, she is not a peach either. Mary was Arthur's lover during their youth, but his outlaw lifestyle drove her away. Eventually, Mary moved away and married a man named Barry, who contracted pneumonia and died, leaving her a widow. From then on, the widowed Mary made constant efforts to contact Arthur and ask him for a favor. Arthur can either accept or reject these favors, but Mary remains a selfish person who pulls Arthur's strings to keep him at arm's length, knowing that he will always come running to help her because of their history together.

Mary uses this to her advantage and asks Arthur to rescue and rehabilitate her brother after he runs away to join a fanatical cult. She admits that their relationship fell apart due to guilt on both sides, but often berates Arthur for his lifestyle, even though she herself ended up in no better situation.

10 Leviticus Cornwall

Serves as a driving force behind the Indian eviction campaign

Not only does Leviticus Cornwall financially support the Pinkerton Agency, which is a crime in itself, but he's also the typical rich, snobbish aristocrat. It was he who convinced Colonel Henry Favors to expel the Indians from their homeland after learning that it was a rich oil field. He repeatedly undermined the authority of the United States government and single-handedly caused a blood feud between American law enforcement and the Indians, led by Rains Fall and Eagle Flies.

Dutch believed Cornwall to be the sole cause of Pinkerton's persecution, but Cornwall posthumously instigated the war that led to the death of Eagle Flies, which is exactly what he had planned all along. Although Cornwall's campaign to drive out the Indians was futile, he still selfishly cost the lives of many innocent people on both sides of a needless war.