John Marston’s story within the Red Dead Redemption games is considered one of the greatest in gaming. The gruff outlaw’s search for redemption is iconic, and every event, character and piece of symbolism contained within the epic has been thoroughly studied by fans.
Perhaps the most thoroughly studied of all Marston’s story elements is the Strange Man. This is a mysterious NPC who appears in both games, though only to John. The exact nature, identity and meaning behind the Strange Man has been hotly debated, though most fans agree that the character is no normal human.
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Chronologically, Marston first encounters the Strange Man in Red Dead Redemption 2‘s epilogue. A mysterious cabin in Lemoyne full of paintings and notes can be found at any point in the game. Paintings in the cabin depict eagles or bucks if the player has high honor, or vultures and coyotes if the player has low honor. There are also notes and references to Arthur Morgan and John Marston found scattered around the room, and a large unfinished painting sits in the center. The painting slowly progresses as the player returns to the cabin. If the player returns as John, it will be finished and depict the titular Strange Man — a smartly dressed man in a black suit, black hat and a well-groomed mustache.
If John looks in the nearby mirror after viewing this painting, the Strange Man will be standing directly behind him, vanishing if the player attempts to take a screenshot or photo. In subsequent visits to the shack, the player will notice all paintings and notes will have mysteriously vanished. John will note in Arthur’s journal how the painting made him feel, calling it “fascinating, awful and seductive, all at once.”
John later has the opportunity to speak with the man himself in Red Dead Redemption. The “I Know You” side-quest involves Marston meeting the Strange Man, who tells John that he knows him well and remembers people and events from his past that even John has forgotten. The man tasks Marston with two moral dilemmas, one involving a man considering cheating on his wife and another concerning a nun being robbed or donated to.
After these tasks are complete, John Marston can encounter the Strange Man one final time outside Beecher’s Hope. He stands overlooking the ranch on the spot John will later be buried. After another conversation where John demands the man tell him his name, John shoots him three times. However, the stranger is unharmed and continues to walk away, leaving John to simply look at his weapon in disbelief.
The Strange Man’s identity remains a mystery. He clearly knows John well and has a great interest in his life and actions. One popular interpretation is that he is the Grim Reaper. The man follows Marston persistently, ultimately leading him to the place he would one day be buried. Additionally, he repeatedly alludes to John’s fate, mentioning several times how “nice” the spot is. After firing on him, John exclaims “Damn you!” to which the man responds “Yes, many have,” which could be a reference to people lamenting their own mortality. Finally, a man around Hennigan’s Stead in Red Dead Redemption 2 can mention a man matching his description, claiming that he haunts Armadillo and caused the cholera outbreak.
Another popular theory is that the stranger is a demon — or the devil himself. The man is interested in moral tests, mocking Marston by speaking to him in cryptic riddles. The Strange Man refers to himself as an accountant of sorts, perhaps referring to how he deals with mortal souls. It’s implied that Herbert Moon of Armadillo’s general store has made some kind of Faustian bargain with the man, as Moon is one Armadillo’s only residents not affected by the outbreak. Moon also has a portrait of the Strange Man and a note reading “I offered you happiness or two generations. You made your choice” within his store. Lastly, the Strange Man’s final line as he walks away is also compatible with the devil interpretation.
Rockstar has refused to divulge the Strange Man’s identity, leaving it up to fans to come up with their own answers. The supernatural figure casts a long shadow over the life and times of John Marston, and was clearly tied to him directly. Perhaps a third game that follows Jack Marston’s storyline will include the return of the Strange Man, once again, following the Marston family line. Regardless of whether he is a demon, the Grim Reaper or the Devil himself, one thing is for sure: the Strange Man has knowledge and powers far beyond any normal human.
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