Decoding the Symbolic Animals at Arthur Morgan‘s Grave in Red Dead Redemption 2

Hey friend! As a fellow gamer and Red Dead fan, I wanted to provide an in-depth look at one of RDR2‘s most symbolic details – the animal resting at Arthur Morgan‘s grave. This poignant scene provides a perfect encapsulation of Arthur‘s complete redemption arc.

In this guide, we‘ll analyze how the animal at Arthur‘s grave reflects his honor level and personality. I‘ll also share some fascinating insights into the cultural symbolism and deeper meaning behind the high honor eagle and low honor coyote.

Get ready to geek out over this incredible storytelling detail with me!

Eagle Symbolizes Arthur‘s Redemption (High Honor)

When I first came across the massive eagle guarding Arthur‘s grave, it immediately gave me chills. This majestic bird perfectly represents Arthur‘s road to redemption and desire to protect John‘s family.

Even though Arthur lived an outlaw‘s life, he ultimately sacrificed himself to save the people he cared about. The regal eagle tells us Arthur died with his honor and conscience intact.

But why specifically an eagle? This king of birds has carried deep cultural symbolism for millennia.

Eagle Meaning in Native American Culture

Eagles hold a sacred place in many Native American societies, which clearly influenced Rockstar‘s design choice here.

For example, eagles represent courage and purity to the Lakota Sioux. They‘re considered spiritual messengers between heaven and earth.

Here are some common Native American eagle symbolic meanings that relate to Arthur‘s death as an honorable man:

• Freedom and transcendence
• Divinity and connection to Creator
• Courage, wisdom, and prestige
• Victory over adversity through strength
• An honorable warrior‘s spirit

In many ways, Arthur‘s path directly mirrors Native American concepts of the eagle‘s attributes. Despite his tough life, he embraced courage and persevered like a true warrior.

Choosing compassion over loyalty to Dutch‘s corrupted morals took immense wisdom and inner strength. And Arthur ultimately transcended his criminal past through sacrifice.

Eagle Symbolism in Other Cultures

Beyond Native American culture, eagles have represented similar concepts across the world for ages:

Greco-Roman – Strength, courage, wisdom

Christianity – Rebirth, salvation, heavenward gaze

Heraldry – Nobility, honor, victory

No matter the culture, eagles are consistently seen as majestic, noble creatures soaring high above earthly troubles.

That perfectly describes Arthur overcoming his violent tendencies and sacrificing himself to save John‘s family. He shed his selfish criminal persona and embraced honor when it mattered most.

Analyzing Arthur‘s High Honor Eagle

Based on all this historical symbolism, we can clearly see why Rockstar chose an eagle to represent Arthur‘s redemption.

The key takeaways the eagle evokes are:

Nobility – Arthur died an honorable man

Freedom – His soul is free and at peace

Salvation – He achieved redemption despite his past sins

Strength – Helping John‘s family took immense courage

Vision – He saw through Dutch‘s lies in the end

Leadership – He guided John to safety before his death

No other animal could better encapsulate Arthur‘s road to redemption. Soaring over his grave, this eagle perfectly symbolizes Arthur‘s moral transformation from outlaw to hero.

Coyote Reflects Arthur‘s Corruption (Low Honor)

In contrast to the majestic eagle, finding a mangy coyote at Arthur‘s grave worried me on my low honor playthrough. This scraggly creature represents the exact opposite symbolism and meaning.

Seeing this coyote after playing dishonorably made me feel ashamed. It was a clear sign Arthur had descended fully into immorality and selfishness.

But what specifically does the coyote symbolize? Let‘s break it down.

Coyote Meaning in Native American Culture

Like the eagle, coyotes carry extensive symbolic meaning in Native American folklore. But unlike the noble eagle, the coyote is portrayed as a devious trickster.

Here are some common coyote meanings and traits in various tribes:

• Deception, cunning, and thievery
• Intelligent but lacks wisdom
• Selfishness and greed
• Aggressive survival instincts
• Ignoble and unbalanced

It‘s easy to see how these attributes perfectly represent low honor Arthur‘s trajectory. He falls deeper into selfishness and morally bankrupt survival tactics.

Choosing coyotes to represent low honor Arthur likely draws directly from Native American oral traditions portraying the clever but devious animal.

Coyote Symbolism in Other Cultures

Similar to Native American folklore, the coyote is often seen as a dangerous trickster figure cross-culturally:

Greco-Roman – Deceit, greed, aggression

Christianity – Sinfulness, disobedience, devilish

Literature – Transgression, cunning, immoral

Fables – Greedy, selfish, unreliable

Unlike noble eagles, coyotes are universally depicted as untrustworthy and selfishly motivated. They represent cunning animal instincts unrestrained by morality.

Analyzing Arthur‘s Low Honor Coyote

Given the consistent cultural symbolism, the mangy coyote at Arthur‘s grave carries a clear message:

Selfishness – Arthur only cared about himself

Greed – He became blinded by survival instincts

Immoral – Any sense of honor or ethics faded away

Aggression – He evolved into a ruthless killer

Trickster – Willing to lie, cheat, and steal

Unpurified – His soul remained tainted until death

Seeing this scraggly coyote resting on Arthur‘s tombstone filled me with sadness and regret. It reflects just how far Arthur fell from the noble ideals he once upheld. A truly mournful ending.

Wolf Visions Reinforce Arthur‘s Inner Struggle

In addition to the grave animals, Arthur‘s visions of wolves and deer powerfully symbolize his internal battle between light and dark.

When Arthur follows the path of peace and mercy, he sees graceful deer. But violence and anger conjure visions of snarling wolves.

These spirit visions mirror the dichotomy between eagles and coyotes at the gravesite. They represent Arthur‘s core struggle to uphold morality in a cruel world.

Deer Symbolize Arthur‘s Pure Nature

Much like the eagle, deer represent noble attributes like:

• Innocence and purity
• Connection to nature‘s beauty
• Abundance and nourishment
• Spirituality and intuition

When Arthur makes an honorable choice, his vision fills with deer as a sign of staying on his true path. They reflect his inherent goodness and noble soul.

Wolves Symbolize Arthur‘s Inner Darkness

Savage wolves, meanwhile, symbolize the opposite:

• Rage, aggression, and greed
• Lack of control over primal urges
• Embracing survival instincts unchecked by ethics
• Succumbing to immorality and vice

These wolf visions warn Arthur that he is straying down an unrighteous path. They mirror the coyote‘s presence at his low honor grave.

Seeing wolves clued me in that I was leading Arthur astray by making bad choices. They reflected his core inner conflict.

Arthur‘s Final Legacy Comes Down to Player Choice

Looking at the stark differences between Arthur‘s high and low honor graves, it‘s clear how much player choice impacts his redemption arc.

If you maintain high honor, Arthur dies a virtuous man who sacrificed himself to protect John‘s family. The majestic eagle validates his redemption.

But if Arthur descends into immorality, the mangy coyote represents his corrupted soul. He dies in squalor as a greedy, selfish outlaw.

The striking contrast shows how Arthur‘s fate literally rests in the player‘s hands. Will he fight for redemption and to save his loved ones? Or fall victim to outlaw urges?

In the end, Arthur Morgan‘s ending perfectly mirrors the player‘s choices. His final legacy becomes a reflection of the path we take him down.

I hope digging into the symbolism of Arthur‘s grave gave you a new appreciation for Rockstar‘s incredible storytelling! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Discussing and analyzing Red Dead‘s powerful themes is what I live for!