Dutch Van der Linde is one of the most important characters in the Red Dead Redemption game series. He was first introduced in the first game but Red Dead Redemption 2 provided more insight into the man Dutch once was and how he became a sociopathic killer.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let us take a better look at the leader of the freedom-fighting gang and how he fell from grace.
Who is Dutch Van der Linde?
Dutch Van der Linde is the co-founder and leader of the Van der Linde gang in the Western-themed action-adventure game series, Red Dead Redemption. Developed and published by Rockstar Games, the game follows the story of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and Van der Linde gang member. The gang attempts to survive against government forces and rival gangs while dealing with the decline of the Wild West.
Van der Linde is the secondary antagonist of the series. He was once respected and loved by his gang members due to his philosophy of opposing the corrupt government through violence. But he eventually loses his mind and becomes a cold-blooded and sociopathic killer.
Although Van der Linde was first introduced in the first game. However, he played a more prominent role in Red Dead Redemption 2. Benjamin Byron Davis played the character.
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Dutch Van der Linde origin
Van der Linde was born outside Philadelphia, the United States of America, in 1855 to an English mother and a Dutch father. His father was conscripted into the Union Army during the American Civil War and was killed during an unnamed battle.
Van der Linde’s childhood was an unhappy one. Following his father’s death, his relationship with his mother deteriorated so much that he left home at the age of 15 to find freedom.
In the pursuit of freedom, Van der Linde became a petty criminal and along the line, ran into a con artist on the road named Hosea Matthews. During their interaction, the pair realised they had robbed each other before. Believing that they were destined to meet, they decided to form a group and that was how the Van der Linde gang was born.
What happened to Dutch Van der Linde?
In the beginning, the Van der Linde duo are involved in petty crimes like conning 12 residents of Kettering, Ohio, out of $300, getting caught before managing to escape while robbing the town’s sheriff in the process. Then they meet a 14-year-old orphan Arthur Morgan, who Van der Linde takes under his wing. At the same time, Van der Linde begins a romantic relationship with Susan Grimshaw, who also joins the gang. However, they break up after Van der Linde becomes involved with another woman named Annabelle.
Annabelle is then murdered by a notorious gang leader, Colm O’Driscoll, igniting a feud between the O’Driscoll and Van der Linde gangs that lasted for years. In 1885, Van der Linde takes in another protégé, 12-year-old John Marston, who is about to be hanged by local farmers for theft. Two years later, Matthews, Van der Linde, and Morgan successfully rob $5,000 from a bank and distribute the money to residents of the town where the bank is located.
By 1893, the Van der Linde gang has grown, with the addition of Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella and other gunslingers. Van der Linde has taken in street kids and orphans, teaching them how to read and establishing the importance of independent thinking and self-worth. In return, they complete tasks for him.
Over time, the gang begin to question Van der Linde’s judgements. One key moment is when the gang is involved in a failed attempt to rob a ferry in Blackwater at the beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2. The robbery is Micah Bell’s idea. But everything goes south when Van der Linde kills an innocent woman named Heidi McCourt, though it is not depicted in the game. However, the incident left Matthews disillusioned with Van der Linde’s leadership.
Following the botched robbery, the gang decides to lay low for a while. During this time, Van der Linde shows his better side by rescuing widowed Sadie Adler from some O’Driscoll gang members. After a successful robbery on a train belonging to businessman Leviticus Cornwall, the gang is back to business.
The Van der Linde gang continue their robbery operations while being hunted by Pinkerton agents. However, members are increasingly questioning Van der Linde’s actions. In another incident, Van der Linde rescues Jack Marston, son of John Marston, from Saint-Denis crimelord Angelo Bronte. Then he drowns Brontë and feeds his corpse to an alligator.
During a bank robbery in Saint-Denis, Van der Linde witnesses Pinkerton Agent Milton kill Matthews, his oldest friend and ally. Several members of the gang are also killed while survivors escape by boat. They find themselves on the island of Guarma and get involved in a local revolution. Morgan witnesses Van der Linde strangle an old woman named Gloria after he refuses to pay her more money for guiding them through a cave system. This incident changes Morgan’s perception of Van der Linde, a man he sees as a father figure.
In 1899, Van der Linde and Morgan are involved in an ambush that goes wrong after finding themselves backed up against a cliff edge by the U.S. Army. The pair jump off the cliff to escape. However, Van der Linde leaves Morgan to die at the hands of the soldiers, who are hot on their tails. He also leaves John Marston for dead during a botched train robbery, but Marston also survives.
During another dangerous robbery plan with Micah, the gang dissolves into chaos. Several members leave and Arthur is killed. By 1907, Van der Linde and Micah have recovered the money from the Blackwater ferry job. However, Van der Linde shoots Micah dead when the latter holds Sadie Adler hostage during a standoff. Van der Linde also leaves the money behind and flees.
In 1911, Marston is forced to hunt down the remaining members of the Van der Linde gang, with Van der Linde on top of his list. Meanwhile, Van der Linde continues his robbery activities. Marston eventually pursues Van der Linde up to a cliff edge. Van der Linde throws his gun over the cliff, laments about his inability to defeat his nature and falls over the cliff edge to his death.
Dutch Van der Linde gang
As previously stated, the Van de Linde gang was founded by Dutch Van der Linde and Hosea Matthews. Van der Linde was the leader and took in street kids. He taught them how to read and fight for their freedom while they completed tasks for him.
At first, the gang saw themselves as Robin Hood, robbing the rich to pay the poor. They were also constantly hounded by Pinkerton agents. Eventually, Van der Linde’s mistakes led to the gang’s downfall, including the death of key members like Matthews and Morgan, his protege.
In the end, Van der Linde found redemption by choosing to commit suicide instead of trying to kill Marston, who hunted him down. Hence, he has been named one of the greatest and most complex characters in video game history.
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