Jack Marston (Red Dead)

Jack Marston
Red Dead character
First appearance	Red Dead Redemption (2010)
Last appearance	Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
Created by	Rockstar San Diego
Portrayed by	Josh Blaylock, Marissa Buccianti, Ted Sutherland
In-universe information
Alias	Lancelot Milton
Occupation	Gunslinger
Affiliation	Van der Linde gang
Nationality	American (Scottish descent)

Jack Marston is a character in the Red Dead video game series by Rockstar Games. He is the second playable protagonist of the 2010 video game Red Dead Redemption, and son of the main protagonist John Marston. Jack is also featured in Undead Nightmare, a non-canonical, zombie apocalypse-themed expansion pack, and is also a depicted character of the 2018 prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2. The latter game depicts Jack growing up in the Van Der Linde gang

Josh Blaylock portrays Jack Marston in Red Dead Redemption through performance capture, while Marissa Buccianti voices the younger Jack in Red Dead Redemption 2. The character was developed to reflect the themes of innocence lost and the impact of a tumultuous upbringing. The writers aimed to show Jack's evolution from a naive child to a vengeful young man, driven by the legacy of his father, John Marston.

Character development

Jack Marston's character arc is heavily influenced by his father's actions and the environment in which he was raised. As a child, he is depicted as curious and eager to learn, often seen reading books and dreaming of becoming a writer. However, the violent world around him and the eventual death of his parents push Jack towards a path of vengeance.

In Red Dead Redemption, players witness Jack's transformation from a hopeful young boy to a determined man seeking to avenge his father's murder. This shift is a key aspect of his character development, highlighting the themes of retribution and the cyclical nature of violence.

Appearances

Red Dead Redemption 2

In Red Dead Redemption 2, set in 1899, Jack Marston is a young boy living with his parents, John and Abigail, in the Van Der Linde gang. The game provides insights into his early life, showing his interactions with gang members and his close relationship with his parents. Jack's innocence is a stark contrast to the brutal world of the gang, emphasizing his vulnerability and the protective instincts of his family, particularly his father, John, and surrogate uncle, Arthur Morgan.

Red Dead Redemption

In Red Dead Redemption, set in 1911, Jack Marston is a young teenager living with his parents at their ranch. During this period, John Marston is forced to work as a bounty hunter for federal agents Edgar Ross and Archer Fordham in exchange for his family's freedom. Jack, along with his mother Abigail and family friend Uncle, is taken hostage by the agents to ensure John's compliance. Throughout this time, Jack is largely kept out of harm's way, but the threat to his family looms over John's missions.

After John completes his tasks and returns to the ranch, he attempts to lead a peaceful life with his family. Jack helps with the chores around the ranch, and players see glimpses of his aspirations and interests, such as his love for reading and writing. However, this brief period of tranquility is shattered when the army, led by Ross and Fordham, attacks the ranch. John sends Jack and Abigail to safety before making a final stand, during which he is killed by the soldiers. Jack witnesses his father's death, a traumatic event that marks the end of his childhood.

By 1914, Jack has grown into a young man. The epilogue of Red Dead Redemption allows players to take control of Jack, who is now driven by a desire for revenge against the men responsible for his father's death. He tracks down Edgar Ross, who is retired and living a peaceful life. Jack confronts Ross and challenges him to a duel, ultimately killing him and avenging his father. This act of vengeance signifies Jack's acceptance of the outlaw life, despite his earlier aspirations for a different future.

Undead Nightmare

Jack appears as a supporting character in Undead Nightmare; he is first shown sitting with his mother at the Marston residence, reading a book while discussing swearing with Abigail. After John returns, he asks Jack about the book he's reading; an Aztec man who apparently must kill his people who have been infected by a virus or plague, which happens to foreshadow the events of the Undead Nightmare.

Later that night, the Marston family are attacked by an undead Uncle, who manages to bite and infect Abigail, before being finished off by John. A worried Jack rushes to help his mother but is quickly infected as well, prompting John to hogtie them. Before being hogtied, Jack chases Rufus but fails to catch him. Abigail and Jack are then brought to John and Abigail's bedroom, where John leaves them with some food before leaving to find a cure for both.

Jack is not seen again until the final mission, where he and Abigail are found by John to have returned to normal. Abigail's dialogue implies Jack was returned to normal after her. After being untied, Jack and Abigail embrace John.

Reception

Jack Marston's character received a mixed reception from critics and players. While some appreciated the continuation of the Marston legacy and Jack's role in avenging his father, others felt that his character lacked the depth and complexity of John Marston. The shift from John to Jack as the playable protagonist in Red Dead Redemption's epilogue was seen as a bold narrative choice, reinforcing the themes of familial legacy and the consequences of a violent life.

Josh Blaylock's performance as Jack Marston was praised for capturing the character's youthful innocence and subsequent transformation into a hardened gunslinger. Critics noted that Jack's story provided a poignant commentary on the impact of parental influence and the harsh realities of the American frontier.

References

• Humphreys, Sara (2012). "Rejuvenating "Eternal Inequality" on the Digital Frontiers". Western American Literature. 47 (2). University of Nebraska Press: 200–215. doi:10.1353/wal.2012.0048. S2CID 162084363.
• Margini, Matt (2020). Red Dead Redemption. Boss Fight Books. ISBN 978-1-94053-524-1.
• Triana, Benjamin J. (2015). "Red Dead Masculinity: Constructing a Conceptual Framework for Analyzing the Narrative and Message Found in Video Games". Journal of Games Criticism. 2 (2). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
• Tuominen, Juho (October 2020). Rockstar's Open World Video Games as Ideological Apparatuses: A Case Study of Red Dead Redemption Series (PDF) (Thesis). Tampere University. urn:nbn:fi:tuni-202010197385. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
• Wright, Esther (2021). "Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption, and Narratives of "Progress"". European Journal of American Studies. 16 (3). European Association for American Studies. doi:10.4000/ejas.17300. S2CID 240579391.