For a long time, many fans have debated who Jack Marston’s father was in Red Dead Redemption 2. Some don’t believe it’s John, following one hint or reason here or there, and others believe it could be Dutch Van Der Linde gang members like Javier Escuella, Bill Willamson, or even Arthur Morgan. The latter actually added fuel to the fire once by commenting to Jack, “you don’t look much like a Marston…maybe a Williamson or an Escuela.”
Nonetheless, John overcomes his own personal doubts about being a father, accepting and raising Jack even if others cast doubt on his parentage by Red Dead Redemption 2. This character growth can even be seen in what John and Abigail named Jack, and it isn’t really Jack after all.
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Jack Marston’s Real Name is John Marston Jr.
While it never seriously comes up during a conversation between John and Jack, no member of the Dutch Van Der Linde Gang discusses it, and Abigail never calls him by his entire name, Jack Marston’s real name is John Marston Jr–as identified in Red Dead Redemption pamphlets and credits. He was named after his father, and that tidbit of knowledge makes the ending of the original Red Dead Redemption all that much more bittersweet.
The reasoning comes down to Red Dead Redemption’s placement in the American Midwest. American nickname conventions are not too clear or defined, truth be told, which is why Bill can be a nickname for William. In the case of Bill Williamson, that is an even bigger quandary. Still, for as much sense as nicknaming someone Bill because their name is William makes, Jack falls right there in John.
Jack, during this time period, was often used as a nickname for John. That convention doesn’t really exist today, but it does make a lot of sense to give John Marston’s son his own nickname. Calling both of them John in the gang would be confusing, and calling him Jack gives him his own identity aside from his father in Red Dead Redemption 2. Another interesting detail is that “Juniors” often come about more in cultures with a high emphasis on honor, and that applies here too.
The Dutch Van Der Linde gang was once a very honorable group of fellows, always outlaws but good people at first. That ideal slowly slips away from them as the Midwest closes, but this idea of honor is key to the game – Red Dead Redemption’s high and low honor systems—as well as many of the characters like Arthur. It is for the honor of his father (and his fathers of the gang) that Jack Marston gets revenge on Edgar Ross in Red Dead Redemption. Overall, it’s one of many symbols in the franchise, and one potent for his culture and family.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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