➤ㅤㅤMolly O'Shea's poem on RDR2

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE GAME 'RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2' CREATED BY ROCKSTAR GAMES. IF YOU WISH TO READ THIS POST AND HAVEN'T FINISHED IT YET, PLAY THE GAME AND COME BACK LATER.

Excuse my english and spelling mistakes, as I am not native to the language.

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As seen in the title, I'll be talking about Molly O'Shea, but before diving into the main topic of this blog, I'd like to give a small introduction to her character:

Molly O'Shea is a supporting character in the infamous game Red Dead Redemption 2, acting as the lover of Dutch Van Der Linde—former leader of the Van Der Linde gang—throughout the game until the chapter of Beaver Hollow. Following this last chapter of the main story, Molly is shot dead by Susan Grimshaw after dramatically confessing outing the gang to the Pinkerton Agents. She claims to have been born into a wealthy family in Dublin, Ireland, and later came to the United States looking for adventure. She eventually joined the Van Der Linde gang prior to 1899, the year in which the game takes place.

Even if Molly is a well-known character in the fandom, I haven't quite seen an involvement into getting to know her well. The reason, of course,—even if it pains me to admit it—is that she lives under the shadow of the oh-so-important Dutch, who is a lot more relevant to the two games and a recurring character in both of them.

Therefore, because I want to show my appreciation and love for Molly, I'll do a small breakdown of this poem, which can be found during the game in Dutch's tent:

Uaibhreach

I was a girl - until your call

Commanded me to cross the sea.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

My darling Liffey was so small.

Your land and love are vast and free.

I was a girl until your call.

You stood so strong, and dark and tall.

You stole the heartbeat out of me.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

Your lips enchant, your eyes enthrall,

Your empire is of ecstasy.

I was a girl until your call.

Your parasites and lackeys crawl,

Mocking a love they dare not see.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

I sit in solitude and scrawl

These wretched words, and wait for thee.

I was a girl until your call.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

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First of all, I'd like to provide the meaning for the word 'uaibhreach':

'Proud, arrogant, to the extent that it alienates and isolates you from those around you, leading to loneliness.'

This resonates a lot with what is said by Karen at the very start of chapter 2 in the mission 'Polite Society, Valentine Style':

"Miss O'Shea is far too high and mighty now for the likes of us... or to do any real work." — Karen Jones.

It is important to point out Karen says 'now', meaning that there once was a time in which Molly wasn't as important—as Karen puts it—as she was during the time period in which the story takes place. Most likely, this 'higher rank' in the gang refers to her position as Dutch's partner, earning her a sort of irreplaceable spot and in consequence not requiring her to work—just look pretty. Not only that, but adding the fact that Molly came from an opulent family would also fit with Karen's description for O'Shea, so the dialogue is presented with both meanings.

I'd like to point out, too, that the poem is in the form of a villanelle, a strictly structured French style of poem dating back to the 17th century, information I got from the Red Dead Wiki.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I'll analyze the poem more throughoutly.

The whole document is clearly directed to Molly and Dutch's relationship. She feels stuck with him, and is successfully manipulated by the older man into 'giving him all', which could mean just how much she has sacrificed for her partner. After all, Molly came to the country—as I mentioned previously—looking for some kind of freedom, but ended up stuck with a gang leader who doesn't even give her an ounce of respect or attention. You can practically see this poem reflected on the camp interactions between the two, and the fights that constantly spike up between them.

Seeing how she's treated in the story, Molly feels like a replacement of some sort; a replacement for Dutch's past lover who he misses dearly: Annabelle. We don't get to meet her at any point of the game, but is crucial to Dutch Van Der Linde and Colm O'Driscoll's rivalry, as she was killed by him after Van Der Linde killed Colm's brother. Dutch speaks very fondly of Annabelle, and it clearly pained him when she got killed, like he says in the dialogue between the two gang leaders when they agree to meet for a small 'chat'—same chat that got Arthur kidnapped by the O'Driscoll's.

Molly was persuaded by Dutch into joining the gang and giving up her luxurious and comfortable life, but even then Dutch is the least loyal man she could've ever had and is constantly making comments about the fellow female members of the gang throughout the game. The poor, young girl possibly doesn't even get to know this, because she remains isolated in his tent for the majority of the game, and when she does try speaking with her lover he cuts her off and pushes her away most if not all times.

And finally, when she gets shot by Susan at the end of it all, while she confesses everything, she isn't even afraid of Dutch's impotent figure at all, because she knows the truth that he is just manipulating everyone, including her. She goes on a drunk rampage about how she confessed to the Pinkerton Agents that the Saint Denis robbery was them, and Dutch doesn't even hesitate to withdraw his gun and point it at her, ready to pull the trigger and kill O'Shea. It's just then when we finally grasp the idea that Molly wasn't truly loved by him, or by anyone in the gang, really, as the majority of the members just believe that 'she got what she deserved' except for Karen, Mary-Beth and possibly Arthur.

Molly O'Shea, an entitled and narcissistic woman, dies quickly and tragically, earning her place as yet another one of Dutch Van Der Linde's victims, but sadly being the least remembered one.

Molly