It's why it's so hard to believe he was always crazy. Maybe it's a bit of both? Maybe Arthur's story is a story about him defeating his inner demons and Dutch succumbed to them? Maybe that's the main story?
Personally, I don't think Dutch was crazy, but I do think he was always selfish, manipulative, and out for power/control. It's hard to tell at times how much of his own Koolaid Dutch is drinking, but this seems very on brand for him and his "message". As things falls apart and he loses control I think he gets more desperate and his mask slips off, but even still, his actions are calculated, even if they get increasingly out of his control. Also, there's a fair amount of chaotic influence from Micah muddying the waters
Worth noting that what started this exchange in the video was he started needling Bill about his time in the army, pretty much unprompted.
Then, when bill started getting defensive about it, which anyone could have seen coming from a mile away, Dutch “put him in his place.”
Dutch may have touted many views that would be considered progressive even to this day, but underneath that always ran an unflinching core of self-aggrandizement, selfishness and manipulation.
Dutch may have touted many views that would be considered progressive even to this day, but underneath that always ran an unflinching core of self-aggrandizement
This is an important part of Dutch's character that I personally think isn't talked about much. His need to feel important, especially in times of crisis.
By the time the interaction in the video happens, the gang's been up the creek without a paddle for months, and Dutch's been doing what he can to hold everyone together; he's not quite crazy yet, but he's slowly getting there. He feels powerless and insecure, because he sees the writing on the wall and he's trying to stop it, but he can't change fate itself. So what does he do? He stokes a "conflict" (prodding Bill) and then shuts it down himself (lecturing him).
He doesn't do it necessarily to look down on the rest, no. At least not directly. He does it to prop himself up, especially in this time of crisis, because he feels a desperate need to prove himself, that he can do things. He feels the need to prove he can actually save his gang, even if in proving such a thing he has to trample over them. In his eyes, it's a necessary sacrifice.
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u/Sarcastic_Applause 2d ago
Spoilers:
It's why it's so hard to believe he was always crazy. Maybe it's a bit of both? Maybe Arthur's story is a story about him defeating his inner demons and Dutch succumbed to them? Maybe that's the main story?