Arthur and Sally disjointed cutscenes theory [SPOILERS]

Both Arthurs and Sallys stories intertwine briefly in the game. This means that when the player gets an opportunity to play as Arthur or Sally, then they will experience the same cutscenes twice, but from 2 different perspectives.

However despite the cutscenes being of the exact same event, things had changed drastically. What was said is different and even the location is different.

So this is my theory about why that is

First i want to reference some of the only shared cutscenes in the game that barely changed between character experiences, and those cutscenes are for the most part, the cutscenes with Arthur and Ollie.

From Arthurs perspective, Ollie seems to talk to himself, referring to Margaret as if she were in the room. From Ollies perspective, we physically see Margaret and hear her responses, making his mad ramblings more coherent after you hear them in context. Other than that, these cutscenes do not alter drastically at all.

My point here is that, the only factor here that changed the scene was the perspectives of the characters. Ollie has gone mad as a result of joy and sees visions of Margaret. Arthur doesn’t.

And i believe the differences between Arthur and Sallys shared cutscenes is also perspective.

From Arthurs perspective, after bumping into Sally and saying cruel things, he attempts to apologise only to discover she’s left.

From Arthurs perspective, he seeks her out to apologise

From Arthurs perspective, Sally never told him about her baby.

Now compare this is Sallys perspective.

Arthur never attempts to apologise to her and leaves first.

From Sallys perspective, she has to seek him out and apologise

From Sallys perspective… she told him about the baby and he didn’t care.

Why would they be different though?

Well. Arthurs entire story has him attempting to remember what happened to his brother Percy. As he gradually recalls his memories, the narrative of what happens constantly changes.

At first it was the “horrible constable” who separated him and his brother. Then, it was the fact that Arthurs ID had a misprint that meant he was too old to board the train. Then it was that Arthur accidentally revealed his real age making him unable to join his brother. Then we discover that Arthur willingly lied to the constable to avoid boarding the train as he watched his brother panic and get hurt, calling Arthurs name over and over.

It’s an ugly truth that Arthur tried desperately to sugar coat to protect himself from the guilt of it all.

Arthur has been on Joy for a long time. The amnesiac side effects of that are long lasting. I believe Arthurs perspective from his and Sallys cutscenes, are actually false and a sugar coated version of events that protect him from guilt.

Arthur didn’t try to apologise to Sally. Arthur didn’t seek out Sally. Arthur did hear her when she told him about her baby. But he decided he didn’t want to deal with that, and pretended he didn’t hear it at all.

Arthur does bad things but hates feeling guilt. The effects of years on joy has made him believe he’s a good person and not capable of cruelty. But really, there were several moments in his game where he shocked me with his actions.

When he kills people he says sorry and feigns regret, before looting bodies and saying something like “actually i think you might’ve owed me a bit of money…” In some cutscenes he watches characters die right in front of him and all he can offer is a sarcastic comment (Nick Lightbearer gets electrocuted gruesomely and the first things Arthur says is “Brilliant.”). At the research center in the parade district there are several glass rooms with unwilling test subjects inside, You get an opportunity to press a button to fill the glass rooms with Joy, causing the subjects to act out. One of the crazed subjects babbles crazily and in pain due to this, and Arthur literally has to stifle his laughter. The list goes on, he has no empathy what-so-ever.

I love his character don’t get me wrong, but he’s cruel. He’s a real piece of work. And he hides all this under crocodile tears. Even tricking himself in some cases. Which is why from his point of view, he’s never the bad guy. Which is why he was nicer in his version of events with Sally. His reality is one where he’s good.

And i think after his story ended, he was forced to come to terms with his falsified reality after remembering what he did to Percy in full. And as a result will become a better person or at the very least acknowledge that he’s capable of such things.