1883 star Isabel May (Elsa Dutton) spoke in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the heartbreaking discovery of the Dutton family’s fate in 1923. May expressed her pain upon learning about the outcome, understanding that it was a result of the harsh realities of life in Montana during the year 1883. She also acknowledged the ruthless nature of the ranching industry during that time.
“Oh, it was absolutely brutal! The sadness was overwhelming. What really struck me was Margaret, she was such a remarkable person. However, it was like getting a harsh blow to the face, I guess. [Taylor Sheridan] is determined to depict the brutality, as that’s how life appeared during that time.”
The Fate Of 1883’s Dutton Family
The Dutton family’s embrace of life in the West and their willingness to betray others for success has ensured that they were never destined for a happy ending. The dark side of the family has been present since as far back as 1883, and Yellowstone has witnessed the growth and distortion of their ruthless philosophy over the years.
The Dutton family remained haunted by death even after Elsa’s passing in 1883. Just ten years later, James Dutton also met his demise, leaving Margaret to plead with Jacob for help in supporting their struggling family. Tragically, Jacob arrived too late, as Margaret had already perished, seemingly freezing to death in his absence. Left behind were her sons, who were themselves on the brink of starvation.
Throughout the Yellowstone timeline, there is no shortage of devastation and loss, but the characters of 1883 have experienced some of the most harrowing circumstances. Rarely granted any respite, they have fought their whole lives only to have everything taken away on one fateful day. With the loss of Elsa, James, and Margaret, nearly an entire generation was wiped out, making the revelations of 1923 as shocking to May as they surely were to any viewer of 1883.
