Breaking Bad: The Transformation of Walter White

2641 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Breaking bad critical analysis

A dismal 1.4 million people tuned in to watch the pilot episode of Breaking Bad in January of 2008, but an astonishing 10.28 million viewers tuned in to watch the Breaking Bad finale (Kissell). This exponential increase in viewership can be attributed, partially, to the development of the characters in the show, especially Walter White. As fans of the show tune in each week to watch, they begin to see that Walter is not at all like the meek schoolteacher they initially thought he was. Truly, the story of Walter White is the story of change. Both loved and hated, Walter White went from pitiful sufferer, to ultimate villain. Walter began cooking meth as a means for extra income. After he was diagnosed with cancer, he realized that he needed another source of income to pay for his treatment and support his family. In two short years, Walter becomes the best meth cook in the nation, and arguably the world. To become so successful, Walter abandoned his morals by murdering, stealing, and lying his way to the top in what went from part-time job to lifetime commitment. While his reasons for entering the drug trade were heroic, Walter became blinded by greed and selfishness, and is undoubtedly a villain because of his egotistic pride, his selfishness, his greed, his ruthless ability to manipulate those around him, and his immoral choices. Ultimately, these qualities led him to his demise.

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain” (“Dark Knight Quotes”). This quote from The Dark Knight perfectly describes Walter’s career as a meth cook. Walter began cooking meth in order to provide for his family. However, Walter soon became obsessed with this career and decided...

... middle of paper ...

... Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

"Dark Kight Quotes." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

"How Meth Destroys the Body." PBS.org. The Public Broadcasting Station, 17 May 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.

Kissell, Rick. "‘Breaking Bad’ Finale Soars to Series-Best 10.3 Million Viewers." Variety.com. Variety, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

Lee, Steven J., M.D. "Crystal Methamphetamine." Cyc-net.org. CYC-online, Apr. 2006. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.

Prah, Pamela M. "Methamphetamine." CQ Researcher 15 July 2005: 589-612. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.

"Quotes for Jesse Pinkman." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

"Quotes for Walter White." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

“Super Lab." Wikia.com. Breaking Bad Wiki, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.

"Walt's Drug Empire." Wikia.com. Breaking Bad Wiki, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

"Walter White." Wikia.com. Breaking Bad Wiki, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Free Raisin in the Sun Essays: Bad Dreams

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Walter has no desire to find out about himself through his African American Heritage. He believes he can define himself through money, money is everything to this man. Money is status, money is wealth, money is happiness, money is almost God to him.

    Read More

  • The Protagonist in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first reason I believe that Walter is the protagonist is because he isn’t a selfish man. What I mean by this is when he is talking about issues he tends to discuss family issues above his own personal things. Though at times in the play when he is drunk and loses his temper he does start speaking selfishly, I believe that his overall attitude in the play is for his family to move up the world. I believe that Walter’s son Travis is the main reason why he acts so unselfishly. He seems to want the best for this son and doesn’t want his son to feel that there isn’t anything he can’t have or do.

    Read More

  • Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ontrol of his personal ambitions to benefit the whole or in Walter's case the family. Certainly it would be unfair for Walter give up his aspirations. The issue is whether Walter can distinguish between a fantasy of reality and a dream deferred.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Walter White Junior In Breaking Bad

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    I'm writing about RJ Mitte known as Walter White Junior in breaking bad. Walter "Flynn" Hartwell White Jr. is Walter and Skyler's Mittes seventeen year-old son. He attends J.P. Wynne High Schooll, where his father used to work as a high school chemistry teacher. He is the older brother of Holy White. He was born with cerebral palsy, manifested in speech difficulties and impaired motor control, for which he uses crutches. He grows apart from Walt due to his father's absences and bizarre behavior, being taught to drive, for the most part, by his friends and going through a phase in which he preferred to be called "Flynn." I chose to write about Walter Junior because I love this show and I thought it would be interesting to write about him.

    Read More

  • Essay on Death and Sorrow in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    679 Words  | 2 Pages

    Walter has an interesting turn of events towards the end of the book. He is forced to abandon his quest to the North Pole, he is faced with the monster and must hear the monster's plans for self-destruction, he has to watch idly as his new friend, Victor, passes from this world. He has such noble dreams and aspirations, but they are all brought to a halt because of his chance meeting with Frankenstein. Or, was his expedition doom from the start because of the nature of wanting to do what no other man had done? Was it his ambition that led him to untimely failure? The evidence from the text proves that possibly he was never meant to surpass his peers and obtain the glory that he pursued.

    Read More

  • African American Life In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    982 Words  | 2 Pages

    At first, Walter starts as a man who does not have many traits and characteristics that a leader in the family should has. He feels frustrated of the fact that his mother can potentially support his sister, Beneatha, in her education career. Walter complains and feels depressed about his current life when he has many aspects that not many African men had during his time. Walter has a happy family, a loving wife, and an acceptable occupation. Unfortunately, Walter wants more in his life, and he feels hopeless and depressed when something does not go in his ways. Walter starts to change when he experiences and learns Willis’s betrayal, his father’s hard work, his son’s dream of becoming a bus driver, and his mother’s explanation about the Africans’ pride. Through many difficulties, Walter becomes the man of the family, and he learns the importance of accepting and living a happy life with his family. Like Walter, many African men had to overcome the challenges and obstacles. They had to face and endure through racism. These two ideas often led to many tragic and depressed incidents such as unequal opportunities, inequality treatments, segregation, and

    Read More

  • Breaking Bad: Breaking Bad

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though many story arcs are used to work with each other, the one that sticks out is the telling of a tragic hero. Walter White is a modern day Hamlet, Oedipus, and Macbeth. And I think that is one of the reasons that I am attracted to this type of story. In the comparison to those characters, I can see the qualities that made Walter White who he is. From the traits of hubris and hamartia all the way down to catharsis, everything is there working together. As a filmmaker, it’s interesting to put it all into context and see that Breaking Bad is not something brand spanking new. It made me realized what made a story bad and not relatable. It’s no reason Breaking Bad is used a ton in storytelling classes and as a Bible for writers. It also leaves a lot of questions for the audience and how they choose to relate to Walter White. For me, I felt pity and sadness and would consider him a tragic hero. However, other people would disagree and say that his sidekick is the hero and Walter is a complete psycho. And no one would be wrong. That’s important in literature and movies. There should be no one right answer and linear path otherwise what are we going to talk

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Walter White Antihero

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    But what makes a meth cook the antihero is the fact that he is doing it to help pay for his cancer treatment. This fact throughout the first half of Breaking Bad is what helps people see Walter as a good guy just trying to meet ends. An article by Mark A. Lewis explores the money concerns cancer patients have and relates it directly to Breaking Bad. In one episode of Breaking Bad Walt states “These doctors … talking about surviving. 1 year, 2 years, like it’s the only thing that matters. But what good is it, to just survive if I am too sick to work, to enjoy a meal, to make love?” (episode 1.5). Walter is showing how you live your life is much more important then how long your life is. In many ways this leads to the decisions that Walter makes throughout every season. He begins by feeling a lot of regret for his decisions but “ Walt becomes increasingly comfortable with his decisions. After the guilt-ridden strangulation in the first season, the body count continues to climb”(Lewis). Another thing that happens to Walt, and with a lot of other cancer patients is thinking that his life has less value because it is going to be over soon Jesse also realizes this and states “that Walt should be more willing to risk himself” (Lewis). This makes the audience feel sympathy towards Walt because many people have seen what death can do to people, or the thought of death so all of Walt’s actions are understandable. For this reason Walt’s cancer helps him remain an antihero and not the

    Read More

  • Noble Lies in Breaking Bad and The Dark Knight

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Breaking Bad, Walter White is a high school Chemistry teacher who learns that he has inoperable lung cancer. One day, while on patrol with his DEA brother-in-law, Walter runs into Jesse Pinkman, a former student who Walter learns has been dealing methamphetamine. Knowing that he doesn't have long to live and that his teacher salary won't be enough to financially support his family after his impending death, Walter uses his extensive knowledge of Chemistry to begin producing and selling crystal meth with Jesse. This begins Walter's struggle to keep the unfortunate truth hidden...

    Read More

  • The Facts About Methamphetamine

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Meth, not even once” is a popular phrase that is associated with this drug. This drug has many known horrible effects associated with it, plus many effects more I am sure are going to be discovered over time. I am intending to cover the history, effects, the different categories of meth abuse, and the withdrawal effects of Methamphetamine in this paper, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is using meth.

    Read More

  • Breaking Bad

    1480 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...with Breaking Bad. Gilligan admitted while standing alongside his award-winning cast members at the 2013 Emmy Awards that, “You have hopes and dreams, but I never even thought this show would go on the air.” The renowned creator of this hit series brilliantly pieced together a dark world filled with cartel, crime, and crystal meth. Thanks to the flawless acting, the surreal mix of scientific fact paired with creative vision, and the immensely engaging characters, there is no doubt that Breaking Bad stands as the single dominating modern-day television series America has to offer.

    Read More

  • Analyzing Walter White's Breaking Bad

    496 Words  | 1 Pages

    In addition, he wanted to secure his family’s future for when he passes assuming it would be ruined financially without him. To begin, as I analyze my character using the “Big Five” personality Factors I will start with O for (Openness). Walter White is known to be extremely conforming when it comes to his family. He believes that his job is to make sure his family is well taken care of no matter what it takes.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Great Gatsby And A Raisin In The Sun

    1882 Words  | 4 Pages

    Walter attempts to reinvent himself through his work and relationships to try and provide for his wife and family. Walter is fighting a battle within his household because he believes that Ruth, his wife, “couldn’t be on [his] side that long for nothing,” even though she is just trying to do what is best for everyone involved (Hansberry 32). Walter cannot see past his dream to realize the impact it would have on everyone else if it failed, so he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Although “he knows the possibility of failure is also a vital part of the American success story” Walter is not just risking his own future, he is risking his child’s, mother’s and sister’s and without a second thought to his personal relationships, he blindly makes an investment on the chance of having the wealth and house he desires for everyone (Washington 98). Walter is so focused on reinventing his work life and having money that he loses sight of his family’s values and ideas. He does not care about Ruth being pregnant and the possibility of aborting their child as long as he can achieve his goals. Walter is living in a dream where he believes that “anyone can become anything he wants to be,” and that is not true in his case with the social and racial standards that are set against him (Washington 95). Walter sees wealth as ensuring happiness and having everything he desires, which is why he is pushing his family so hard for the money, causing issues. Even though all the odds are set against him in this time period, Walter cannot see past being able to provide for his family and having the American Dream that he most

    Read More

  • Walter Lee's Dreams in A Raisin in The Sun

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    Initially, Walter?s sole focus on his dreams lead to impaired judgment. One way Walter portrays his impaired judgment is when he makes assorted empty promises. In the Yo...

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Drug Abuse

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.

    Read More

More about Breaking Bad: The Transformation of Walter White

Open Document