Walter White

What happens when you are diagnosed with a terminal illness? I can’t speak from experience and, perhaps, nor can Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad.

But he had a crack at it with his iconic creation, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), the teacher who is diagnosed with lung cancer on the first episode of the series. Walter subsequently   uses his intimate knowledge of chemistry to manufacture and sell methamphetamine so that he can leave a nest egg for his family.

How does Walter handle grief?

Many people are familiar with Kubler-Ross‘ ‘Five Stage of Grief model where terminal patients experience denial, anger, bargaining, and depression before coming to accept their diagnosis. It would be tempting to suggest that Gilligan used this model to structure the series.

After all, Walter experiences all of these things. When first diagnosed, for example, he points at the doctor’s lab coat–in a daze–and informs the doctor he has mustard on his coat instead of facing the true implications of the diagnosis. Is this denial?

Through various episodes, Walter frantically bargains for his life when he’s held at gunpoint, experiences anger and even rage with almost every character, and deep depression and despair.

But what really seems to drive Walter?

I think his behaviour is more consistent with observations from Terror Management Theory. This theory suggests that even a subtle reference to death or dying can activate defence mechanisms similar to the Kubler-Ross model that help restore feelings of security.

Humans find the concept of death so terrifying that we become especially motivated to engage in activities that make us feel like part of us will live on forever–a form of denial.

For example, aligning with a culture or society means that you are symbolically living on through this culture long after you expire.

How do you align with culture? You are doing it everyday when you wear the same clothes as everyone else, and believe in the same values and identify with your wider culture or sub-culture. That is, you are a part of something bigger that will outlive you.

In particular, Terror Management Theory suggests that the drive to become famous is largely driven by the need to leave a lasting legacy that lives on after you die.

Now, let’s look at Walter. He develops a new identity, Heisenberg, and seems particularly driven throughout the show to ensure his reputation remains intact.

Walter’s reputation as a teacher, husband and father is not enough. He wants to be remembered as an icon. Heisenberg is his legacy.

Consistent with Terror Management Theory, he is motivated to protect this legacy at all costs. He arrogantly and defiantly fights anyone who challenges his status. He becomes enraged whenever a character demeans or underestimates him. This is not just a man who is fed up. This is a man motivated by the terror of death and wants his legacy to live on.

Of course, at the end of it all, he seems to come to terms with who and what he has become. Perhaps this is a form of acceptance?

So, many of the experiences we see in Walter White align with the five stages of grief but Terror Management Theory more eloquently explains these.

Interestingly, Vince Gilligan and Bryan Cranston have also left a strong legacy in Breaking Bad…