Breaking Bad's Walter White: Is He a Villain or a Victim of Circumstance?
The show has given us a number of memorable characters, but the most interesting of all is, of course, the teacher who gets cancer and decides to make money for his family before he dies.
And for a very long time, fans have been trying to unravel Heisenberg's true motivation to find out: is he a bad person or not?
Of course, it's easy to call Walt a villain when he lies to his family and even dares to kill in order to get deep into the dangerous world of drug dealing.
Mr. White leaves a trail of blood in his wake and wreaks havoc on the lives of those close to him. Moreover, as the character develops, Heisenberg makes no secret of enjoying his newfound power and money.
But for most of his life, Walt has been a model family man, an excellent teacher, and a good person. He has experienced hardship, but has tried to fight the circumstances legally, but it was the illness that took him down.
Many fans find excuses for Mr. White that life as an ordinary citizen gave him nothing, so he decided to try something new and succeeded.
Redditor richb522, for example, notes that Walt became hostage to his pride. He didn't mean to hurt anyone, but he did most things to please himself, especially when he finally turned into the infamous Heisenberg.
Throughout the series, we watch Walter's transformation from a mild-mannered teacher to a ruthless drug lord. It is this change that blurs the lines between good and evil, forcing viewers to question their initial judgments.
Mr. White's actions, while morally reprehensible, are motivated by a desire to provide for his family after his death. The show explores the concept that the end justifies the means.
However, some viewers point out that Walt may have been a good man before the cancer, but after turning into Heisenberg, he let Jesse's girlfriend die of an overdose for personal gain, poisoned a child, removed a witness, and distributed hard drugs that affected the lives of others.
Many fans stopped feeling sorry for Walt when he refused insurance coverage for cancer treatment, again because of his pride. And then, throughout the series, he tried to make excuses for his actions.
Mr. White chose not to get rid of the disease through legal means, but rather to go down the path of crime and mayhem that he had probably dreamed of all his life.
Fans are divided in their opinions of Heisenberg, but all agree that the showrunners managed to create an incredible character whose negative qualities still appeal to audiences.
Source: Reddit