Breaking Bad - A character development analysis
Author
Jensen, Esben Visti
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-05-30
Pages
61
Abstract
Dette projekt undersøger, hvordan Breaking Bad opbygger og forandrer sine karakterer gennem fem sæsoner. Fokus er på Walter White, der begynder som en sympatisk protagonist (fortællingens hovedfigur), men gradvist bliver en antagonist (en modvirkende, ofte skadevoldende kraft), efterhånden som hans alter ego, “Heisenberg”, får overtaget. Med udgangspunkt i faglitteratur om fortællestruktur, genre, etik og karakterteori opstilles en ramme, som anvendes på udvalgte scener for at forstå karakterernes motivationer, valg og udvikling. Analysen viser, hvordan serien bruger fortællestruktur til både at formidle information og skabe symbolsk betydning, og hvordan to traditioner—western og tragedie—former fortælling og figurer. Westerntræk ses i værdier hos karakterer som Hank og Walter, mens tragiske træk viser sig i Walters fald og den følelsesladede fortælleform, som munder ud i en afslutning, der opleves som kathartisk (forløsende) frem for rent nedslående. Endelig stiller specialet to antihelte (hovedfigurer med moralsk tvetydige handlinger) op over for hinanden: Jesse Pinkman bliver mere medfølende, mens Walters empati aftager.
This project examines how Breaking Bad builds and transforms its characters across five seasons. It focuses on Walter White, who begins as a sympathetic protagonist (the story’s central figure) but gradually becomes an antagonist (the opposing, often harmful force) as his alter ego, “Heisenberg,” takes over. Drawing on non-fiction scholarship on narrative structure, genre, ethics, and character, the study sets up a framework and applies it to selected scenes to track motivations, choices, and development. The analysis shows how the series uses narrative structure to convey information and symbolism, and how two traditions—the Western and the tragedy—shape its story and characters. Western elements appear in values associated with characters like Hank and Walter, while tragic elements are visible in Walter’s downfall and the emotionally charged storytelling, which culminates in an ending that feels cathartic (emotionally relieving) rather than purely distressing. Finally, the thesis contrasts two anti-heroes (flawed leads with morally ambiguous actions), Walter and Jesse Pinkman: Jesse grows more compassionate over time, while Walter’s empathy declines.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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