Breaking Bad Rhetorical Analysis
Breaking Bad Rhetorical Analysis Writer’s Letter
I was very excited to write about the metaphors presented in Breaking Bad since it is one of my favorite shows. When it became time to write the paper, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the possible routes I could’ve taken with the paper. The show has so many layers that when you keep peeling it, more and more metaphors become unearthed. When having discussions during peer-review, I realized that the cancer was the root of the show. Everything stemmed from the cancer. (Not sure why I overused an onion metaphor just now)
At this point, I took a look at my paper again and completely omitted an entire paragraph on the two cycles present in the show. I felt that it didn’t add anything to the analysis. After that, I reread the paper and wrote up a thesis because I needed something that would restrict me a bit so I don’t go off topic in the essay again. I restructured the essay so the reader would know what they were about to read and tried to incorporate transitional sentences since I neglected to include those in the last draft. I would say the final draft is better than the last draft in that it actually has a main focus. In the last draft, the reader could possibly catch where my mind would wander towards the other metaphorical concepts that were in the show that really weren’t worth motioning. By putting all the focus on the cancer, I was able to branch off some other ideas from it and form a stronger argument. I also included the second reading on the “Body at War” which fit in perfectly on the topic of cancer.
Rhetorical Analysis of Breaking Bad
Through the analysis of linguistics and metaphors, it is evident that the English language contains many patterns in speech that stem from metaphorical concepts. Metaphors play such a significant role in speech that it often goes undetected when used. For instance, time, when spoken of, is often referred to as the same way money is, (as a tangible object that can be lost or gained) hence the metaphor “time is money” (Lakeoff and Johnson). Metaphors also transfer into other mediums such as television shows, where large audiences are subjected to and interact with what is presented in front of them. The images that run across the screen are carefully controlled and arranged to fulfill a specific vision. A viewer can be molded to think and feel a certain way as a show progresses primarily through the use of a particular lens the creators of a show decide to use. Often, a storyline is based on many metaphors that the average audience member would not catch until contemplating on the series. For example, the AMC television series, Breaking Bad, incorporates numerous metaphorical concepts into the show. There are numerous methods of persuasion used in the show that cause the audience to justify the immoral actions of the protagonist with the strongest device being the protagonist’s cancer; the cancer becomes a metaphor that stimulates the development of the plot.
Breaking Bad, features Walter White as the protagonist. He is an average, white middle-class man who works as a chemistry teacher as well as a cashier at a car wash in order to financially provide for his family: his pregnant wife, Skyler, and his disabled son, Walter White Jr. Just after Walter turns fifty, he becomes diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Walter grows concerned when he thinks of the financial consequences his death will have on the family. While out on a scope with his brother-in-law, Hank, who works for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Walter learns just how much money the methamphetamine business produces. He is then inspired to converge his vast knowledge of chemistry with the street knowledge of his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to manufacture and sell his own meth. As Walter transitions into the drug world, he learns he has to toughen up and build a reputation so that he does not appear as though he could easily be taken advantage of. He coins the name “Heisenberg” so that his identity remains hidden, thus, protecting his family. Heisenberg’s meth ends up causing a stir in the drug world since he ends up producing one of the most pure forms of crystal meth New Mexico had ever encountered. His meth has a blue tint to it, which happened to be a side effect of a chemical that was being used in his recipe, but also resulted in branding his meth. The series then focuses on Walter and Jesse as they face challenges typical of drug transactions and contractual agreements with large figures in the drug empire. Walter undergoes a drastic character change as he obtains more power and accumulates more wealth all while battling cancer.
Although Walter is constantly partaking in actions deemed immoral by the average person, a majority of the show’s audience finds themselves rooting for Walter and his meth business. The writers incorporated numerous factors into the show in order to attain this effect. By presenting Walter as the protagonist, the audience is able to track and understand Walter’s actions. He becomes humanized before the audience so much so that the audience can even find itself relating to Walter. The show causes people to sympathize with Walter by riddling his character with varying shortcomings in his life. For instance, Walter has cancer. The audience sees Walter become diagnosed and have to suffer through the symptoms that are associated with lung cancer. This method is extremely effective in swaying the audience’s vision so that people continue to view Walter as a vulnerable man. This happens so because almost everyone has been or knows someone who has been affected by cancer. They are constantly reminded of his sickness by his excessive coughing throughout the series. In that moment, he becomes weak and a “man dying of cancer” once again. The protagonist also appeals to those who struggle financially and understand how desperate one can become when in need of money. Walter works two jobs and can still barely afford to support his family. He is an extremely educated man and was even partly responsible in the creation of a multi-billion dollar company called “Gray Matter Technologies” which he sold his shares of before its value increased. He has lived his entire life in regret and is constantly reminded of the success of the company that could have been his. In addition, Walter’s middle-aged wife is expecting a child when he is first diagnosed. Her pregnancy represents the unpredictability of life; the expenses and dedication that would be required for raising this child is a great sacrifice that many people have had to make at some point in their lives. Seeing Walter’s affections towards the child causes one to view Walter as a father; one would imagine he would be a great one who would love and care for his child for the rest of his life. Then the thought of Walter’s cancer resurfaces causing the audience to feel bad for him. All these factors cause people to justify Walter’s actions even though it is universally accepted that selling drugs is not a proper means to living.
The largest metaphor presented in the series is Walter’s cancer. The cancer was Walter’s stimulus for entering the drug world. Had Walter never been diagnosed with lung cancer, there is little to no chance he would have even thought of partaking in the drug business. The writers most likely gave the protagonist cancer since, most, if not all, of the audience possess pre-existing ideas about the hardship cancer can bring to the victim’s life. In the media, the human immune system is often described as a warzone. For instance when one is sick, he/she has been “attacked” by a “foreign” virus. In response, the immune system has to effectively communicate to organize and “kill” the virus. Humans view the white blood cells and other cells that ward off attacks on the immune system as armies that battle with the foreign enemies. This theory can also be seen everyday as people discuss the “fight” against cancer (Martin). Since this mindset already exists, the audience is pre-conditioned to view Walter as a strong man who is fighting an internal battle while also conquering an external one. The use of cancer is also clever since cancer is defined as uncontrollable cell growth. While, Walter is unable to control his cancer, he is able to control and alter many other aspects in his environment.
As a man who had never taken a risk in his life before, Walter’s diagnosis also motivated him to take on the task of producing meth and planning for his family’s future with the little time he had left. He began to calculate his life in terms of money. He predicted how much time he had remaining in his life, then estimated how much meth he could produce in that time and how much money he could accumulate from his plan. Here, the metaphor “time is money” can also be seen since Walter valued every minute he had, not in a sentimental way, but in a monetary way. He never believed he would become so invested in the meth. When he realized that the meth held so much value, not just monetarily, but in quality, Walter began to associate his identity with the blue meth. Walter even persuaded himself that there was nothing wrong with him making meth since he was, after all, a man dying of cancer with a growing family he has to support. He viewed his obtainment of money for his family as a form of redemption. He believes he can make up for his loss by ensuring Skyler is comfortable after his death. He imagines she would use the money to raise the new baby, pay for Walter Jr.’s education, and pay the bills. Walter’s accumulation of wealth was originally based on his desire to create financial security for his family. An irony exists in that he more Walter wanted to protect his family from economic hardship in the future, the more danger his family was put in.
Breaking Bad is a representation of how a man with many weakening aspects in his life, finds strength and power by channeling what time, energy and knowledge he has into creating what he believed to be meaning in his life. Although Walter chose to enter the business of producing and delivering meth, it should not undermine the fact that he did so with the intention of helping his family. Walter is humanized before the audience by the writers emphasizing characteristics of Walter’s life that would relate to a diverse demographic. Breaking Bad is built upon metaphors, which adds depth and character to the show itself; it causes the audience to think and analyze each episode in order to grasp an understanding as to how and/or why the events portrayed occurred.
Works Cited
Lakeoff, George and Mark Johnson. “Metaphors We Live By” The University of Chicago Press 1980. Print 3-13.
Martin, Emily. “The Body at War: Media Views of the Immune System.” Flexible Bodies: Tracking Immunity in American Culture from the Days of Polio to the age of AIDS. Beacon Press. (Jan 1, 1994): 264-277
Breaking Bad Rhetorical Analysis Writer’s Letter
I was very excited to write about the metaphors presented in Breaking Bad since it is one of my favorite shows. When it became time to write the paper, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the possible routes I could’ve taken with the paper. The show has so many layers that when you keep peeling it, more and more metaphors become unearthed. When having discussions during peer-review, I realized that the cancer was the root of the show. Everything stemmed from the cancer. (Not sure why I overused an onion metaphor just now)
At this point, I took a look at my paper again and completely omitted an entire paragraph on the two cycles present in the show. I felt that it didn’t add anything to the analysis. After that, I reread the paper and wrote up a thesis because I needed something that would restrict me a bit so I don’t go off topic in the essay again. I restructured the essay so the reader would know what they were about to read and tried to incorporate transitional sentences since I neglected to include those in the last draft. I would say the final draft is better than the last draft in that it actually has a main focus. In the last draft, the reader could possibly catch where my mind would wander towards the other metaphorical concepts that were in the show that really weren’t worth motioning. By putting all the focus on the cancer, I was able to branch off some other ideas from it and form a stronger argument. I also included the second reading on the “Body at War” which fit in perfectly on the topic of cancer.
Rhetorical Analysis of Breaking Bad
Through the analysis of linguistics and metaphors, it is evident that the English language contains many patterns in speech that stem from metaphorical concepts. Metaphors play such a significant role in speech that it often goes undetected when used. For instance, time, when spoken of, is often referred to as the same way money is, (as a tangible object that can be lost or gained) hence the metaphor “time is money” (Lakeoff and Johnson). Metaphors also transfer into other mediums such as television shows, where large audiences are subjected to and interact with what is presented in front of them. The images that run across the screen are carefully controlled and arranged to fulfill a specific vision. A viewer can be molded to think and feel a certain way as a show progresses primarily through the use of a particular lens the creators of a show decide to use. Often, a storyline is based on many metaphors that the average audience member would not catch until contemplating on the series. For example, the AMC television series, Breaking Bad, incorporates numerous metaphorical concepts into the show. There are numerous methods of persuasion used in the show that cause the audience to justify the immoral actions of the protagonist with the strongest device being the protagonist’s cancer; the cancer becomes a metaphor that stimulates the development of the plot.
Breaking Bad, features Walter White as the protagonist. He is an average, white middle-class man who works as a chemistry teacher as well as a cashier at a car wash in order to financially provide for his family: his pregnant wife, Skyler, and his disabled son, Walter White Jr. Just after Walter turns fifty, he becomes diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Walter grows concerned when he thinks of the financial consequences his death will have on the family. While out on a scope with his brother-in-law, Hank, who works for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Walter learns just how much money the methamphetamine business produces. He is then inspired to converge his vast knowledge of chemistry with the street knowledge of his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to manufacture and sell his own meth. As Walter transitions into the drug world, he learns he has to toughen up and build a reputation so that he does not appear as though he could easily be taken advantage of. He coins the name “Heisenberg” so that his identity remains hidden, thus, protecting his family. Heisenberg’s meth ends up causing a stir in the drug world since he ends up producing one of the most pure forms of crystal meth New Mexico had ever encountered. His meth has a blue tint to it, which happened to be a side effect of a chemical that was being used in his recipe, but also resulted in branding his meth. The series then focuses on Walter and Jesse as they face challenges typical of drug transactions and contractual agreements with large figures in the drug empire. Walter undergoes a drastic character change as he obtains more power and accumulates more wealth all while battling cancer.
Although Walter is constantly partaking in actions deemed immoral by the average person, a majority of the show’s audience finds themselves rooting for Walter and his meth business. The writers incorporated numerous factors into the show in order to attain this effect. By presenting Walter as the protagonist, the audience is able to track and understand Walter’s actions. He becomes humanized before the audience so much so that the audience can even find itself relating to Walter. The show causes people to sympathize with Walter by riddling his character with varying shortcomings in his life. For instance, Walter has cancer. The audience sees Walter become diagnosed and have to suffer through the symptoms that are associated with lung cancer. This method is extremely effective in swaying the audience’s vision so that people continue to view Walter as a vulnerable man. This happens so because almost everyone has been or knows someone who has been affected by cancer. They are constantly reminded of his sickness by his excessive coughing throughout the series. In that moment, he becomes weak and a “man dying of cancer” once again. The protagonist also appeals to those who struggle financially and understand how desperate one can become when in need of money. Walter works two jobs and can still barely afford to support his family. He is an extremely educated man and was even partly responsible in the creation of a multi-billion dollar company called “Gray Matter Technologies” which he sold his shares of before its value increased. He has lived his entire life in regret and is constantly reminded of the success of the company that could have been his. In addition, Walter’s middle-aged wife is expecting a child when he is first diagnosed. Her pregnancy represents the unpredictability of life; the expenses and dedication that would be required for raising this child is a great sacrifice that many people have had to make at some point in their lives. Seeing Walter’s affections towards the child causes one to view Walter as a father; one would imagine he would be a great one who would love and care for his child for the rest of his life. Then the thought of Walter’s cancer resurfaces causing the audience to feel bad for him. All these factors cause people to justify Walter’s actions even though it is universally accepted that selling drugs is not a proper means to living.
The largest metaphor presented in the series is Walter’s cancer. The cancer was Walter’s stimulus for entering the drug world. Had Walter never been diagnosed with lung cancer, there is little to no chance he would have even thought of partaking in the drug business. The writers most likely gave the protagonist cancer since, most, if not all, of the audience possess pre-existing ideas about the hardship cancer can bring to the victim’s life. In the media, the human immune system is often described as a warzone. For instance when one is sick, he/she has been “attacked” by a “foreign” virus. In response, the immune system has to effectively communicate to organize and “kill” the virus. Humans view the white blood cells and other cells that ward off attacks on the immune system as armies that battle with the foreign enemies. This theory can also be seen everyday as people discuss the “fight” against cancer (Martin). Since this mindset already exists, the audience is pre-conditioned to view Walter as a strong man who is fighting an internal battle while also conquering an external one. The use of cancer is also clever since cancer is defined as uncontrollable cell growth. While, Walter is unable to control his cancer, he is able to control and alter many other aspects in his environment.
As a man who had never taken a risk in his life before, Walter’s diagnosis also motivated him to take on the task of producing meth and planning for his family’s future with the little time he had left. He began to calculate his life in terms of money. He predicted how much time he had remaining in his life, then estimated how much meth he could produce in that time and how much money he could accumulate from his plan. Here, the metaphor “time is money” can also be seen since Walter valued every minute he had, not in a sentimental way, but in a monetary way. He never believed he would become so invested in the meth. When he realized that the meth held so much value, not just monetarily, but in quality, Walter began to associate his identity with the blue meth. Walter even persuaded himself that there was nothing wrong with him making meth since he was, after all, a man dying of cancer with a growing family he has to support. He viewed his obtainment of money for his family as a form of redemption. He believes he can make up for his loss by ensuring Skyler is comfortable after his death. He imagines she would use the money to raise the new baby, pay for Walter Jr.’s education, and pay the bills. Walter’s accumulation of wealth was originally based on his desire to create financial security for his family. An irony exists in that he more Walter wanted to protect his family from economic hardship in the future, the more danger his family was put in.
Breaking Bad is a representation of how a man with many weakening aspects in his life, finds strength and power by channeling what time, energy and knowledge he has into creating what he believed to be meaning in his life. Although Walter chose to enter the business of producing and delivering meth, it should not undermine the fact that he did so with the intention of helping his family. Walter is humanized before the audience by the writers emphasizing characteristics of Walter’s life that would relate to a diverse demographic. Breaking Bad is built upon metaphors, which adds depth and character to the show itself; it causes the audience to think and analyze each episode in order to grasp an understanding as to how and/or why the events portrayed occurred.
Works Cited
Lakeoff, George and Mark Johnson. “Metaphors We Live By” The University of Chicago Press 1980. Print 3-13.
Martin, Emily. “The Body at War: Media Views of the Immune System.” Flexible Bodies: Tracking Immunity in American Culture from the Days of Polio to the age of AIDS. Beacon Press. (Jan 1, 1994): 264-277