Did Walter White's poor choices lead to his downfall?
Walter and Skyler were about to get divorced. But Skyler being calculating and manipulative knew that without money she would not be able to survive, so reconciled with Walter. He happily obliged in spite of Skyler's previous humiliation and coldness towards him.
Walter could have had better chances of success of providing for his family being away from the present city and restarting his business someplace else as a complete unknown personality (with or without Gus).
In this way,
Hank would have never caught hold of the book which Gale had presented to Walter.
Does this show that Walter was weak minded in spite of being smart and his poor choices got to him again here?
Best Answer
It shows what Walter is always all about : Pride
Throughout the entire show (at least past season 1) Walter has more than enough money to provide for his family. His deals with Gus makes him a millionaire but he still won't quit and he manipulates Jesse into staying with him by removing all distractions (read women) so that they can keep doing what they do best : Chemistry.
Walter White is an incredibly talented chemist and yet he is just a small teacher in high school. A nobody. But he deserves more, right? Past a certain point in the series, Walter fades away and Heisenberg remains. The famous drug lord who is the only one able to make blue meth.
If Heisenberg was to go away then his name dies out and he will be forgotten and that'd be unacceptable.
In a way you are right "his poor choices got to him again here" but not because he was weak minded but because he was too stubborn, selfish and proud.
Edit: It is basically like cucking your neighbor. The best part is that it's right in front of his (read Hank's) eyes and yet he doesn't catch you. That's where the thrill comes from : being on the edge
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How did Walter White change?
Throughout the series, Walt grows his business and scales it up incredibly well. He gains more power slowly as he begins to deal with bigger drug kingpins, but nothing is seemingly ever enough for him. He ends up becoming consumed by power and wealth.Did Walter White fail?
So it's a real mixed message at the end. Walt has failed on so many levels, but he has managed to do the one thing he set out to do, which is a victory. He has managed to make his family financially sound in his absence, and that was really the only thing he set out to do in that first episode.Breaking Bad: Walter White Did Absolutely Nothing Wrong | Video Essay
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Answer 2
People like Walter White are not made, nor do they come about by conscious choices they make.
People like Walter White are formed, by circumstances and forces outside of their control.
What started it all? His cancer. What compelled him to persevere? The 727k he needed to insure his family's stability after he passes.
But even then, he continued on. Why? Because there's no greater feeling in the world than being really really good at something, and making a lot of money from it. Couple that with the adage that the sweetest fruit comes from the forbidden tree...
There's a theory by Kenneth Burke(I think) that explains how identity is finely shaped and well defined in conflict and challenge. Walter White fits this theory quite well.
But to call his rise and fall little more than "bad choices" is reductive. It ignores the complex character that is Walter White.
His story is outstanding and fascinating, because I think every one of us who saw the show and enjoyed saw the truth: what he went thru could have happened to any one of us.
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