Once again, we return to the Meth-influenced, Shakespearean
world of Breaking Bad. Today we are
going to talk about one of the more interesting characters that help form the
core of the series, Jesse Pinkman, played by the talented Aaron Paul, bitch!
(That’s a reference to the show, so I’m allowed to say it.)
Jesse
was a student of Walters back when he was a middle mannered Chemistry teacher.
Jesse finds an old test that Walter had marked up… one where he told his student
to “apply himself.” This is a recurring theme within the show: Doing the best
that you can. Even if it is a murderous drug overlord. But Jesse will repeat
this mantra, and early on he even throws away several “good” batches of meth in
order to do better. By the end he’s proud of the fact that he can produce meth
at Walter White/Heisenberg quality.
Sidenote:
This post is going to talk a lot about being a great meth kingpin/drug lord. I
could say, “don’t try this at home” but instead I say watch the show and see if
it really glamourizes drug use. I’m going to guess “no,” unless your idea of glamorization
involves brutal murder and constantly looking over your shoulder.
Jesse’s
Shakespearean influence on the show is extremely important. He’s our gateway
character. He’s the one who first takes “meek” (those quotes will be explained
next week) quiet Walter White and throws him into the world of Meth. Now look
at that choice of words carefully. He throws Walter White into the world of
Meth. Not the killing, darkness, or harder drugs. Jesse is a victim of Walter’s
ambition, and sort of a gauge for the audience. Jesse represents just how far
Walter has fallen.
When we
first meet Jesse he is sneaking out of a house while the DEA is conducting a
drug bust, looking for “Captain Cook” a local Meth producer. Jesse (in addition
to having a personalized license plate) enjoys marking his Meth with chili
powder, something that brands him. When he and Walter start working together,
Walter is initially against any type of marking their Meth, other than making
it mega-pure. Jesse agrees, reluctantly. Of course, until an accident forces
them to use a different chemical, making the meth blue, then it’s all about making
sure the meth remains blue, thus showing a reversal in the characters.
Here’s
where Jesse’s character connects with Walters: his life is worse off once
Walter gets involved. Yes, Walter is able to produce meth that is wonderful.
But nearly everything else takes this, let’s face it, small time meth producer
deeper and deeper into a world where he probably wouldn’t go. Thanks to Walt,
he murders, he starts doing harder drugs, his girlfriend dies (some could argue
is murdered)… Jesse is a tragic character, and one of the more tragic
characters on television.
I’m not
arguing that Jesse is blameless. When we meet him, he’s a drug dealer and an
addict. He’s not going to win any humanitarian awards. But there are times when
he genuinely tries to turn his life around, but keeps getting sucked back into
the world of Walter White. At one point
he’s making millions of dollars off his drugs, and that doesn’t make him happy.
(That dynamic will eventually be switched as well. The despicable line said by
Jesse that the audience was drawn to hate will eventually be repeated by
Walter.)
Breaking Bad is very much the story of
the man Walter White, a character unlike any other on Television. I’ll be
getting to him. But Jesse… Jesse is our character. If this were any other
television show, and not one so rooted in Shakespearean influences, Jesse would
be the main character of the show: A drug addict who gets involved over his
head and turns his life around. I’m interested to see where they are going to
take this character. He has the same flaws as Walter. But he seems more willing
and able to overcome them. Shakespeare-wise, this is the type of character who
survives to tell the story as a cautionary tale. But we’ll have to see.
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