Anyone who’s watched American television knows all too well the trope of the bumbling husband who is constantly reprimanded by his naggy wife. In the hit AMC show Breaking Bad, this view is no different; While Walter White continues down his spiral into depravity as chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-kingpin, his wife Skyler is often portrayed as demeaning, argumentative, and a hurdle to leap over by both the audience and the characters. However, while many will argue that Skyler’s presense furthers this problematic stereotype, her actions could instead be viewed as a way of subverting traditional submissive gender roles and creating spaces of empowerment for female viewers.
While Skyler White’s story arc is extensively portrayed throughout the
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discuss their new cars, her repeated moments of almost speaking but then choosing to stay quiet as Walter discusses how buying these cars fit into their cover, and later her disgusted first words of the episode as Walter slaps down $15,000 on the counter and tells her they can afford it (“You’re back at it?”). She showcases her disapproval further by asking Walter if he thinks boarding school for their children is a good idea, which ultimately leads to a conflict in which the viewer is meant to mimic Walter’s irritation with her suggestion and take the dominant gaze that she is an obstacle in his pursuit of success. We know that this is the suggested gaze because Skyler is always put in an antagonistic position; when she brings up her anger, we get multiple scenes of Walter and others (like their son) showing disapproval at her actions and attempting to gaslight her into dropping her …show more content…
Why would we demean and claim that a mother and wife is irritating and useless for opposing her husband threatening their family and continuing to stay in the meth business long after it’s no longer necessary? With the oppositional gaze in mind, I actually view Skyler White as not only the real hero of this narrative, but a very dynamic look into breaking traditional gender roles enforced on women in media. As Janet McCabe comments in her essay ‘Structuring a Language in Theory,’ women’s presence in film “endangers the coherence and survival of the male group (18).” Oftentimes, while Walter parades with his acts of dominance that are defended by his insistence that he is doing what he is to keep his family safe and supported, it is instead Skyler who is keeping them out of danger and trying to keep herself and her family afloat. In many ways, her persistent defiance of Walter’s struggle could be viewed as equally manipulative as her husband’s but for much more altruistic reasons. While she still functions with the intention of keeping her family together and supporting her role as the matriarch of the household, her story is empowering to female viewers who could see strength in the way
When Ruth, Beneatha, and Mama see Walter acting like this, they are shocked and are disappointed in how he is acting. Walter tries to cope with the current situation he is in, and he realizes that his family is by his side and that is what matters to him in that moment.
He envies Mama’s role as leader of the house and wants it for himself. Despite receiving much ridicule from his family Walter still seeks their approval and praise. A prime example of the ridicule Walter receives is when Mama says he is a “Disgrace to his father’s memory” (p.75). Here Mama has questioned Walter’s manhood and pointed out that he does not lead the family like his father would. Walter is unable to convince Ruth to not get an abortion prior to finding out about their new home in Clybourne Park. Likewise Walter wants to use the money to buy a liquor store, but Mama shows her dominance by rejecting his idea. Due to Walter’s inability to achieve his dreams, he confides in alcohol as his solution. He also belittles Ruth and Beneatha to make himself appear stronger and more powerful. This behavior is quite similar to that of
Walter struggles in understanding who he needs to be for his family. He wants to take his place as the patriarch of the family, but he feels incapable of providing them with the lifestyle they deserve. This concern is always at the forefront of his mind, and it affects his attitude and outlook. The anxiety that Walter is dealing with creates confrontation with his sister. He fears that her dream will interfere with his own agenda of making a better life for his family. The severity of the tension becomes more and more apparent with Walter’s unwise investment. Walter is dealing with the burden that he has let his family down, while Beneatha is flabbergasted by the reality that her future has been snatched away from her, and she had no control over it. While reflecting on the situation, Beneatha remarks, “ I sound like a human who just had her future taken right out of my hands! While I was sleeping….things were happening in this world that directly concerned me and nobody consulted me—they just went out and did things—and changed my life” (Hansberry 3.15). Walter and Beneatha’s individual issues with the outcome of the situation cause them to find fault with one another during a time when their family needs to pull together to get through such a financial hardship. Walter is in an emotional pit; his turning to alcohol and music instead of his family for support expands the
This only further infuriates Walter. Not only does his mother make a complete power-grab by buying the house; she bought it in a cracker neighborhood! Walter storms out and is almost ready to kill someone over it. He feels he has lost his only shot at power. Walter comes back home screaming at his whole family, they don’t support him, especially his mother. He accuses her of not supporting his dream.
Walter seems to be overcome with a search for power and a drive to become wealthy and leave the life of being a worker behind him. It also shows that he cares for his family seeing how he is striving to give them the best, but that aspect is overshadowed by his greed. I feel the scene also shows the Younger family at its lowest point in the movie. Walter is on the complete edge and is thinking of stealing a community's money and the rest of the family, besides Momma, seemed to lose their faith and trust in him. When things seemed hopeless with the loss of the money, they only became worse as a loss in more than money occurred. A loss in their character, faith, history, and respect for each other overcame the family, particularly Walter and Beneatha. Nevertheless, Momma soon sets Beneatha straight with an emotional and positive speech about how there is "always something left to love" and sets the standard that the family should adhere to. It marks the turning point at the end of the movie
However, it can be observed and said that they have always lived up to the image of “housewife” material or as a constant collaborator of a male role, instead of being the main character. According to Elasmar, M., Hasegawa, K., & Brain, M, on their essay the portrayal of women in the US prime television, “TV has portrayed females in many ways, studies have shown that women have been underrepresented and stereotyped in TV programs.” Women have been living under that invisible stereotype that has cornered them and does not allow them to grow professionally or socially. TV has been the master-mind behind a stereotype that has left women without the chance of demanding equality or credibility on shows, a stereotype that will always be mentioned and enforce if TV shows do not start producing real-world programs based on true stories or true qualities of
. . . Get out of my house, man” (119). Walter is showing that he will stick up for Mama and her dignity. Even though Walter really wanted the liquor store he isn’t going to let some man just say here is the money back, this is a white neighborhood so sell the house. Mama won’t let anybody get in the way for what she believes in and wants. If she wants the house she will get it. Walter is even willing to help Mama because he doesn’t want her dreams and values to be crushed because the neighbors don’t want to live next to an African American family.
The great Elizabeth Cady Stanton once said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women were created equal.” Thus, the significance behind this quote by Mrs. Stanton reveals that not only has the society upon planet Earth have establish a cruel history of suppressing the female gender, but it has also manufactured many stigmas and notions that are pinned to perception of how a woman must conduct herself. Nonetheless, several examples of society’s shortcomings are presented throughout O’Connor’s short story. Specifically, the story’s representation of Red Sammy’s wife and her subsequent actions allow the reader to make the strong connection that society in the 1950’s was an era in time where males obtained significant social
The single story is about how a people stereotypes one another based on what they learned through books, media, people, and other sources. For example, Chimamnda announced how she viewed Mexicans as immigrants and them trying to get through the borders, but the moment she stepped foot into Mexico the perspective she got from other sources changed everything. She was ashamed of herself because when she visit the view was completely different because what she saw was happiness, love, and fun. The single story is an image that is created based upon information that was given, but not on your own perspective. In other words, it is the truth to the reality. For example, when people hear of Niagara everyone think of land, poor, Africa, homeless,
Walter has changed his whole family. He has started so much conflict with all his family. His family at this rate will be better off without him. “You ain’t looked at it yet and you don’t aim to speak on that again? You ain’t looked at it and you have decided-well, you tell that to my boy tonight when you put him to sleep on the living room couch.” This just shows how much he wants to have HER money for himself because he is selfish and a shallow person. He is the reason why the family is tearing apart. Also, Walters actions show how edgy and inpatient he is. (Violently flinging the coat after her) He starts to get very violent, he flings things, slams doors, yells at mama, and starts to get verbally abusive towards her. He doesn’t know how to let things go and how to think in another person’s perspective. He only wants to do what he wants, he doesn’t care what the other family members want he just knows what he wants to get and forces the decision upon them all.
Walter begins to drink, stay away from home, and to constantly argue with his wife, Ruth. Walter's life is contrasted by the role of his recently widowed mother, who holds to more traditional values of acceptance of life's lot and of making the best of any situation. Walter Lee's "Mama" holds Walter's father up as an example of a man with pride and a man that, despite racial injustice in a dualistic society, worked hard to provide for his family. This adds to Walter's frustration. Walter now feels incapable and small in his mama's eyes.
These two characters that make up the largest amount of gender specific conflict within the story, but not all of it. Further backing up the idea that plotting is feministic comes from the character Bennie, Walter's sister. She too wants to make something of herself;
Walter’s dadness adds comic relief to balance out his descent into darkness. Even at the height of his power as Heisenberg, Walter is still not portrayed as alluring. He doesn’t take up with a hot younger female to symbolize his kingpin status. This trope is subtly but deliberately teased in the one on ones he has with the vice principal and Flynn’s school. In that scene there seems to be sexual tension, but when walter acts in it, he is immediately rebuffed. Several times, after a successful deals, Walter initiates sex with skyler because he’s aroused by his own power, not because she is. After his altercation with Tuco, he comes home and sexually assaults Skyler. In our visual culture, sex is ofeten protrayed as another dimention of power. If a man is powerful he must also exercise power over women. So at times breaking bad shows walt acting out htis idea that our society has about poweful men and sexuality, but it doesn’t work-- the show refused to glamorize walter or excuse this
First, Ruth, is one of the women in the house who changes Walter’s decisions in the story. Her relationship towards him is poor. Ruth nags at the beginning, saying “Eat your eggs Walter” (Hansberry 34). This angers him because she repeats it multiple times throughout, not understanding him, showing their strained relationship. Ruth is also shown to not be on Walter’s side on multiple occasions. For example, when Walter finds out that Mama spent the money on a new house, he does not like it. Ruth however is not feeling the same way as him, and tells him “Walter honey, be glad” (Hansberry 92). Ruth tells Walter to be glad, because their views are different. Ruth thinks this was beneficial to the family, yet Walter does not. This hurts Walter throughout the story as he feels alone with no one on his side. Walter know this when he says “Cause ain’t nobody with Me! Not even my own mother!” (Hansberry 85). Since he is alone, and believes no one cares about him, he tries to fix his own mistake when he decides he will get more money saying, “That White man is going to walk in that door all to write checks for more money than we ever had.” (Hansberry 143). Ruth does not like Walter’s idea, but he does not care as no one is on his side, which disappoints Ruth.
He also watched as Jessie Pinkman's girlfriend, Jane, choked on her own vomit after overdosing on crystal meth, and did nothing to help her, just because he was mad at Jessie. After an innocent little boy was killed because he witnessed what they were doing, Pinkman quit because he couldn’t handle the stress of a young child being killed; but Walter did not care. He only cared about the money and himself. Both of these situations show the typical symptoms of this disorder, excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement.