Walter White’s
As the previous part dealt with the conflict between the main character’s intelligence and the (lack of) respect it provided in his life, one must also consider the internal struggle between good and evil in this person, or the development from a slave to a master morality that White undertakes.
When we first come across Walther White, he is the embodiment of Nietzsche’s slave morality: a kind, humble and likeable high school teacher. It is only through his intelligence, the he manages to break himself free from this so-called slave morality and turn it into a master morality, with character traits such as pride and strength. However, in order to accomplish such a feature, Walter White develops an almost Machiavellian approach to his business ventures and a ruthlessness that allows him to fight for and consolidate his position.
A comment on his transformation is seen in the poem found by Hank in his brother in law’s bathroom as he reads Gale’s poetry book and comes across Whitman’s “When I heard the learn’d astronomer”. A closer look at the poem and Gale’s reciting of it in 306, Sunset reveal a few verses with very a different meaning for Walter White and Gale:
“When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;”
(Source: Walt Whitman, When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer)
While for Gale this poem represents his admiration for Walter White and knowledge he possesses, Walt sees the poem as a confirmation for his actions in becoming a force to be reckoned with.
In order for White to transcend his slave morality, he must employ a set of morally dubious methods to acquire and maintain the power and admiration he so desperately needs. This transformation is not a smooth one, leaving even himself, at times, shaken and disturbed by his own actions. He uses fate and chance as an attempt to absolve him of his decisions by letting a coin decide who will kill Krazy-8 or when the junkyard owner luckily appears and confronts Hank about searching the recreational vehicle, where he and Jesse were hiding. Another instance of his avoidance of ethical consequences is getting Jesse Pinkman to become a part in the murder of Galeand his lack of assistance to the obviously dying Jane. Walter does not even see himself responsible for his becoming a high school teacher and blames his former university colleagues, Gretchen and Elliot, even refusing their help in the treatment of his disease. In his discussions with his family and others around him, Walter often talks about choice, but, in his mind, there are no different options to choose from, only his deeper descent into moral ambiguity as an excuse to make sure his family is taken care of after his death. Only towards the final episodes of the show, does Walter accept the consequences of his decisions.
In adopting this mindset and these choices, one notices a certain similarity to Machiavelli’s “The Prince” in the character’s philosophy. Machiavelli sees the “desire to acquire” as a “very natural and common” one, for which men are to praised rather than admonished. Indeed, Macchiavelli considers those that have inherited a state, to be lesser men than those who seize it through their own strength. He views Agathocles as a criminal, but a criminal whose deeds are committed “with so much ability of mind and body” which excuses the means. Walter White may also be considered such a man, for whom the goal, making sure his family is well provided, excuses the horrible means necessary to attain it. In pursuing this goal, Walter has become a man of virtue, according to Macchiavelli with the important difference that, in his mind, his actions were unavoidable. This a way for White to remove himself and thus absolve himself from the consequences of his actions. Gustavo Fring becomes one the main sources of inspiration for Walter as he draws upon his business methods to further establish his own goals. These lessons continue even after Fring is taken out of the picture. However, a big difference between the two is the fact that Gus is fullz aware of what he is doing and the means he must use. He does not shy away from using children to distribute his product, an action that even Walter considers deplorable.
White’s descent into chaos, or his ascension into a master’s morality, depending on the view one might prefer, begins early on, in the second episode as he prepares to deal with Krazy-8 in the basement of Jesse’s house. Despite his attempt to be a good captor to his hostage, even bringing him sandwiches with the crust cut off, Walter begins to realize that the person is a problem that must be taken care of. This is in reflection to Macchiavelli’s view that self-preservation, trumps all other human characteristics in an attempt to fulfill the desire to acquire.
Another interesting aspects of White’s behavior is the imitation of those around him. This is not an imitation of the people that show compassion and love but, rather, of the behavior of the criminals he has had to remove in order to assert and establish his empire. One main reason for him to do this, is that he considers these people as examples of masculinity and even “role-models” when it comes to being a criminal. He even goes as far as agreeing with Jesse Pinkman that in order to better manage their business, they have to be Tuco, a Mexican cartel representative they have just taken out. This behavior is coupled with a constant internal review Walt carries out on himself. There are numerous scenes where the protagonist catches a glimpse of himself in a mirror or another reflective surface. These scenes are usually accompanied by bursts of dissent on his behalf. A good example for this behavior is the scene where he learns about his cancer being in remission. While considerably furious at what most would consider a good news, Walter destroys the towel holder in the hospital’s bathroom. The reasons behind this action is unclear. One could think it is because he has no more justification to carry on with his drug venture, a line of work he has grown quite fond of, or that he has come to realize how deep he has gotten into the drug business and feels a huge resentment for his choices so far. These scenes of self-reflection caused by glimpses in reflective surfaces, carry on throughout the series and become more intense as Walter White becomes Heisenberg. There are moments when he cannot even look at himself but they are contrasted by moments where he sees a glorified version of the man he is becoming. As he slowly turns into Heisenberg we are presented with an internal conflict in the protagonist’s thought as he is, at the same time, both thrilled and disgusted by the person he is turning into.

Sources:
THE PRINCE, by Nicolo Machiavelli, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1232/1232-h/1232-h.htm#link2HCH0008
Friedrich Nietzsche - On the Genealogy of Morality

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[ 1 ]. 508, Gilding Over All
[ 2 ]. 103, ...and the Bag's in the River
[ 3 ]. 306, Sunset
[ 4 ]. 313, Full Measure
[ 5 ]. 205, Breakage
[ 6 ]. 209, 4 Days Out