Breaking Bad and the Archetypes of the Major Arcana

Breaking Bad and the Archetypes of the Major Arcana

BreakingBadJust before our son was born J-Guy and I watched the entire series of Breaking Bad. We were late to the party, we know.

I have to say that Breaking Bad is probably the best television show I have ever seen. The acting is incredible.

The characters were excellent which made me link them to a new course that I am developing about the Major Arcana and our personal Archetypes and the Archetypes of the Breaking Bad characters popped into my mind. Now these are my reflections on the characters based the Major Arcana and what cards I feel suit them the most. Like most people and well written characters of any series they can have more than one Archetype but these are the ones that stood out most for me.

***Spoilers Below*** If you have not watched the show and do not want to know what happens to these characters for the love of Great TV LOOK AWAY NOW!

Breaking Tarot Archetypes

Saul – The Moon

Saul the Moon

Shady bitch, fast talking, illusionist. He reminds me of a slight of hand magician where he is making you look one way while picking your pocket. The only thing that Saul cares about is Saul and his money. While this is not really linked to the Moon his illusions are. Those illusions are the words he weaves for people and that they believe often enough and the law. It is like he hides behind both of those things and he is just smokes and mirrors. I predicted that he would survive Walt when we were watching season 4 and I was right.

Jesse – The Devil

Jesse the Devil

Art by – http://p1xer.deviantart.com/art/Breaking-Bad-Jesse-Pinkman-361308735

Jesse simply can not cope with being on this material plane and his addictions (drugs, booze, destructive behavior and relationships) are so directly tied to The Devil. The Devil speaks to being chained to our addictions, behaviors and beliefs that are harmful and a whole lot of excess and indulgence. What is sad about Jesse is that if he was living a different life he may actually be able to be a functioning adult but his involvement with the drug world keeps pulling him in deeper into depression and addiction. I don’t think I am alone in wanting to give him a hug sometimes and then a slap across the face five seconds later because of his complete stubbornness. He lives by his own moral code which he finds is always being challenged by the choices he makes, hence the conflict. Just when you think he is going to get on the straight and narrow his inner demons which keep telling him he is not worthy of anything good drag him back in. Do you think that he would change his life after his liberation at the end of the series? We can only hope.

Walter – The Tower

Walt the Tower

The total destruction of Walt’s life is how the entire series started and he has been keeping what he has rebuilt up with gaffer tape ever since, well what he could salvage anyway. He lost his health, job, wife and nearly his family and his life a number of times and then the ultimate loss his life (well so we think). The Tower is that total destruction to the core of who we are and the bare foundations of our lives. What is really interesting for Walt is that in a lot of ways he learnt throughout the series who he really is, a gift of The Tower Card. He repressed so much of who he is that when he started to become Heisenberg is allowed that side of him to come out and play and that side is slowly taking complete control. He is living the ultimate ‘what would you do if you had a death sentence’ which sadly a lot of people never do because their towers never crumble. (Not that anyone should need something as sad and devastating as cancer to reevaluate their lives, but often it takes something huge). I predicted before we watched the last season that he was going to be dead by the end of season 5, or at least the last episode. I was right….or so I think.

Skyler – The Empress

Skyler The Empress

I really, really disliked Skyler for a long time and at the end of season 4 I started to like her. Mostly because she is allowing Walt to see his daughter and son.  Skyler is very much the Mother Archetype everything that she did was actually for her family, which was the veil that Walt tried to project for a long time.

Marie – The Fool

Marie the Fool

Marie has her head in the CLOUDS and doesn’t know how to deal with anything when things get real. From shoplifting, her purple OCD and her ability to block out reality is why I have assigned her the Fool. It is a little heartbreaking to watch her really try and be Hanks cheer leader and see him completely stomp on her for it. She was my least favourite character in the series. So I am not really going to say more.

Hank – The Hierophant

Hank the Hierophant

Hank had a really interesting ride. He really embodies the social organisations and institutions of The Heirohpant for me. His entire identity is tied to the DEA and his work so when he looses all of it he is broken and more than just what the bullet wounds did to him. There are wonderful aspects to the Hierohpant and Hank took so much pride in his job and being ‘that person’ in his team and for his family, essentially his projection that when it was starting to fall apart he ignored it until he had his own Tower moment. He has now moved to the Hermit, withdrawing completely from everyone and everything he has and is now slightly obsessed with rocks… I mean minerals. I actually feel for Marie. Hank even dies by the rules of The Hierophant.

Any other fans of the series have thoughts on my choices?

Blessings

Ethony*

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2 thoughts on “Breaking Bad and the Archetypes of the Major Arcana”

  1. Interesting parallel that you have drawn here, Ethony.
    I loved the Breaking Bad series from start to finish and I think these definitely are the appropriate cards for the characters…… now watch all of the Game of Thrones and let us know what you think 😉

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