Is Walt a modern day Sisyphus?
As a punishment from the gods for his trickery, Sisyphus was compelled to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, but before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again.[2] The maddening nature of the punishment was reserved for Sisyphus due to his hubristic belief that his cleverness surpassed that of Zeus.
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Noun 1. hubris - overbearing pride or presumption
I never realized how close Walt's behavior is to Sisyphus' until I reread the myth. Walt thinks his money troubles are over, his cancer is gone and he will figure out a way to get his family back. He thinks his short trip into the underworld of the meth culture is over. But, if that were true the show would be over.
Totally agree with you Bullieboi on Walt's uphill battle and I believe Vince has written in some real hair-raising episodes for Walt to struggle through. The Mexican cartel will surely raise its' ugly head and butt heads with Walt and Gus's cartel. Since BlueSky is so pure and in demand, this is an outright war of meth wars between the two power hungry cartels.
Here is another thought, bullieboi, what if for some reason Gus and Walt part the ways and Walt goes to work for and make Meth for the Mexican cartels, lives down in Mexico incognito? If Hank does find out who Heisenberg is, Walt is going to flee to Mexico for cover and safety. Yes, Walt does seem to fit the mythology of Sisyphus and possibly what Vince writes in for Walt in Season 3, we might find Walt really turn a very dark side of his nature too. I believe Vince is really going to turn up the heat on this series and put Walt into areas we never thought this quiet unassuming Chemistry teacher would ever experience.
btw...great analogy!! I love it.