The genesis of Breaking Bad comes from the protagonist, Walter, being diagnosed with cancer. Despite receiving his diagnosis early into the series, a certain amount of time goes by before he feels comfortable telling his wife, Skyler. But why didn’t Walt tell Skyler about his Cancer?
Walt didn’t tell Skyler about his Cancer because he didn’t want pity. He’s a very proud person who hates pitiful attention. Walt also could not deal with the impending financial awkwardness of letting his family know.
It is important to note that Walt’s decision to keep his cancer a secret is consistent with his character’s traits and motivations.
Why Walt didn’t tell Skyler about his cancer
Walt is a proud, stubborn, and independent person, who values his autonomy and dislikes being pitied or dependent on others.
He’s also a private person who has difficulty expressing his emotions out loud. It’s fair to say that Walt is also struggling with the shock of his diagnosis, as well as the impending financial hardship that will come. Internally, Walt is wondering how long he has to live and whether he even wants to prolong his life or not.
Secondly, Walt’s reluctance to share his cancer diagnosis with Skyler is fueled by his complex and troubled relationship with her.
At the start of the show, Walt and Skyler are married with one teenager and another child on the way. They’ve grown slightly apart, as different frustrations and priorities take place. Skyler is a very pragmatic and responsible person, having previous work as an accountant before being a stay-at-home Mom.
She is also suspicious and resentful of Walt’s behavior, which she perceives as secretive and erratic.
Walt’s boring life
On the other hand, Walt is very resentful over his boring and unfulfilling life. He was meant to do large things with his company, Grey Matter, but left the company and become a mundane high school teacher. Over the series, Walt becomes excited over the prospect of doing something dangerous. He sees it as a way to assert masculinity and control.
Also, Walt decides to not tell Skyler because he wants to protect her from the truth. He knows she’ll be devastated and concerned for his health, but also be terrified over their lack of finances. She wouldn’t understand how they could afford the treatments, thus putting her nose further into Walter’s illegal dealings.
In conclusion, the question of why Walt didn’t tell Skyler about his cancer in Breaking Bad is a complex and multifaceted issue that reflects the nuances and conflicts of the characters’ personalities and relationships. Whether we sympathize or condemn Walt for his decision, his actions have far-reaching consequences that shape the course of the series and the fate of its characters.
So that’s the answer. Walt didn’t tell Skyler about his Cancer because he didn’t want pity. He’s a very proud person who hates pitiful attention, and he also could not deal with the impending financial awkwardness of letting his family know.