Mad Men Part 3 (2007–2015)

4. Don Draper

Don is the main protagonist of the series. Throughout its seven seasons, we grow somewhat fond of him; however, his life is fundamentally built on a lie. By the end of Season 7, we are still unsure whether Don—whose real name is Dick Whitman—is actually a good person. Dick is a character who “tries to appear good but never truly manages to be good.” He had a deeply traumatic childhood and never experienced genuine family affection. He essentially joins the army to escape his family, and after being mistaken for a lieutenant who dies in combat, he assumes the officer’s identity upon discharge and starts a new life as Don Draper.

In this new life, he finds success and becomes the creative director at the Sterling Cooper advertising agency. During the early stages of his career, he produces remarkable work and becomes one of the legendary creative directors in the industry. His reputation even sustains him during the later years when he begins to neglect his job. In truth, he is a poor manager; but given that the advertising industry is one of the sectors with the weakest sense of discipline and work ethic, he manages to get by for quite a long time.

One of the first scenes that reveals Don may not be such a good person occurs when his younger brother accidentally finds him and asks for nothing more than “brotherly affection.” Don’s cold and cruel reaction leads to devastating consequences—the brother eventually takes his own life—and even this fails to deeply shake Don.

He is extremely neglectful toward his home and family. His children are raised almost entirely by his first wife, Betty. Don shows the affection, kindness, and time he gives to women he sleeps with never to his own wife or children. He believes that merely providing financial support is enough to qualify as “being a father.” Cigarettes, alcohol, and women are addictions for Don; he cannot function without them. He easily neglects both his family and his work in pursuit of these compulsions. Despite being married, he shares only a bed with his wife; they have no real life together. To him, she is like a “Barbie doll” to be displayed at professional events.

A striking example of Don’s emotional absence occurs after his divorce from Betty, when his middle child, Bobby, tells him one night that he is “afraid.” When Don asks why, Bobby replies, “What would we do if something happened to Henry?” This single sentence is like a slap in the face for Don: his own son fears for the loss of his stepfather, not his biological father, because Henry is the one who truly protects and cares for them. Henry is, in fact, one of the most morally grounded male characters in the series.

Another telling moment regarding Don’s lack of foresight and planning is when he divorces Megan and, without hesitation, gives her one million dollars—an amount even her own lawyer wouldn’t have asked for. This impulsive decision foreshadows the miserable state he later falls into.

5. Conclusion

This is absolutely a must-watch series. It offers insight into 1960s America and the development of capitalism in the post–World War II era. It sheds light on advertising agency dynamics, internal corporate power struggles, gender relations, racism, and sexism. It helps deepen your understanding of America and capitalism as a whole. In short, it is one of those shows you should definitely watch.

You can find the first part of this article here: https://kinoavantgarde.com/mad-men-2007-2015/

You can find the second part of this article here: https://kinoavantgarde.com/en/mad-men-2007-2015-part-2/

Writer: Ruşen Ertan
Editor: Nil Birinci