Walt Whitman
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The name "Walter White" is heavily reminiscent of the American poet Walt Whitman.[93] During the series, Gale Boetticher gives Walt a copy of Whitman's Leaves of Grass.[106] Prior to giving this gift, Boetticher recites "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer".[107] In the episode "Bullet Points", Hank finds the initials W.W. written in Boetticher's notes, and jokes with Walt that they are his initials, although Walt indicates that they must refer to Whitman.
In the episode "Hazard Pay", Walt finds the copy of Leaves of Grass as he is packing up his bedroom, briefly smiles, and leaves it out to read. This occurs at an especially high point in his life, when he feels that things are coming together and he is succeeding in all his ventures. A poem in the book, "Song of Myself", is based on many of these same feelings, furthering the connection between Walt's life and Whitman's poetry.[108] The mid-season finale of season five, "Gliding Over All", is titled after poem 271 of Leaves of Grass.[109] In the episode, Hank finds Leaves of Grass in Walt's bathroom and opens it to the cover page, where he reads the hand-written inscription: "To my other favorite W.W. It's an honour working with you. Fondly G.B." Upon reading this, Hank becomes visibly shocked, realizing the truth about Walter for the first time, which provides the opening premise for the second half of the final season.