Why Don Draper Changed His Name in Mad Men (& Everyone Who Knew His Real Identity), Explained

by

Don Draper, famously portrayed by Jon Hamm, is one of TV’s most acclaimed characters and rightfully so. He’s the lead in what many consider the best series ever made. However, it’s simple to be captivated by Hamm’s charisma and overlook the fact that Don Draper isn’t the real Don Draper. Instead, “Mad Men” is a tale about an individual struggling with his true identity – specifically, Dick Whitman.

Born as Richard Whitman, Don hailed from the Midwest, where he had a troubled start – his mother passed away during childbirth, and he was raised by indifferent caretakers. The era was the Great Depression, an economically challenging time, and Don’s childhood lacked any semblance of luxury. His formative years were spent in a brothel.

During the Korean War, Whitman unintentionally slays his superior officer, Don Draper, and subsequently adopts his persona.

In the life of Don Draper, from his work colleagues to his spouse, there was a complete mystery about him pretending to be someone else. Don Draper, or rather Dick Whitman as he truly is, has legal reasons for keeping this secret – he violated the law by stealing an identity and abandoning the war, both of which have significant consequences. However, delving into the mind of Don Draper, it’s clear that his reluctance to reveal his true self stems from a deep sense of shame about being Dick Whitman, a secret he doesn’t confront until later in his life. The internal conflict between Don Draper and Dick Whitman is mirrored in the people who know his real identity and the circumstances under which they discover it.

Don Wouldn’t Even Acknowledge His Surviving Brother

In the television series, Don Draper’s adopted brother, Adam Whitman, was the first one to recognize him based on his past identity in New York City. Since the rest of the Whitman family had passed away, only Adam remained, and Don had taken on the surname “Draper.” Upon their reunion, Adam was overjoyed and expressed a strong desire to be involved in Don’s life. Don initially believed that Adam sought financial gain, given his humble background and current job as a custodian with limited formal education.

From my perspective as a cinephile, one of the chilliest moves I’ve ever made was handing a substantial amount of cash to my brother and asking him to stay away forever. This act underscored the minimal worth I attributed to family ties, as I believed money could mend any rift. You see, I’ve been shaped by my time in a brothel, where I learned that relationships are forged or shattered through deals, not emotions.

I didn’t fear Adam because I thought he’d expose me and ruin my reputation as a marketing titan on Madison Avenue. To me, he was just a potential threat to my anonymity in New York City. Compared to my glamorous life at the top of advertising, Adam felt like he’d struck it rich becoming a custodian here. I didn’t want a regular reminder of my past haunting me in the city I now call home.

However, it never crossed my mind that Adam might be content with being part of my life without seeking more. I underestimated his happiness just being there for me.

Anna Draper is the Only Person Who Likes Don for Who He Is

Among all, only Anna Draper, the legitimate widow of the original Don Draper, seems to bring out the happier side of me, the movie buff version of Don. With Anna, I find solace in letting my defenses down and opening up about my struggles. Visiting her always fills me with a genuine enthusiasm that’s hard to come by. It’s one of the rare connections I have with a woman, and it’s truly heartening to forge a meaningful bond with someone like her.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: It was my own investigation that unveiled Dick Whitman as an imposter pretending to be my husband initially. Some oddities in the way his name was used sparked my curiosity, leading me to trace Don and confront the man who had assumed my husband’s identity. Over time, we formed a bond, but he never confessed to the death of my husband, fearing how I would perceive him if I knew the truth.

Why Didn’t Don Tell His Wife?

It might seem reasonable that, after Anna uncovered Don’s true identity, he would be willing to disclose it to his actual wife, Betty. However, despite being married for over a decade before the discovery of his deceitful life, Don kept this secret from her. The revelation, coming at a time when their relationship was already strained, proved to be the final blow. The magnitude of the lie and the deep insult it carried made it impossible for Betty to continue in the marriage, leading eventually to their divorce in season 3.

Don could hardly have suspected Betty would betray him to the authorities, not even after they began having children together. The most plausible reason for Don’s silence about his past seems to be that he felt deeply ashamed of himself. This sentiment also helps explain why Don married Betty in the first place—he sought social standing through the marriage.

As a film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: If a company aimed to create the epitome of a 1950s ideal wife, they’d clone Betty. Born into an affluent, well-educated family with old money and WASP roots, Betty is the embodiment of grace and beauty, with her radiant blonde hair and captivating blue eyes. Her experiences and possessions were rare for women of her time, let alone men. Betty holds a college degree and can fluently speak Italian, having traveled extensively before settling into the role of a housewife. In every scene she graces, it’s as if a masterpiece comes to life, with men awestruck by her beauty. Don, too, is spellbound, expressing his admiration through dialogue and actions. When it comes to sealing important deals, Don brings Betty along to dinners and events, much like someone flaunting a Rolex or a Ferrari. It’s clear that Don harbored deep insecurities about revealing his working-class background from Middle America, where he knew more about the inner workings of a brothel than the hallowed halls of academia.

Don learns that concealing important information from one’s spouse can lead to significant repercussions, a lesson he avoids repeating when he marries Megan. He discloses his true identity to her shortly after their marriage, unlike with Betty. Given the immense complications of keeping such a monumental secret from a partner, Don may have felt more assured with Megan due to his elevated status at the time compared to when he first met Betty. At that stage in his life, Don was significantly older, financially well-off, and held a position of authority over Megan. Although Megan too hailed from an affluent family and boasted high education, the societal expectations Don faced then would have been less daunting than those he experienced at 28 years old.

The People Don Works With

It’s understandable that Don preferred anonymity among his colleagues at Sterling Cooper, given that it represented his first significant opportunity in the advertising field. He didn’t want to risk jeopardizing his growing reputation as a valuable team member by disclosing his true identity too soon.

After spending several years with the company, Don eventually advanced to the role of creative head. However, it was junior account manager Pete Campbell who uncovered Don’s original identity. Pete and Don had a contentious relationship in the early seasons. When Don refused to give Pete what he wanted, Pete decided to expose Don by revealing to the firm’s most senior partner, Bert Cooper, that Don was not who he claimed to be.

In a practical manner, Bert, a follower of libertarian writer Ayn Rand, navigates situations effectively. Embodying the essence of capitalism, he nonchalantly replies with “Who cares?” as long as Don excels in his job, that’s all that truly matters to him. Later on in the series, Bert cleverly exploits this information to extort Don into agreeing to a contract with Sterling Cooper. Statements such as “Don’t you think I know something about you?” and “Ultimately, it’s not Don who is signing this contract, but rather who controls it” showcase the cunning ways in which a seasoned businessperson like Bert can both form alliances and exert pressure on others.

Despite typically guarding his identity carefully to safeguard his reputation, there came a time when the government scrutinized Don’s past during negotiations for a government contract with Sterling Cooper. This investigation left Don genuinely frightened that he had been singled out and worried about potential legal trouble. In this tense situation, Don suffered a panic attack, and at this moment of vulnerability, his girlfriend, Faye Miller, tried to comfort him. In an effort to help Faye comprehend his anxiety, Don confessed to her about his previous identity. The stress was so overwhelming that it prompted this revelation, as there was no advantage for Faye in learning the truth about Don’s past.

Given that both Pete and Bert are aware of Don’s true identity, it raises an intriguing question: why didn’t Don share this fact with Roger? After all, Roger isn’t just a senior partner but also might be Don’s only genuine work companion. Strangely enough, neither Don nor Bert reveals the truth to Roger. This is puzzling considering Roger shares the same motivation as Bert for keeping Don – his value to the company. Furthermore, Don and Roger are the only individuals in the firm who share a similar status and age, making them suitable for camaraderie. However, Don cannot reveal his true identity to Roger because Roger is a veteran of World War II. In “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword”, Roger maintains a romanticized view of his military service, holding grudges against the Japanese due to lingering resentment. Don wants to maintain his pristine image, fearing that Roger might see him as a deserter – someone who disregarded their patriotic duty. This relentless pursuit for an idealized image is what propelled Mad Men forward over its lengthy run.

Mad Men follows the storyline of Don Draper as he grapples with self-discovery and acceptance. Despite others, even those in his inner circle, uncovering his real persona, Don continues to suffer internally, harboring his turmoil and doubts that frequently drive him towards poor choices and destructive behavior patterns.

Instead of the plot twists about Don Draper’s dual identity being particularly captivating, what makes them less so is the psychological motives behind his initial reluctance to reveal it. Despite committing a felony by assuming another man’s identity, it’s the pain from his troubled past that he strives to keep hidden.

Read More

2025-06-06 16:51