"Mad Men" is a period drama set in the 1960s that follows the main character, Don Draper, along with his family and advertising coworkers. Although Don is considered the star of the show with the most depth throughout the series, there are many other characters who have their own story lines. Betty Draper, Roger Sterling, Pete Campbell, Joan Harris, and Peggy Olsen are all considered stars of the show as well.

This is a large ensemble, but each character compliments each other and helps keep the story going since "Mad Men" is a show that focuses a lot on character development. Each character is their own individual with desires and needs that allow for the narrative to move forward.

The ensemble consists of his coworkers and ex-wives. Their common thread is that they all have a close relationship with Don. Most of the cast intermingle during the shows except for Betty since she does not work in advertising, was Don’s first wife, and the mother to his three children. Roger Sterling is the wealthy partner of Sterling Cooper and is Don’s boss. Pete is a head account executive at the agency and is fast talker always trying to get ahead. Joan is the office manager or “head secretary” at the office. Peggy started as Don’s secretary and worked her way up as a copywriter at Sterling Cooper, the advertising agency.

Each character has their own role and identity. It is their backstories, such as Roger divorcing his wife and marrying his secretary or Pete cheating on his wife, that allow each character to grow. Their story lines allow for the audience to see development in their personality and what they truly want in life.

Each character is different and has their own experiences, so this means that their wants and desires are different. For example, Don is a conflicted character who just wants peace within himself and cannot seem to find it anywhere. Peggy wants to be respected as a woman and to be loved. Pete is materialistic and vain, similar to Betty, and wants to be the best. Betty is selfish and wants perfection for her home and family, but does not want to put in the effort. Roger is comic relief in the show, but I ultimately believe he yearns for youth and wants to find happiness in life. Joan wants success, but she also wants stability for her family.

I could go into further detail about what each cast member wants in their life, but the broad generalizations describe ultimate desire each character has.