Boardwalk Empire: Nelson Van Alden's 3 Biggest Regrets

1. Not Trusting Jimmy Darmody

Nelson Van Alden's biggest regret is not trusting Jimmy Darmody. Jimmy was a young man who Van Alden recruited to work for the Prohibition Bureau. Van Alden saw something in Jimmy, but he was also suspicious of him. He was afraid that Jimmy might be a double agent working for Nucky Thompson.

Van Alden's suspicions turned out to be true, but he only realized too late. Jimmy betrayed Van Alden and went to work for Nucky. Van Alden was devastated by Jimmy's betrayal. He felt like he had failed as a mentor and a friend.

2. Killing Dean O'Banion

Nelson Van Alden's second biggest regret is killing Dean O'Banion. O'Banion was a bootlegger who was involved in a turf war with Nucky Thompson. Van Alden was sent to arrest O'Banion, but he ended up killing him.

Van Alden's killing of O'Banion was a major turning point in his life. It was the first time that he had killed someone, and it haunted him for the rest of his life. Van Alden never forgot the look of terror on O'Banion's face as he died.

3. Not Leaving Prohibition Enforcement

Nelson Van Alden's third biggest regret is not leaving Prohibition Enforcement sooner. Van Alden was a true believer in Prohibition, but he gradually came to realize that it was a failure. He saw how it corrupted people and destroyed lives.

Van Alden tried to make a difference, but he was ultimately unsuccessful. He was unable to stop the corruption and violence that was rampant in Prohibition. He finally left Prohibition Enforcement in 1929, but by then it was too late. He had already lost everything.

Nelson Van Alden's Motivations

Nelson Van Alden was a complex character with a variety of motivations. He was a devout Christian who believed in the power of Prohibition. He also wanted to be a good husband and father. However, his job as a Prohibition agent often conflicted with his personal life.

Van Alden was also a very ambitious man. He wanted to be the best Prohibition agent in the country. He was willing to do whatever it took to get ahead, even if it meant breaking the law.

Van Alden's motivations were often in conflict with each other. He wanted to be a good Christian, but he also wanted to be successful in his career. He wanted to be a good husband and father, but he also wanted to be the best Prohibition agent in the country.

This conflict eventually led to Van Alden's downfall. He was unable to reconcile his different motivations, and he ended up losing everything.

Pain Points

Nelson Van Alden experienced a number of pain points throughout his life. He was constantly conflicted between his different motivations. He also struggled with the guilt of killing Dean O'Banion.

Van Alden's pain points eventually led to his downfall. He was unable to resolve his conflicts and move on with his life. He became a broken man who was unable to find happiness or fulfillment.

FAQs

1. What was Nelson Van Alden's job?

Nelson Van Alden was a Prohibition agent.

2. Why did Nelson Van Alden kill Dean O'Banion?

Nelson Van Alden killed Dean O'Banion because he was involved in a turf war with Nucky Thompson.

3. What was Nelson Van Alden's biggest regret?

Nelson Van Alden's biggest regret was not trusting Jimmy Darmody.

4. What happened to Nelson Van Alden?

Nelson Van Alden left Prohibition Enforcement in 1929 and became a private investigator. He died in 1960.

Additional Information

Nelson Van Alden was a real person. He was born in New York City in 1885. He joined the Prohibition Bureau in 1919 and quickly rose through the ranks. He was involved in a number of high-profile cases, including the arrest of Dean O'Banion.

Van Alden left the Prohibition Bureau in 1929 and became a private investigator. He died in 1960.

Van Alden's life was the inspiration for the character Nelson Van Alden on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. The character was played by actor Michael Shannon.

Table 1: Nelson Van Alden's Timeline

Table 2: Nelson Van Alden's Motivations

Table 3: Nelson Van Alden's Pain Points

Table 4: Nelson Van Alden's Legacy