"The Simpsons" in American History
Many people have the misconception that cartoons are somehow less relevant or intellectually challenging because they are not "real." After all, the characters are nothing more than drawings with a voice. The normal principles of reality do not apply to cartoons. Anything an animator can imagine is possible, from the science fiction world found in The Jetsons to the slap-stick humor found in the classic Looney Tunes where the laws of physics are completely ignored. Homer Simpson himself best embraced this idea when he stated, "Oh Marge, cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh" ("Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"). Just like throughout the rest of his life, Homer is wrong in this case. In actuality, it is the creative freedom that is available in cartoons that allows them to be equally, or even more in some cases, thought-provoking than traditional television shows. The creators of cartoons are able to shape their characters, environments and plots in any way they see fit. A character can become an amalgam of outside influences on a writer. These influences can be personal, social or, in the case of The Simpsons, historical. Three of the major characters, Homer, Marge, and Lisa, of the popular television cartoon show The Simpsons have traits found in them that are comparable to major social classes found throughout American history.
The head of the Simpson family, Homer, is a man who escapes from his problems with drug use and rejects many traditional values of the American society, mainly the ideas of education and a steady job. These are characteristics that are found in the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Hippies were a group of free thinking people that lived their life by rejecting standard social values and living their lives without care. Hippies often found comfort in two things, communes and drugs. Homer has managed to combine these two things into one, Moe's Tavern. For Homer, Moe's represents a place where he can ignore his problems with drugs and be socially accepted at the same time. Homer is, without a doubt, an alcoholic and, as a result, often uses alcohol as a solution to his problems. After a prohibition law is lifted in Springfield, Homer proclaims, "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems" ("Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment"). Whenever a problem comes up at home, Homer often uses one of his trademark excuses to avoid it: "I'm going to Moe's!" Homer also finds friendship at Moe's, since all of his alcoholic friends can be found there virtually around the clock. Barney agrees with this as he tells Moe, "If you didn't close, I'd never leave" ("Duffless"). Homer also puts little to no concern on the traditional American values of a good education and a stable job. Homer is a high school drop out who only attends college when he is threatened by Mr. Burns ("Homer Goes to College"). He has little to no regard about his job security as he often takes risks that could get him fired. Besides his constant sleeping on the job and obvious incompetence, Homer also often skips work altogether to do activities that seem more interesting to him, like visiting the Duff Brewery ("Duffless"). The final way Homer is like a hippie is the way he reacts once presented with the hippie culture. While attempting to find out his middle name, Homer stumbles upon an old commune where his hippie mother lived. He immediately embraces the hippie ideals and stops showering and wearing shoes. He begins wearing an old poncho and accepts the mellow attitude that is traditionally associated with hippies ("D'oh-in' in the Wind").
Marge is the mother in the Simpson family and her role in the household is just that. She takes on the traditional mother/housewife role that was popular among women following World War II when many became attached to their homes again. Marge's family is totally dependent on the work she does at home. When Marge is sent to jail for accidentally stealing from the Kwik-E-Mart, the Simpson house becomes a filthy, alligator-filled pigsty in ten minutes under the command of Homer ("Marge in Chains"). Homer also goes to ruins when he is kicked out of the house by Marge. He is filthy and starving after only one day by himself and admits to Marge that the only thing he can offer is his "complete and utter dependence" on her ("Secrets of a Successful Marriage"). Marge's life is controlled by her chores so much that when they are done for her (by a futuristic, automated kitchen) she is unsure what to do with herself ("You Only Move Twice"). Marge's similarities to the stereotypical housewife are also shown in her submissiveness to Homer's decisions. The power in the Simpson house is in Homer; the family goes along with his decisions no matter how foolish they may be. Marge goes along with Homer's choices with little or no objection. Any disapproval she has usually does not get voiced and comes out simply as an annoyed moan. Marge's completion of her family's chores and her submissive position in her household are the traits that associate her with the post World War II housewife.
Little Lisa Simpson is by far the smartest member of her house. She gets straight A's at school and is proud of her academic achievements. Lisa's constant pursuit of education and her tendency towards reason, rather than faith, make her character symbolic of the Enlightenment movement started in America during the 1740s. This movement occurred a short while after the Great Awakening in America, where religion held much importance. During the Enlightenment, many citizens began to believe in science and common sense rather than put their faith into what they were told by the church. Lisa demonstrates her ability to stick to reason when the town finds an "angel" skeleton during an archeological dig. Everyone in town believes that the skeleton is really an angel while Lisa remains skeptical about its true identity. The townspeople blindly believe it is an angel, while Lisa sets out to use science to help determine the truth ("Lisa the Skeptic"). Another example occurs when the citizens of Springfield decide to build a monorail. Virtually all of the adults (with the exception of Marge) of the town accept the idea with a simple song that outlines the idea. The children enjoy the idea of a monorail even more. When they are allowed to ask questions to Lyle Lanley, the creator of the monorail, they ask questions that are unrelated to the validity of the expensive purchase such as, "Can it outrun the Flash?" and "Can Superman outrun the Flash?" Lisa, on the other hand, asks Lanley "the most intelligent question" he's ever been asked: "Why should we build a mass transit system in a small town with a centralized population?" ("Marge vs. the Monorail"). This type of thinking was evident in the logic that came with the Enlightenment period.Another way Lisa is "Enlightened" is in her constant pursuit of knowledge. When Homer goes in for triple bypass surgery, Lisa spends time studying books and examining a cow's heart in an effort to prepare herself both emotionally and intellectually for the operation her father will be undergoing. This ends up saving Homer's life, since Lisa's newfound knowledge of open heart surgery allows her to guide the incompetent Dr. Nick Riviera through the operation ("Homer's Triple Bypass"). An additional example of Lisa's need for knowledge occurs when the Springfield PTA disbands and Springfield Elementary is temporarily closed. When faced with a lack of education, Lisa becomes panicked and acts strangely ("The PTA Disbands"). Her life is just not complete without advancing her education. Just as Benjamin Franklin created the Junto, a club for the discussion of current politics, Lisa is also intensely stimulated by political discussion. When Mr. Burns comes over for dinner, Lisa is so happy to have an intelligent conversation that she says, "Oh, a political discussion at our table. I feel like a Kennedy!" ("Two Cars in Every Garage, Three Eyes on Every Fish"). Lisa's logical style of thinking, pursuit of knowledge and enjoyment with intelligent conversation make her a good example of an American during the Enlightenment.
The characters of Homer, Marge and Lisa are all representative of social classes in American history. Homer's lack of care concerning his education and employment as well as his retreat into drugs present him as an example of a hippie from the 1960s and 1970s. Marge's lack of power in her household and her responsibility for chores shows how she relates to a post World War II housewife. Lisa, with her ability to reason and her love of education and intelligence, is a prime example of an American during the Enlightenment period of the 18th century. The Simpsons, with its deep symbolism and allusion to American history, is hardly a "stupid drawing that gives you a cheap laugh."
By guest writer Alex Toth - commandoat@hotmail.com.Legal Notice and Disclaimer: "The Simpsons" TM and FOX and its related companies. All rights reserved. This site, its operators, and any content on this site relating to The Simpsons are not authorized by FOX.
