David Cooper
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0004 - Lisa Simpson
🕑 Added 2021-08-05 08:22:00 +0000 UTC
Listen, I'm not gonna tell you Lisa is the main character of The Simpsons. But I do think she represents the often cynical perspective of the show as a whole.
Not as a character unto herself, of course! Lisa is bright and hopeful, never letting the weight of this terrible world defeat her completely. But the world does try to defeat her. Through her we learn one of the show's themes again and again - that intelligence and compassion will be challenged at every turn, and usually there is no reward for either.
(The way I'm describing this silly cartoon makes it seem like quite a depressing slog. Good job there are jokes at a machine gun pace. I guess if you're reading this you've probably seen an episode or two. If not, check it out!)
There are different shades of Lisa shown throughout. Sometimes she is attempting to enlighten those around her, and make a positive difference. Sometimes she is condescending, and trying too hard to upset the status quo of the world. Depending on who you ask, in some instances these could describe the same scene.
Given how much she gets beaten down emotionally, it is remarkable that Lisa Simpson remains a beacon of joy and hope within the world of Springfield. I've known people who have aspired to be her their whole lives, hoping to improve the world in the face of constant adversity. Maybe we should all aspire to be a bit more like her.
This post is part of my "Every Simpsons Character Ever" series. For a list of my rules in this project, click here.
Comments
David Cooper
I didn’t expect Lisa to be the one that got the most love this week, but it makes sense! She’s definitely a bright spark, and a good entry point for a viewer. Like a flower that grew out of a pot of dirt!
Gavin Lowe
Lisa is very dear to my heart...her attitude and her boundless optimism helped get through a lot of the childhood trauma I was experiencing growing up. Lisa was the first character I came across that demonstrated empathy and that was quite profund for an animated charcter. The space carved out for Lisa in that family helped me realise I didn't have to be defined by own equally chaotic family.
David Cooper
I think as a kid I never appreciated her as much as I should, but now I totally agree with you. Stuff like Lisa’s Substitute definitely resonates a lot more now. I took the genuine emotion of the show in the classic years for granted, but now I love it, and Lisa is often the heart of that.
Joshua Smith
Probably my favorite character of the main family! Her greatest stories always feel to resonate an extra step, like they have an extra level of depth into them. Moaning Lisa and Lisa The Skeptic are all time favorites of the series!
