Analysis of Marge Simpson: Blue-Haired Housewife, Defining Domesticity on the Simpsons in the Sense of Academic Writing

 

1) Identify the topic

The author introduces her topic by referring to various discussions launched by scholars from different disciplines about The Simpsons. Then, she clearly identifies her main argument and thesis statement of this article. Her main argument is that the role of Marge Simpson reveals that those domestic women the TV housewives play are unreal and fantastic, and the thesis statement is that The Simpsons  “questions the function of the nuclear family in American society”(Neuhaus), but it still suggests the central role of “female domesticity”(Neuhaus) to a family.

2) Define key terms

Satire is “more than simplistic cynicism: it asks readers and viewers to perceive the failings of the dominant paradigm”(Neuhaus), and it asks audience to notice what often goes unnoticed and accepted. The author also refers to other scholars’ explanation of satire.

3) Discuss (the development of the argument)

The author explain her argument that The Simpsons satires “the idealized family sitcoms of the past”(Neuhaus) from many aspects.

·      First of all, the author compares the role of Homer with “the attentive and authoritative father”(Neuhaus) in some father-centered sitcoms. She points out that Homer does not know the best and is “boorish, greedy, lazy, clumsy”(Neuhaus) and “less intelligent than Marge”(Neuhaus), then she concludes that The Simpsons did challenged the images of “all-knowing father”(Neuhaus) in postwar family sitcoms.

·      Then, the author demonstrates that The Simpsons also “satirizes other aspects of American family and work life idealized in 1950s sitcoms”(Neuhaus) and reveals “a sad, cynical portrayal of contemporary life”(Neuhaus).

·      Later, the author turns her focus to satire and sentiment, which are successfully combined in The Simpsons. She also indicates that the core of Simpson family lies in the “domestic roles of Homer and Marge”(Neuhaus), which is like other “sitcom families”(Neuhaus).

·      Then, the author justifies her argument from the aspect of Marge, whose role apparently satires the “stereotype of a preternaturally cheerful homemaker”(Neuhaus), which is supported by three sub points.

o   First, she points out Marge’s blue beehive hair suggests her “as a fiction, a cartoon character that does not exist in our physical world”(Neuhaus), which can be compared to the “sleek conservative styles”(Neuhaus) of the TV wives’. The comparison satires that a woman cannot be as perfect as the TV wives.  

o   Second, the author points out that Marge’s voice is another satire to earlier televised housewives. Marge’s voice is “scratchy, rough, undomesticated, the opposite of sweet”(Neuhaus), but it plays an important role in guarding the family. The author further claims that Marge presents “the way women have expanded their domestic sphere to include a public, political role” (Neuhaus).

o   The third point she makes is that Marge’s frustration, anger, or exhaustion is the strongest evidence to explain that Marge challenges the ideal domestic housewives. She mentioned two sources of her discomforts: Homer and homemaking. Though “Marge’s satisfaction with her marriage is always restored”(Neuhaus), “frustrations with homemaking are somewhat less easily resolved”(Neuhaus) and even employment or volunteer work doesn’t solve the dissatisfaction. 

·      After a brief summary of Marge’s role of satire, the author exerts that “Marge is a fundamentally domestic character.” So the author thinks that The Simpsons “ultimately does not satirize the role of homemaker”(Neuhaus).

·      In the last part of the article, the author suggests her disagreements with Keslowitz’s view on Marge and explains the actual limitation of Marge’s satire to domestic housewives.

4) Examples (to illustrate/reinforce the argument)

·      The sentiment in The Simpsons: the Simpson children show their “love, loyalty and affection” to Marge and Homer. They accept “Homer’s failings as a father”(Neuhaus), and Lisa still loves her mother though she is not satisfied with her parents’ “narrow worldview”(Neuhaus). Also, for the combination of satire and sentiment, the author shows the “Gentleman-esque scene”(Neuhaus).

·      Marge’s hair marks her as a fiction: the author illustrates this point by comparing Marge’s hair to other characters’, such as Lisa and Bart, and finding that Marge’s hair always grows back. Another example is given on the scene that Marge saved Lisa from lava, and the author points out that Marge’s ability to save Lisa is only a story.

·      Marge’s voice guards the family: the author mentioned the episodes of “Itchy, Scratchy, and Marge,” “Marge vs. the Monorail,” “Sweet and Sour Marge” and “The Joy of Sect”(Neuhaus).

·      Frustration with homemaking: many jobs are listed to explain how difficult it is to relieve Marge’s “discontent with homemaking” (Neuhaus).

·      Marge is ultimate a domestic woman: the author mentions some episodes that reveal the importance of Marge as a role to maintain the order in the home, for instance, “Homer Alone” and “Marge in Chains”(Neuhaus).

Further thinking about how Marge is represented: 

Satire: Marge’s hair, voice and her discontent with homemaking are all satires to the idealized domestic women.

Exaggerations: Marge’s domestic role is exaggerated in the show that the family and the whole Springfield count on her, which is intended to emphasize that domestic housewife is the fundamental role of Marge.  

Reference:
Neuhaus, Jessamyn. “Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons.” The Journal of Popular Culture 43.4 (2010): 761-81. Kean University Library. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.