This thread is about Lisa's family, her parents and siblings.

My two cents about Marge... I read very contradictory opinions about her sometimes. To my surprise, many people if not hate her, but at least think that her character has degraded over past years. To me, Marge is Lisa's mom in the first place, and if she acts weird sometimes, that always can be explained. The only thing in her character/appearance I don't like, is her maniacal urge towards order and cleanness (remember Marge cleaning the roof with the mop, or saying "everything should have a couple", and bringing Helper and Snowball together). But that's the only thing, everything else I do like: she's a clever, nice, caring woman, she manages to live together with Homer and Lisa - and that's not an easy thing to do! And after all, she's very pretty (to Springfield merits of course, but I do understand them now ).

I'll post about other Simpsons family members eventually, but I'd like to know your opinions.

Dagdamor... This is what I think about Marge: She's a caring mom and a typical housewife. Lisa obviously has her good heart, but will choose a different path in life. I cant see Lisa living Marge's life, staying at home and babysitting her ungrateful husband. I believe Marge has issues with her self worth, she needs to feel needed. She irritates me sometimes, when she doesn’t understand Lisa. Especially her vegetarianism. (I’ll never forgive her for tricking Lisa!) Other times she is proud of her, usually concerning school work.  Although sometimes I wonder if she's just proud of succeeding as a mother. (after pretty much failing with Bart, not to mention Homie heh) and she sees Lisa’s success in school as her own?

But she is the only "solid" character Lisa can rely on while she's still living at home. Lisa will go further in life than Marge could ever wish for. I bet Marge's vision of success for her daughter is to get married and keep the kitchen clean.  I can’t recall now if she actually ever had a day dream about this issue? Anyway, Marge is a good mom, typical, traditional and American in many ways, NOT perfect but she will do. I love her hair.  (you should never drink and draw!  )

Yggdrasill
Unless you're going to go into a long disgusting discussion about Fatty and Smelma, I see no harm...
Long ago, there were times I wasn't obsessed with Lisa, wasn't even recognizing her enough in the show, because other Simpsons family members were more interesting to me. I still remember times when I liked Marge - and one of the reasons I loved Lisa so much afterwards, was Marge's attitude towards her older daughter. She was caring, understanding mom, Marge and Lisa were helping each other so many times in the show. I still remember that final moment in the "Lisa The Skeptic" episode, where Lisa says thanks to Marge for hugging her and Marge replies, "Anytime, my angel". This can sound funny, but during these old times I kinda got Marge's approval to feel nice to Lisa, and I'm thankful to her for that.

Yggdrasill
Actually, it's always seemed so strange to me - that young Marge's attitude to future life. Maybe because I've lost in chronology: after school she and her friend Chloe chooses their ways, and Marge's choose not to continue her education, but stay with Homer. But it's so controversial with her feministic position. And at the same time, Homer wasn't going to marry her and her pregnancy was kinda surprising for both. And why she haven't used some contraception, and have got two little children, when it was tough time to the Simpsons? She gave her future in Homer hands even before she knew about Bart's existence.

In her marriage Marge is definitely bored -that's why she is drinking some time, has addiction problems and few times dreamed about better partner. But, I suppose, Homer and housekeeping not so guilty. Marge had some potential when she was young and she has it now, but maybe she is unsure, maybe she couldn't choose perfect way to live vividly, I don't know. However, it's kinda weird for girl with such views refuse to study further and work as unqualified till birth of her children. Homer also has dependence from Marge, but for him it's more natural.

And I wonder, how could change her life, when she'd got amnesia and forgot Homer in 17x20. If it could be shown in cartoon, it could be a great way to show Marge as herself - starting a new life having already three kids, she could use all her hidden power, if there is any.

And such life for Lisa is also possible, but hard to imagine, because I think, with her family's help and her character she would be more self-reliant young woman and could choose her life path better.

I'll add something about other members of Simpson family, when my mind will be clearer.

lizard_queen
Sometimes I support this point of view :/ She has a potential deep inside, but something in her own personality always preventing her from self-actualization. So she terribly needs this family and Homer especially. Maybe not because she "can shine next to him", just because when she has her family, she has a burden, and when she cares about them, she can feel herself important, because other people could think about her life as a self-sacrificing.

She as good as Lisa, but she just hadn't normal support when she was a girl.

Speaking of Marge.... Does anyone have a picture of her portrait from the S' version of The Raven? I find it so hilarious; I don’t know if anyone remembers... because her hair couldn’t fit into one single painting, there was another smaller one right above it, with the rest of her hair.... I so want to find an image of that! 

Hey, I  never realised that she had a lot of bowties as Lenore I mean her portrait should be tragic - she died so young, but i can stop myself from smiling, when I see this

Back on topic - it'll be very interesting for me to see future relationship between Lisa and Ling Bouvier, who was adopted by Lisa's advice. Marge tries to keep her relations with sisters rather strong, so I suppose, she would help Selma with girl's raising and Simpson kids also would spend time with Ling. Of course, Maggie could be a better friend for her, they are in the same age and in one episode they played together and slept near each other. But in general it'll be great to see, how all Springfildians and especially Lisa would treat an adopted girl, when she'll grow up a little.

lizard_queen
brakusaetsya
SimpReal
This is... plain weird. I also remember that episode very well, but I can't believe there were so many bowties in the version I've seen. Is it possible they altered the episode before releasing the DVD versions? I wouldn't blame others here, but I remember that episode pretty well, there were two portraits on the wall - Lenore herself and the "corner" of her long hair, her peaceful smiling face... and no bowties.