Homer and Marge – the great love story

On Sunday night Chris and I decided to watch The Simpsons Movie again. We had already seen it at the cinema, but we’ve also had it on DVD for some time and just hadn’t got around to watching it. I was struck by a thought that had also occurred to me when we saw it on the big screen; Homer and Marge are one of the great modern love stories.

When I first became aware of The Simpsons, back in about 1990 I believe, I remember that the show was promoted as featuring the world’s most dysfunctional family. But when you look back over the 20 years that The Simpsons has been on TV, there isn’t too much Homer and Marge’s love hasn’t survived; raising kids, financial problems, disease, infidelity (or the risk of it anyway), lies, mistakes, indecent proposals, bigamy, a giant catfish, a killer robot-house with a voice like Pierce Brosnan… they even got a divorce in one episode. Homer and Marge have been through it all and yet they always come out holding hands in the end. I find it inspiring,despite the fact that they’re just cartoon characters.

Some would argue that Homer and Marge’s relationship is based on his dependence and her need to be depended on, and admittedly there is some truth to that. But if, like me, you believe in the idea that a successful relationship is symbiotic to the mutual benefit of both people, then you also have to admit that in this sense Homer and Marge have a great recipe for success. That’s not to say that Marge is always playing the role of the forgiver and Homer is always at fault, despite Reverend Lovejoy’s comment at the church marriage retreat:

Marge, as a trained marriage counselor, this is the first instance where I’ve ever told one partner that they were 100% right. It’s all his fault. I’m willing to put that on a certificate you can frame.

Remember when Marge very nearly had an affair with her bowling instructor, Jacques? Or when she refused to lie about Bart’s injuries, losing the family a million dollar out-of-court settlement? But it’s what gets them back together at the end of each episode that’s important; the realisation that they are perfect for each other and that life apart would be unbearable.

I leave you with an excerpt from the end of “The Way We Was” episode, in which Homer tells Bart and Lisa the story of how he and Marge met and fell in love:

Homer: [to Marge] I’ve got a problem. Once you stop this car, I’m going to hug you, and kiss you, and then I’ll never be able to let you go.

[Present day, Homer and Marge are hugging in front of the kids.]

Homer: And I never have. [He and Marge kiss. Lisa and Maggie look happy while Bart is pointing in his mouth, gagging.]

Aww.