The Simpsons' Ultimate Female Powerhouses: Unveiling the Greatest Characters

Summary

The Simpsons has a male-dominated cast, but it still has strong female characters like Edna Krabappel, Mona Simpson, and Lisa Simpson.

Agnes Skinner, Lindsey Naegle, and Selma Bouvier bring both humor and depth to the ensemble of female characters in the show. Furthermore, Marge Simpson defies the stereotype of a typical sitcom mom, while Maggie Simpson showcases her badass nature despite her tender age.

The Simpsons, a long-running series, showcases a diverse range of female characters. These include the complex Patty and Selma, self-assured Luann Van Houten, and the admirable Lisa Simpson, who serves as a beacon of hope for humanity. While the show is predominantly male-centered like many TV shows from the 1980s, there are still noteworthy female characters alongside the multitude of male characters in Springfield. Some of the strongest, most humorous, and endearing personalities in the ensemble are women. For instance, Edna Krabappel engages in witty exchanges with Bart, Homer's long-lost mother, Mona, proves to be a formidable revolutionary fighting against corporate greed, and Lisa Simpson serves as an inspirational role model for all.

10 Agnes Skinner

9 Lindsey Naegle

Agnes Skinner, the mother that Principal Skinner still cohabitates with (although he vehemently claims it's the other way around), has been hilariously portrayed by The Simpsons as Norma to his Norman Bates. Agnes Skinner embodies a colorful caricature of cantankerous elderly individuals who find fault in everything, while also embodying the archetype of mothers who take pleasure in embarrassing their children (such as when she affectionately refers to her grown son as "Spanky" in public). Although Agnes may not be the most endearing character in the Simpsons universe, her on-screen appearances never fail to elicit laughter.

Lindsey Naegle, initially introduced as "Generic Female TV Executive" in season 8, episode 14 of The Simpsons titled "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show," has evolved into the show's representation of ambitious and high-strung professional women. Over the course of the series, Lindsey has assumed various roles, including an OmniTouch representative, a Laramie Cigarettes executive, and an anti-youth activist. Through her character, The Simpsons effectively satirizes the superficial and soulless nature of contemporary corporate culture.

8 Selma Bouvier

Marge’s sister Selma’s long string of unsuccessful marriages has become a recurring source of amusement in The Simpsons. Her first marriage to Sideshow Bob was plagued by his attempted murder of her. Following that, she entered into a purported marriage with Troy McClure, only to discover it was merely a publicity stunt to maintain Troy's presence in the tabloids. Selma has endured so many divorces that her last name has now transformed into Bouvier-Terwilliger-Hutz-McClure-Discothèque-Simpson-D’Amico. Ultimately, Selma is portrayed as a lonesome character who yearns to find the right partner but consistently ends up with the wrong individuals, highlighting her relatability and making her one of the most multi-dimensional characters in The Simpsons.

7 Luann Van Houten

Luann Van Houten, the mother of Milhouse, stands out as one of The Simpsons' most confident and assured characters. In the sixth episode of the eighth season titled "A Milhouse Divided," an intense argument erupted between Luann and her husband Kirk during a dinner party attended by their friends, leading to a difficult yet wise decision by Luann to end their marriage. While Kirk struggled to get his life back on track post-divorce, Luann swiftly embraced her newfound freedom. She joyfully experienced the excitement of single life, ventured into dating a dashing stuntman, and wholeheartedly devoted more time and energy to raising Milhouse.

6 Maggie Simpson

5 Edna Krabappel

Throughout The Simpsons' entire run, Maggie, the youngest member of the family, has uttered very few words. Nevertheless, she remains a hilarious and endearing character. Despite her infancy, Maggie proves to be one of the most fearless individuals in The Simpsons. In the sixth episode of the eleventh season, titled "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder," she ventures into the ocean and rescues Homer's life. Additionally, in the first episode of the seventh season, named "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two," Maggie is revealed to be the one who shot the town's most villainous resident. No other inhabitants of Springfield possessed the courage to confront such evil, but the baby did not hesitate to take action.

The ongoing feud between Bart and his teacher Edna Krabappel is both humorous and endearing, making it one of the most enjoyable storylines in The Simpsons. The few moments when Bart and Edna do get along create some of the show's most touching and heartfelt scenes. While Edna may have appeared cynical and love-struck, with her on-and-off relationship with Principal Skinner and eventual marriage to Ned Flanders, she always held onto a glimmer of hope for a romantic encounter that would sweep her off her feet. Following the unfortunate passing of voice actor Marcia Wallace, the character was respectfully retired, and The Simpsons paid tribute with a heartfelt chalkboard message: "We'll really miss you, Mrs. K."

4 Mona Simpson

Homer was finally reunited with his long-lost mother, Mona, in season 7, episode 8, titled "Mother Simpson." Surprisingly, Homer discovered that Mona had left him years ago to join an anti-capitalist revolution in the 1960s. After being identified by Mr. Burns during an anarchist raid on one of his laboratories, Mona had to go into hiding. She has been seen as the inspiration behind Lisa's passionate and progressive beliefs. Glenn Close delivered a brilliant guest performance as Mona in "Mother Simpson," and her character continued to bring delight whenever she made subsequent appearances. Overall, Mona's presence made a truly welcomed addition to the Simpson family.

3 Patty Bouvier

Patty, Marge's other sister, has undergone significant character development since her introduction. Initially, she shared similarities with Selma, being portrayed as a chain-smoker working at the D.M.V. and harboring a strong resentment towards Homer. However, as time has passed, Patty has shown a great deal of growth, displaying empathy and compassion towards Homer. Additionally, she has embraced her sexuality, identifying as a lesbian. Similar to Selma, Patty possesses a hidden depth that becomes more apparent with understanding.

2 Marge Simpson

In most sitcoms,

1 Lisa Simpson

is relegated to the role of a disapproving wife who simply rolls her eyes at her husband's zany antics, all while managing the household chores and taking care of the children singlehandedly. However, Marge's character in The Simpsons breaks this stereotype. While she does shoulder the majority of the housework and child-rearing responsibilities, she is not limited to just that. Marge goes beyond being the voice of reason and has her own moments of hilarity, like offering Bart potatoes for show-and-tell because she finds them fascinating. Additionally, she displays immense compassion by providing solace to her family members during their lowest moments.

Undoubtedly the most remarkable female character in The Simpsons - and one of the most adored and inspiring figures in pop culture - is none other than Lisa Simpson. Despite being just eight years old, Lisa surpasses the majority of individuals in Springfield in terms of intellect, strength, ambition, and achievements. Lisa signifies the complete opposite of Homer's character; she passionately advocates for social justice, exhibits ethical consumption habits, is exceptionally astute, and is undoubtedly destined to assume the role of the President of the United States in the future.