MAGGIE SIMPSON

'Margaret "Maggie" Simpson' is a fictional character featured in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. She is the youngest of the five main family members, and is eternally a baby. She first appeared in the Tracey Ullman short "Good Night" and was quite prominent during the Ullman days, often being featured alongside Bart and Lisa. Maggie has since become the least seen of the five main Simpsons.

Contents

Role in ''The Simpsons''

Character

Creation

Dialogue

References

External links

Role in ''The Simpsons''

Maggie Simpson seen as a teenager in the episode "Lisa's Wedding".

Like average babies, Maggie is impressionable and easily influenced by what she sees around her. She once hit Homer on the head with a mallet, shot a suction dart at his picture, and brandished a broken bottle in The Simpsons Movie, as well as a pencil in imitation of ''Itchy and Scratchy''. Despite her age, Maggie is a formidable marksman, as seen in ''Who Shot Mr. Burns?''"Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part 2)" ''The Simpsons.com''. Retrieved on March 27, 2007 and ''Papa's Got a Brand New Badge,'' where she is able to shoot the fingers off of a group of mobsters in rapid succession with a rifle."Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge" ''The Simpsons.com''. Retrieved on March 27, 2007
Maggie's is shown saving Homer's life on numerous occasions, and at the same time demonstrating inhuman strength for her age. As shown above, the gansters she shot were going to kill Homer. In one episode, Homer was drowning, and she swam to him and dragged him to shore. Dr. Hibert explained that when a child sees their parents in danger, they burst out in a short bout of super human strength.
During the early seasons of the show, Maggie's equivalent of a trademark would be to trip and fall on her face, causing a loud smack on the floor. Indeed, throughout the Tracey Ullman shorts, Maggie has fallen down a total of 39 times."Maggie File" ''SNPP.com''. Retrieved on March 27, 2007
She is keenly aware of her surroundings, and can usually be seen imitating the flow of action around her. Like Bart, Lisa and Homer, she is not fond of spending time with her aunts Patty and Selma."Homer Alone" ''The Simpsons.com''. Retrieved on March 27, 2007
At age one, Maggie could spell EMCSQU (E=MC²) with her toy building blocks- as shown in the season one episode Bart The Genius- whereas Lisa at age three could merely spell "STAR" and "RATS" with hers. She's able to answer complicated questions putting cubes together (''Smart and Smarter''), and solve complex IQ problems. She is also shown spelling her name (''Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy''). She has also played Tchaikovsky's ''The Nutcracker'' on her toy xylophone, and written her own name with an Etch A Sketch. In two respective episodes set at her aunts' house, she was able to change her diapers by herself. When prompted, she has been able to understand and identify an "Dodecahedron" and a credenza. Also, while in Lisa's room, she grabbed Lisa's saxophone and played a fast paced tune very well.
In the one instance that has shown Maggie as a teenager, ''Lisa's Wedding'', she appears to be a typical rebellious teenager, being described by Dr Hibbert as "quite a hellion", and can be seen smirking after Homer has inadvertantedly set fire to the British flag and is trying to put the fire out with manure. Ironically, considering Maggie's inability to speak at present, Homer questions if Maggie will ever shut up, implying that Maggie is a very talkative young woman, although she never speaks during the episode as someone always interrupts as she is about to. She also wears her pacifier around her neck as a pendant.

Character

Creation

Maggie in her first appearance in the Ullman short "Good Night."

She was named after Margaret "Maggie" Groening, sister of Matt Groening, creator of ''The Simpsons''. Groening Against the Grain Her comedic hallmarks include her tendency to stumble and land on her face while attempting to walk (though this has been downplayed in later seasons), and a penchant for sucking on her pacifier, the sound of which has become the equivalent of her catchphrase and was originally created by Groening during the Tracey Ullman period, and by Nancy Cartwright during the regular series.
During the show's opening credits, Maggie is run through a supermarket checkout scanner, which reads that she is worth $847.63 (a reference to the monthly cost of infant-rearing in 1989) List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers . In "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular," the scanner instead reads "NRA4EVER," a reference to the running joke that the show's creators are right-wing radicals.

Dialogue

With few exceptions, Maggie never speaks but is very participatory in the events around her, emoting with subtle gestures and facial expressions. Maggie has spoken in "Good Night", the first short to air on ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', after the family falls asleep, she speaks. On this occasion, Liz Georges provided the voice of Maggie.
Maggie's first word spoken in the normal continuity of the series occurred in "Lisa's First Word", when she was voiced by Elizabeth Taylor and says "Daddy" in an empty room.^[1]"Lisa's First Word" Elizabeth Taylor's performance as Maggie was later named the 13th greatest guest spot in the history of the show.^[2] James Earl Jones, who voiced Maggie in Treehouse of Horror V, was in seventh place.^[3] She would later have brief dialogue in Treehouse of Horror IX, voiced by Harry Shearer, who used his Kang voice.^[4] In The Simpsons Movie Maggie also speaks, intriguingly saying 'sequel' during the end credits.

References

1. Face to Face: Maggie Simpson ''EW.com''. Published September 11, 1992, Retrieved on March 27, 2007
2. Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances, Page 3 ''IGN.com''. Published September 5, 2006, Retrieved on March 27, 2007
3. Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances, Page 4 ''IGN.com''. Published September 5, 2006, Retrieved on March 27, 2007
4. , , Ray, Richmond, Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, ISBN 0-00063-8898-1

External links

★ Biography from the official Simpsons website

★ Maggie's page at BBC.co.uk

★ The Maggie File unofficial trivia compilation

★ The Cutest Baby