Characterizing the Spongebob Squarepants Show: Spongebob Squarepants

In order to fully understand the titular character of the Spongebob Squarepants show, one must understand the inspiration for the character. While the main characters of the show are based on the seven deadly sins, the lest obvious correlation between a character and a sin is between Spongebob and his respective sin. In actuality, Spongebob Squarepants represents a non-conventional but accurate portrayal of the sin Lust.

Many people only view Lust as desire associated with sex or a sexual act; however, the word is also used to describe a strong desire for anything. This definition is often used when someone is power-hungry, and such characters are said to have a lust for power. A perfect example of this definition is Frank Underwood from House of Cards, a man who lusts for or desires political power. With this new definition in mind, that lust means a strong desire for anything, Spongebob Squarepants definitely qualifies for the transgression of Lust.

What Spongebob lusts for is perfection. In such episodes as “Best Day Ever”, Spongebob chases his dream day; unfortunately, whenever the day does not go according to his plans, he believes the day is completely ruined. Furthermore, almost all of the antics Spongebob gets himself into involve him trying to accomplish something he believes will make his life more perfect, (i.e. trying to befriend his neighbor Squidward because he believes that having friendly relations with all his neighbors is the ideal lifestyle). He does not really care about his friends’ lives. He only cares about what they can add to his life.

This challenging definition of Lust offered by the team behind Spongebob Squarepants causes an inward reflection. While Lust is most easily shown through as a need for sexual pleasures, it can manifest itself in other areas of life. In order to challenge perfection, the creative team at Nickelodeon deliverers a character who almost always seems to have a perfect life. He has a caring best friend, a good home, and a job he loves. He even treats one of his greatest opponents in the show, Squidward, with love and compassion. Spongebob’s ability to live not only a seemingly perfect American dream, but also accomplish one of the foundational commandments to Western religion (love your neighbor), is often used to overlook his underlying issues. He works harder than most to achieve his dream, but he has an obsession nonetheless. His obsession causes him to ruin situations that are fine, but not corresponding to his definition of perfection.

Maybe creator Stephen Hillenburg intended to portray Lust as the least of the seven deadly sins when he created Spongebob Squarepants. After all, his intense passion for life, friends, and occupation appear to bring him greater happiness and more substantial achievements than any other character on the Spongebob Squarepants show.

Characterizing the Spongebob Squarepants Show: Squidward Tentacles and Sandy Cheeks

Two supporting characters known for their extreme personalities are Squidward Tentacles and Sandy Cheeks. They most noticeably reflect their respective representative sin more than any other character.

Squidward Tentacles, Spongebob’s neighbor and co-worker, represents the sin of Wrath. Squidward personifies Wrath’s definition perfectly by spurning the love of his friends and opting for negativity instead. His pessimistic attitude is the drive for a countless number of plots. While Spongebob and Patrick Star attempt to include Squidward in a various array of activities, he never lets himself enjoy the fun he could be having with Spongebob and company. The shows creator, Stephen Hillenburg, lets Squidward shine through as a vindictive wit in an effort show that people can become too uptight and worried about their day to day issues. He is a passionate individual who strives for success in audible and visual art; unfortunately, his passion turns to obsession and eventually leads to his anger.

Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel from Texas, personifies the deadly sin of pride. Sandy is shown to be extremely smart and very passionate about areas ranging from robotics to biology. Hillenburg not only shows her at times as a pompous scientist but as a boastful Texan. The greatest example of her love of Texas comes in the episode “Texas”. Spongebob and Patrick are able to change Sandy’s decision to move back home by stalling her through the mockery of her Texan heritage. Sandy’s entire life is altered by her decision to beat up Spongebob and Patrick because they are mocking her home state. Even though she is extremely smart, Sandy Cheeks cannot stop herself from making rash decisions based on her pride. She shows the audience that while one can be intelligent, that does not mean one is completely immune to pride or any other sin.

Squidward and Sandy blatantly allow their emotions to control their words and sometimes their actions. In order to show the audience what can happen when someone doesn’t control emotions like anger or pride, Stephen Hillenburg created Squidward Tentacles and Sandy Cheeks.

Characterizing The Spongebob Squarepants Show: Mr. Krabs and Plankton

In addition to Patrick Star and Gary, Mr. Krabs and Plankton represent similar deadly sins, Greed and Envy. While both of these sins involve the perpetrator to desire more than what they already have, they differ in that Envy involves coveting someone else’s possessions and Greed involves wanting more while disregarding anything else.

The rivalry of Mr. Eugene Krabs and Sheldon Plankton might seem like a struggle between two different ideas; when in reality, they both desire something similar. In order to portray a literary foil, the characters of Eugene Krabs and Sheldon Plankton are portrayed as total opposites. For instance, Mr. Krabs is large while Plankton is microscopic, Mr. Krabs is red while Plankton is green,  and Mr. Krabs is a hero while Plankton is often portrayed as a villain. Looking at the sins they represent, Greed and Envy, the shows view their vices differently as well. Mr. Krabs is portrayed as a hero of Industry, a great Capitalist. His problematic desire for wealth is almost tolerated within the show. In contrast, Plankton is shown to be an envious competitor, desiring to achieve wealth by cheating the capitalist system. The show and its creator Hillenburg appear to clearly define the roles of these characters and the roles they symbolize in modern society.

A deeper analysis of these characters show a different story. The tension built up by their physical appearance and societal views serves only as misdirection from their true nature, equals. Both Eugene Krabs and Sheldon Plankton are not happy with their current financial status. This is the fundamental building block of their characters, their only difference is that Mr. Krabs achieves success through greed while Plankton attempts to achieve it through stealing other peoples success. Hillenburg attempts to show that neither the Capitalist nor the envious competitor is more guilty or more justified. They are both equally responsible for how they let their sins effect their future decisions.

This sad revelation shows that no matter how powerful a Capitalist becomes, they will never be satisfied. It shows that envy never leads to success because one can never become truly successful off of someone else’s hard work.

Characterizing The Spongebob Squarepants Show: Patrick Star & Gary

Aired on May 1st, 1999, Spongebob Squarepants became a facet of culture still producing new episodes even today.  While Americans have debated the messages of the yellow sponge for over a decade, he has come to hold a special place in the development of youth between the late 1990’s and present day America. Many people, however, do not know that the show’s creator based the seven main characters on the seven deadly sins of the Bible. A brief comparison between the show’s characters and the sins of Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Pride, and Lust show that Stephen Hillenburg, marine biologist turned animator, intended his show to reflect these deadly vices. More specifically, Patrick Star and Gary the Snail represent two sins often mistaken for the same vice.

Sloth can be defined as the sin of inaction or laziness. Patrick Star, perhaps the most recognizable starfish on the planet, personifies laziness so much as to earn an award for his laziness as seen in the episode, “Big Pink Loser”. He can be best described as a helpful playmate for Spongebob who never really achieves anything without his friends compulsion. Patrick Star provides comic relief, arguably the most humorous character, but at a terrible cost. His inactivity leads to dis-involvement  from education to purpose of life. Even though his character is humorous, the show displays that without drive or action, ones life can reach a dreary stalemate. Thus, Hillenburg challenges his audience to reflect back on themselves, and re-access their own life desires and what one must do to achieve their goals.

The easiest way to personify the overindulgence involved with the sin of Gluttony is in regard to food. Gary, Spongebob’s pet snail, is a simple, yet effective projection of the evil involved with overindulgence. In the episode “Have You Seen This Snail?”, Gary runs away from Spongebob because he forgets to feed him. On his own, Gary finds a new owner he thinks will provide the best home he has ever had. In reality, she is feeding Gary so much food causing him to overlook the signs that she eats snails. He eventually escapes and finds his way back to Spongebob. Gary shows the audience that tunnel vision, whether one is focusing on food or other aspects of life, can cause oneself to overlook important details.

Both Patrick Star and Gary are powerful symbols that remind the cartoon’s audience, whether a child or a parent, to remain vigilant. It reminds them to neither become heavily involved in something to the point where that prevents good judgment, nor to become so detached as to lose a purpose in the world.