Marge Simpson

Mother and Housewife, Marge is officially the Least Funny Simpson. But she is definitely not redundant. Marge acts as the "straight man" in many of the rest of the family's jokes - the serious one who isn't crazy.She's also the glue that keeps the Simpsons together. Unfortunately, this role has not afforded her much of a life - looking after Maggie, keeping Bart in check, trying to persuade Lisa (usually unsuccessfully) not to go OTT on a moral crusade and cleaning up after Homer has ensured that Marge works almost constantly. It's no surprise that her hair starts falling out from stress in "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpali(Annoyed Grunt)cious"

Of course, she was very differn't before she met Homer - In "The way we was" she was much more like Lisa - intelligent, studious and pro-womens lib etc, but it would appear that all changed after meeting Homer - I suspect that she dropped those interests because she saw there would be no way she could keep them and get along with Homer - their interests would constantly collide - much like in Lisa and Homer's relationship. So she sacrificed them to make it easier.

Marge and Lisa also have a good relationship. Marge's mother always told her to try to fit in, not to speak up, always to be polite and quiet, just to behave and that way people will like you. But you'll have less self-confidence and usually be pushed around. Marge doesn't want Lisa to come this way - she wants her, Bart and Maggie to grow up the way they want to, and a child could ask for nothing more than this kind of support from their mother. Marge still doesn't get this support - her mother and her sisters all keep encouraging her to leave Homer, but she never will, I think, because he was her choice, she chose her lifestyle, and she wouldn't do anything else.

Future Echoes

I doubt very much will change for Marge in the future - no doubt her life will get easier when the kids leave home, but in "Lisa's Wedding" she's still looking after the family house, Homer, Bart & Maggie. And boy, do they ever need looking after...