Dan Stewart

October 25, 2004

TH 300-7

 

Marge Simpson and Aristotle

 

Marge Simpson is an example of someone who lives her life as Aristotle suggested that we all should.  Marge practices many of the virtues, which Aristotle describes.  Marge is especially honest all the time.  One example of Marge’s honesty is when Homer steals cable and is having a party to watch a boxing match.  Marge and Lisa oppose Homer’s actions and they stand outside the house, protesting.  However, Marge does not go overboard by trying to be perfectly virtuously all the time.  She exhibits a healthy balance between two extremes, as Aristotle suggested.  She balances her choices between the lifestyles of Barney Gumble, the drunk who chases happiness in perceived goods, and Ned Flanders, who seems to live the perfectly virtuous life, but ends up asking Homer to help him have more fun.  Overall, Marge seems to follow very well Aristotle’s plan for happiness, and she tries to raise her children, especially Lisa, to be virtuous, but not so much that they don’t have fun.