The Simpsons - Bart - the Not-So-Innocent Prankster

During the first few seasons of the Simpsons, most of the episodes revolved around Bart's antics. Even to this day, many episodes find Bart getting himself into trouble skillfully out again. No matter how bad he screws up, he appears to be smart enough to wiggle himself out of just about anything.

However, no matter how many jokes and pranks he plays on his family, it is always clear that he loves them unconditionally. This is especially true when it comes to his sister Lisa. For example, Bart can make her cry one minute and then turn around and do something sweet to make up for it the next. Throughout the series, Bart and Lisa have always been close. In fact, many times Bart will bring out the mischievous side of Lisa, who is normally one to play by the rules. No matter how you look at it, Bart and Lisa play together well and have adventures, hopes, and dreams similar to those of most children. Lisa is more apt to work hard and achieve goals that she has set for herself. Bart, on the other hand, has always been a slacker and a troublemaker.

Even though it may appear that Lisa is the only one who is truly smart, Bart exhibits an emotional intelligence that is just lurking under the surface. In other words, it isn't that Bart couldn't achieve the same level of academic success as Lisa; he simply doesn't care. He'd rather spend his time pulling pranks on their elementary school principal, Principal Skinner. He is much more wise to the ways of the world than his sister, and has saved her butt more than once. It is Bart's combination of slacker mentality and irrelevant attitude towards adult authority that get him into trouble.

No matter how much trouble Bart gets in, he never loses his sense of self and he demonstrates a true sense of what is right and what is wrong. In other words, he normally stops just shy of landing himself into serious trouble. Just as he is about to take things too far, his conscious, his inner voice, stops him. For that, he can thank his close relationship with his parents.

While it may appear at first that Bart doesn't have much of a good relationship with Marge and Homer (his parents), there are episodes that attest otherwise. Bart has spent time with his Dad creating a soapbox derby car. He almost became a Momma's boy in the episode in which Marge and Bart spent afternoons bike riding together and having tea. In the end, when forced to spend time with his parents, he realizes just how much he loves them. He normally is left wants to make them proud of him.

Above all, there is much more to Bart Simpson than just being a prankster and a bad role model for kids. In fact, I would argue that he is a great role model for kids (not that I would encourage such antics). Bart demonstrates a normal response to getting into trouble. His conscious almost always gets the better of him and he is left apologizing and resolving the situation. No matter how poor of a student he may be, he shows true empathy for his teacher. He simply can't find it in himself to truly care about grades. Despite everything, he has a unique personality that sees he through just about every situation.