In the now infamous ‘I Love Lisa’ Valentine’s Day episode, she struggles to break up with someone, only to end up humiliating them. While it’s easy to judge her for it, most of us are loathe to admit that this particular struggle is all too uncomfortably real. Lisa is often at odds with the world just because of who she is. And that, in our books, makes her the most inspiring, relatable character on the show.
She’s in Touch With Her Feelings
‘Moaning Lisa’ was an episode unlike any other. The episode focuses on Lisa’s struggles with deep-seated depression. It was rare for television – especially for an animated show. We see how her fierce intellect and insights only serve as reminders of how different she is – a conscience too powerful a force for the world. And this realization plunges her into melancholia and depression. In attempting to understand her emotions, Lisa showed us that it’s ok to admit we’re sad and in pain.
She’s a Feminist
Lisa is one of the earliest feminist role models in television history. She stands up for gender equality and rallies behind feminist causes. Typically, people accuse her of being a killjoy, a bit of a drag. But that doesn’t stop her. Lisa protests against Malibu Stacy for perpetuating sexist stereotypes. She also dresses up as a Wiccan on Halloween – where everyone thought she was a witch. To this, she responds by saying, “Why is it, when a woman is confident and powerful, they call her a witch?”
She’s an Environmentalist
Lisa is often credited with bringing environmental issues into mainstream discourse. Some of her efforts have earned The Simpsons a series of accolades for generating awareness on critical issues. We’ve seen Lisa camping out to save trees from being cut or protesting the pollution of Lake Springfield.
She Stands Up to Authority
In ‘Lisa Goes to Washington,’ Lisa makes it to the finals of a patriotic essay writing contest. But when she witnesses a Congressman take a bribe, Lisa alters the tenor of her essay. Instead of a glowing review, her essay becomes a scathing indictment on corruption in the U.S. government. She doesn’t win the contest.
She Stays True to Herself
It isn’t easy being smarter than the average person. In Lisa’s case, it often means having no friends. In Season 7, the loneliness starts to eat away at her – so much that Lisa decides to take on a brand-new personality just to be ‘likable.’ Eventually, she learns to love and stay true to herself, no matter what the world thinks.