In The Simpsons, one of the most memorable episodes featuring Lisa Simpson getting bullied by a teacher is “Lisa’s Sax” from season 9. This emotional episode explores how Lisa first got her signature saxophone and also reveals backstories about Lisa’s early school days.
Quick Summary of “Lisa’s Sax”
“Lisa’s Sax” originally aired on October 19, 1997 as the third episode of the ninth season. In this flashback episode, as the family watches home videos, Lisa recalls how she first got her saxophone as a young child. The story flashes back to Lisa’s experiences in kindergarten where she feels out of place among her rowdy classmates. She finds school miserable until meeting an inspirational music teacher, Mr. Largo. Recognizing Lisa’s intelligence and talent, Mr. Largo introduces her to the saxophone. After much practicing, Lisa performs her first sax solo in the school talent show, wowing the audience. The episode ends with Lisa feeling hopeful about her future.
The Bullying Teacher
While Mr. Largo is supportive, Lisa must first endure the cruelty of her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Hoover. Ms. Hoover singles Lisa out as a teacher’s pet and implies that Lisa arrogantly believes she is superior to the other students. Some key moments where Ms. Hoover bullies the young Lisa:
- On the first day of class, Ms. Hoover sarcastically mimics Lisa’s polite introduction and diminishes Lisa’s enthusiasm to learn.
- When Lisa knows the answer to a question, Ms. Hoover accusingly asks if Lisa thinks she is smarter than the rest of the class.
- Ms. Hoover reads Lisa’s stellar first assignment in front of class, mocking it as an example of a student trying too hard to impress the teacher.
- After Lisa cries from the bullying, Ms. Hoover adds insult to injury by penalizing Lisa for crying in class.
This repeated singling out and public humiliation of Lisa establishes Ms. Hoover as truly a cruel bully of a teacher. The bright, sensitive Lisa is shown to be deeply hurt by how her teacher treats her.
Lisa Stands Up to Ms. Hoover
A turning point comes when Lisa finally stands up to Ms. Hoover’s bullying. The class gerbil Superdude escapes from his cage. Ms. Hoover pretends not to notice and even plans to blame the students for his escape. But conscientious Lisa intervenes and rescues Superdude before he gets injured. When Ms. Hoover again mocks Lisa for showing off, Lisa finally confronts the teacher:
“With all due respect, Ms. Hoover, I just couldn’t sit by and watch Superdude die. I’m very sorry I disrupted your lesson. And I’m willing to sit here after school and clap erasers until my dad picks me up. But I will not take the blame for something I didn’t do!”
Lisa standing up for herself leaves the teacher speechless. This marks a shift as Lisa shows she will no longer silently endure the bullying from Ms. Hoover. Lisa emerges as the better person by prioritizing ethics and justice.
Conclusion
“Lisa’s Sax” delivers an impactful anti-bullying message by revealing this formative chapter in Lisa’s life. Young Lisa withstands the cruelty of her teacher with grace and courage. The unconditional love and support from her family gives Lisa strength. Meeting Mr. Largo also reinforces that Lisa has gifts worthy of nurturing. Lisa’s triumph over adversity in kindergarten helps explain her moral character and intellectual self-confidence seen throughout the series. The audience cannot help but cheer seeing the sweet Lisa finally stand up to her bully teacher.
| Season | Episode | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Lisa’s Sax | October 19, 1997 |
More Details on “Lisa’s Sax” Episode
Here are some additional details on the iconic Simpsons episode “Lisa’s Sax”:
Flashback Structure
The episode employs a flashback narrative structure as the family watches home videos from Lisa’s infancy to kindergarten years. This allows the show to explore Lisa’s backstory and deliver emotional character development for Lisa.
Young Lisa Character Design
Young Lisa is animated to look distinctly different from her older self with a bulbous head, big eyes, and short spikes of hair. This helps visually convey Lisa at 5 years old.
Allusion to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Lisa casts herself and her one friend Alex Whitney in a school production of the play Hamlet. This alludes to Tom Stoppard’s absurdist play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which retells Hamlet from the point of view of two minor characters.
Mr. Largo Introduction
This episode marks the first appearance of the recurring character Mr. Largo, the eccentric music teacher at Springfield Elementary. He would become a memorable part of Lisa’s life and education.
Alf Clausen Music
Composer Alf Clausen provided the music including a sad solo saxophone piece underscoring Lisa’s loneliness at school before getting her own sax. Clausen’s music is essential for setting the emotional tone.
Primetime Emmy Nomination
Writer Al Jean received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for penning this episode’s script. This recognizes the episode’s brilliance.
| Writer | Original Air Date | Primetime Emmy Nomination |
|---|---|---|
| Al Jean | October 19, 1997 | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series |
Lisa’s Saxophone’s Origin
The episode reveals that Lisa’s saxophone was originally owned by the equally brilliant Bleeding Gums Murphy. So the saxophone represents Lisa carrying on his musical legacy.
Jazz Theme
With Bleeding Gums Murphy as Lisa’s mentor, jazz music becomes central to Lisa’s story. This instills in her a lifelong love of jazz and serves as a creative outlet when Lisa feels ostracized.
Anti-Bullying Message
Lisa’s bullying subplot conveyed an impactful message at a time when bullying was less widely discussed. It showed how adults like teachers can thoughtlessly bully children and demonstrated the importance of standing up to bullies.
Lisa Simpson’s Character Arc
Looking at a wider lens, “Lisa’s Sax” represents an important step in Lisa Simpson’s overall character arc and growth trajectory. Consider:
- As a toddler, Lisa is shown to be preternaturally intelligent, able to flawlessly complete a jigsaw puzzle.
- In kindergarten, Lisa’s giftedness isolates her from peers, leading to self-esteem issues.
- Getting her saxophone helps Lisa find a constructive outlet to channel her intelligence.
- Standing up to Ms. Hoover catalyzes Lisa’s sense of justice and ethics.
- Mr. Largo nurtures Lisa’s intellect and talents where previous authority figures tried to diminish them.
Each stage illuminates core parts of Lisa’s identity. Many of her adult character traits stem from these childhood experiences established in “Lisa’s Sax.” Overall, the episode provides critical character development for one of The Simpsons’ most beloved characters.