Spongebob Analysispants: The Essay

Okay world. Here's a peek into my noggin on how it works when I hit a school setting. I'm being absolutely serious when I say this is NOT some of my best work. But if you really want to read it- haha, be my guest.
At first glance, a spongy exterior and an effervescent demeanor may be all that you’ll “absorb”, but after observing further you’ll soon see that there’s a lot of depth to Spongebob and his aquatic pals. Although the characters live in the same quaint town of Bikini Bottom, they all have different ambitions and backgrounds. Their absurdities make them the characters we as Nickelodeon viewers love.
Money, cash, “ka-ching”, dollar bills and wealth. Sense a theme here? For Mr. Krabs money is always on his mind. He’s a hard worker, “crusty” business owner, and father to his whale daughter, Pearl. Why is he so money hungry? It’s certainly not because of financial instability. He lives comfortably in a luxurious anchor-shaped complex. To make matters more confusing, he doesn’t splurge. Ever. You would think that “hey, maybe he’s saving for something more grand!” but in all reality, he strives to reach the big buck. He isn’t satisfied until he’s exceeded the rest. In one episode, his hard work finally pays off when he gets his one-millionth dollar. In celebration he takes his “Krusty Crew” employees out on a pleasant boating trip that turns terribly wrong. His prized dollar is eaten by a shark, so he proceeds to dive in- resulting in the loss of half of his body. He doesn’t seem to mind because at least he has his dollar. Overall, Mr. Krabs is the epitome of penny-pinchers.
It doesn’t take much to see what Mister Squidward Tentacles is all about. On the surface he seems like the typical rude, reclusive neighbor. He hates to be bothered by any of Spongebob and his buddies’ shenanigans. As they continue to pester him into participating in games like bubble-blowing or tag, his temper begins to rise, boil, and more often than not, erupt. But is he really all that perturbed? Or would he rather the latter of joining in on all the fun and games? When you delve into the mind of Squidward Tentacles, you’d find a vast variety of thoughts about music, literature, the arts, clarinet, and all things “sophisticated and profound”. Squidward values success. More importantly, he values recognition. He practices day in and day out on his clarinet to participate in shows to gain respect from his peers. Sadly, more often than not his spotlight is yanked away from either his rival, Squillium Fancyson, or none other than his goofball neighbors, Spongebob and Patrick. But despite all of his failures, he never gives up. Implanted in his mind are small tasks and goals he strives to complete to reach the top. Perhaps that’s why he still maintains a job at the Krusty Krab, working the register at ungodly hours. Perhaps that’s why he still puts up with his insane neighbors. He could move away if he wanted to; in fact, he’s tried a couple of times, but he still always manages to come back. Why? Because they give him recognition. They acknowledge his existence. Spongebob praises him on his clarinet playing when nobody else will. It’s only natural after being beaten and criticized so many times that you’d put up a front and say you’re not interested.
There is so much more to the overly-starched, square pants wearing, buck-toothed sponge than meets the eye. He’s a genuine, give-it-your-all, kind of guy. Outside of the work place, he maintains the giggly, bubble-blowing, child-like character we all know any love, but at work he takes full responsibility for the task at hand. Even after working as a fry cook for Mr. Krabs at the Krusty Krab for years on end, he never complains, and he never gives less than his best effort for every meal. He has amazing pride in his work. Why? Looking at the way his parents and grandma genuinely care about him, you can tell that he strives to be just like them. In one episode it shows Spongebob visiting his grandmother, who, when they arrive, presents him with a sweater that she knitted “with love in every stitch”. So when someone orders a Krabby Patty, he puts his heart and soul into his food, like the love his grandmother pours out in her knitting. The reason behind the success of the hamburger joint is certainly not from the penny-pinching manager, but because of the unfaltering fry cook. You can tell that he truly cares about what he does because his mood affects the taste and quality of his product. During one episode, his pet seahorse was banished from the K.K. kitchen, which sent the young sponge chef into a spiral of tears and depression. The customers could tell from his cooking that something was wrong. They could taste the tears. But on a happy day, the look in the eyes of the customer as they take their first bite, ripping into the burger with their canines, savoring every intoxicating flavor from the secret sauce must be what makes it all worth the hard work.