Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
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Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
Oh, we know how to stay clear of that minefield.
 
— Margaret SquarePants after hearing her son failed his driving test again, "Driven to Tears"
Character

Margaret[2] Claire Gretchen[3] SquarePants (née BubbleBottom[4]) is SpongeBob's mother and Harold's wife. Unlike SpongeBob, who is a squared-off tube sea sponge, Margaret and her husband are designed as round sea sponges. Although both SpongeBob and his parents are modeled after real-life species of sea sponges, it has not been explained why they are different kinds.

The decision to have SpongeBob's parents resemble round sea sponges was a reference to SpongeBob's original design.[citation needed]

Description[]

Round sea sponges

Round sea sponges in real life. SpongeBob's parents were both designed to look like them.

She’s an orange sea sponge with light brown pores and light blue eyes. She has black hair and wears a purple matchbox dress with matching sleeveless pantalettes with purple high heels, red lipstick, red and blue bracelets and a pearl necklace.

Biography[]

She was born as Margaret BubbleBottom to Mr. and Mrs. BubbleBottom.

She married Harold SquarePants and took his surname.

She and Harold had one known child, named SpongeBob SquarePants.

She once told SpongeBob to never run with a broom.[5]

She now lives only with her husband since SpongeBob moved out.

Role in series[]

"Home Sweet Pineapple"[]

She and her husband come to pick up SpongeBob after nematodes eat his pineapple house.

"Culture Shock"[]

Margaret and Harold watch their son (among others) perform at the Krusty Krab talent show.

"No Free Rides"[]

Margaret and Harold give their son a boatmobile for "passing" his driver's test.

"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV"[]

After SpongeBob shrinks everyone in Bikini Bottom, she is seen in the jar amidst everyone else, telling him that he needs to admit his mistakes.

"Driven to Tears"[]

She and Harold seem disappointed that SpongeBob does not have his driver's license, seeing that even Patrick has a license.

"New Digs"[]

Margaret and Harold come to visit SpongeBob ever since he started living at the Krusty Krab. The owner of the restaurant, Template:Mr. Krabs, finds a floral-print shower curtain in his office that he finds to be effeminate. Unaware that she is showering behind it and fed up with SpongeBob's additions to his newly-assumed living space, Mr. Krabs tears the curtain away to find Margaret in the middle of showering. Her frightened yells get the attention of her husband who, misinterpreting the situation, angrily beats Mr. Krabs.

"Sing a Song of Patrick"[]

Harold and Margaret are seen in a photo hung on SpongeBob's wall. When Patrick blasts his song "I Wrote This," the photo comes to life and Harold swipes the photograph of him and his wife behind the wall out of disapproval for the song.

"BlackJack"[]

BlackJack invited Margaret and Harold to a party to celebrate his release from prison following a littering charge. However, due to an infestation of krill at the couple's house, they instead hold festivities at BlackJack's, aware in the meantime that their family portrait was mishandled by a fumigator. SpongeBob is invited to the same party, and when he finally gets to BlackJack's house hears Margaret scream. As this follows a series of misunderstandings, SpongeBob charges in to his parents' "rescue," only to find that they were not actually in danger. They explain the krill infestation and that the screams he heard followed Margaret dropping and breaking a glass. She, her husband, and their son are amused that BlackJack has shrunken in size.

"A SquarePants Family Vacation"[]

She drives SpongeBob and Patrick to the Great Barrier Reef as part of the vacation.

"SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout"[]

She and her husband attend their son's birthday party. She remarks to Harold on how their son has a variety of friends after seeing many guests show up to the house.

"Ma and Pa's Big Hurrah"[]

She and her husband make a return in the episode, and it reveals that they live a retirement home community named Avocondo Acres. Their avocado house rots and has to live with SpongeBob until a new avocado home grows again.

Margaret is excited to spend time with SpongeBob, but he acts like a stick in the mud because he’s worried that his parents will disapprove of his goofy behavior. Although put-off, Margaret agrees to participate in SpongeBob's boring activities, culminating in a 4 PM bedtime. She sneaks out of the house to party with Harold, and when they return, SpongeBob gets angry at them. Wanting to have fun, Margaret entices SpongeBob to toilet paper Squidward's house, takes him to a Lucha Libre wrestling match and a roller rink, and skate wild all around Bikini Bottom. Fed up with their immature behavior, SpongeBob snaps at his parents, destroys his house in the process and falls asleep in his father’s arms. His parents take him back to Avocondo Acres while his pineapple grows back.

Trivia[]

  • "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV" is the only episode where Margaret SquarePants is seen without her husband.
  • In "A SquarePants Family Vacation," it is revealed that she likes knitting.
Pizza Delivery and Home Sweet Pineapple credits

An example of Margaret SquarePants being credited as "Mom."

  • In the closing credits, she has been listed variously as "Mom," "Ma Sponge" and "Mrs. SquarePants."
  • In older seasons up to "The Slumber Party," she appeared wearing a purple pillbox hat. Starting in "Truth or Square" and onward, she now appears wearing a black hat which is the same color as her hair.
  • According to Sirena Irwin, her voice is inspired by June Cleaver from the 1957 sitcom, Leave It to Beaver.[6]


References[]

  1. ^ The SpongeBob Musical
  2. ^ "A SquarePants Family Vacation." SpongeBob SquarePants. Nickelodeon. November 11, 2011. Television.
  3. ^ Q&A section of the official SpongeBob SquarePants website for New Zealand
  4. ^ "Whelk Attack." SpongeBob SquarePants. Nickelodeon. October 2, 2010. Television.
  5. ^ "Gary's New Toy." SpongeBob SquarePants. Nickelodeon. October 14, 2012. Television.
  6. ^ SpongeBob BingePants episode 42 - Sirena Irwin: The Many Voices of Bikini Bottom
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