The Spongebob SquarePants Movie (2004) draws from the hero archetype, by way of the Odyssey’s plot, to criticize traditional standards of maturity, proposing a modern definition that concerns emotional development instead of physical development. 

The hero archetype has been notably recurrent throughout the human experience. This is due to the almost universal sense of familiarity in the theme of an immature boy breaking away from a childish demeanor to mature into a powerful man. 

Since the advent of popularized writing, because of this universal familiarity, the hero archetype has been seen in all corners of the world. Examples stretch from 8th century BCE in Homer’s Iliad to modernized adaptations exemplified in the Harry Potter saga.

The Spongebob SquarePants Movie jokingly emulates this concept of a hero’s odyssey to show that Spongebob will forever be immature, even if it looks like he completed a “typical” hero’s journey. 

In case the plot does not ring a bell, in short, King Poseidon’s crown is stolen by antagonist Plankton to facilitate a takeover of Bikini Bottom. Spongebob, dejected as he was not hired to manage the Krusty Krab 2, feels he has the opportunity to find the crown, save the town, and become a man–quite the trifecta.

The movie makes many references to Homer’s epic to hammer home the point that Spongebob is on a traditional hero’s journey. These include King Posedion’s daughter Mindy who fills a role analogous to Athena, a bag of winds as a means of transportation to return home, a potentially deadly run-in with a cyclops, and the constant usage of disguises.

Mindy tries every trick in the book to push Spongebob out of his adolescence into an honorable benefactor who rescues the town from Plankton. However, through every attempt to force Spongebob’s emotional maturity, he readily sinks back into his juvenile ways.

In her most gallant attempt, Mindy has Spongebob close his eyes to place a goofy strip of seaweed on his face to seemingly mimic a mustache. Spongebob immediately surges on a high, convinced he has reached manhood, causing him to run through obstacles he never would have faced previously. This high comes to an abrupt halt as soon as it falls off, exemplifying Sponegbob’s belief that maturation is a material and not emotional change.

The theme of disguise in the Odyssey was to persuade others, evident through Odysseus’s suitor fooling old-man disguise. In stark contrast, disguise in the Spongebob movie was not to deceive others but to mislead Spongebob himself.

The hero archetype can focus on a “rags to riches” storyline, where the trials and tribulations of one’s journey results in the proverbial “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow. At the end of the Odyssey, Telemachus is honorably included in his father’s plans to retake his mansion from the suitors. Similarly, Spongebob is offered the managerial position at the Krusty Krab 2 upon his arrival back home.

It is essential to speculate on why our society values this “rags to riches” mentality so greatly. The power of riches has a substantial impact on individuals, as our society values economic status so greatly. The Odyssey demonstrates that successful journeys result in material and emotional wealth, exemplified through Odysseus’ return to his mansion and wife.

The writers are choosing to expose the concept that going on some fantastical mission and rescuing a princess matures a subject. Maturation is much closer to home, like admitting mistakes, breaking bad habits, accepting vulnerability, etc. 

Telemachus, compared to his father, underwent substantial emotional changes through much less of a quest. This duality is seen first with his emotional breakdown in front of the elders and finished by his assistance in removing the suitors. The Spongebob movie shows us that Telemachus did not need to undergo some grandeur mission to grow.

As Williams Brown of the Atlantic puts it, “Being an adult is not about grand gestures, and it’s not about stuff that you can post on Facebook, it’s a quiet thing.”

Afterlives can often help readers view an original text in a new light. The Spongebob movie takes from the universally familiar hero archetype and the Odyssey’s storyline to criticize the centuries-long belief that maturation is proved through “killing a dragon in a cave.” This is substantial as the Spongebob SquarePants Movie demonstrates that modern times call for modern definitions, as it can be damaging to young boys to think maturation is defined by physical changes or a large and heroic journey.

Miles Mcdonald

Author

Hello! I am a current sophomore at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. My intended major is Political science. I am originally from Westport, CT.