Bart the General
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Template:Infobox Simpsons episode Bart the General was the fifth non short Simpsons episode released on television. “Bart the General” has aired 4 times in the US.
- February 4, 1990
- April 8, 1990
- July 22, 1990
- January 22, 1995
The episode deals with Bart's troubles with the school bully, Nelson Muntz. It is the first episode containing Grampa Simpson. We also meet Herman, the man who owns the military antiques store, for the first time.
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Synopsis
Bart gets into a fight with Nelson, the school bully, while protecting the cupcakes that Lisa baked for Miss Hoover. Nelson beats up Bart after school and warns him to expect the same treatment the following day. At home, Homer advises Bart to fight dirty, while Marge suggests that he try to reason with Nelson. Choosing Homer's advice, Bart confronts Nelson, but is beaten up again. This time, he turns to the toughest member of the Simpson family, Grampa Simpson.
Grampa introduces Bart to Herman, a crazed veteran who runs an army surplus store. Herman declares war on Nelson and instructs Bart on a full-assault strategy. Bart gathers other kids at school who have been traumatized by Nelson and enlists them as troops. As Herman commands from the field, Bart leads them into battle. Cornering Nelson and his thugs, they commence firing water balloons.
Terrorized, the thugs surrender. Nelson is taken prisoner, but he threatens to kill Bart as soon as he is untied. Afterwards, Herman drafts an armistice from an authentic treaty, which Bart and Nelson agree to sign. Marge enters with cupcakes, and peace prevails.
Bart's "daydreams" about Nelson
Prior to his confrontation with Nelson, Bart has two "daydreams" where he worries about a potentially brutal outcome. Those daydreams are as follows:
First daydream
Bart is walking down the hall when Nelson begins chasing him. Bart attempts to use various means to ward off the fast-growing Nelson - knives, a spray of machine gun bullets, etc. - all of them failing to faze the bully. Eventually, Nelson grows into a Goliath-like terror and corners Bart. Nelson easily picks up Bart, shouts out, "Lunchtime!" and swallows him whole.
Second daydream
Later, Bart - Nelson having reminded Bart that he expects him for his after-school beating - envisions his funeral. Bart's entire class, his friends, Principal Skinner and his family take their turns at the casket, saying their goodbyes. Skinner remarks the nurse "did a wonderful job" reconstructing his face after his fatal run-in with Nelson (implying the fight was particularly brutal). Homer gleefully celebrates his "day of mourning" until Marge corrects him, while Lisa tearfully places a cupcake in Bart's casket and wishes she had handled her earlier run-in with Nelson differently. Nelson oafishly grabs the cupcake, punches the corpse and walks off.
Cultural references
- War movies - several war movies are parodied or homaged in various scenes throughout the episode:
- Full Metal Jacket - The scene where the "trainees" do pull-ups and other exercises on a jungle-gym-type structure as the sun sets in the background.
- The Longest Day - The shot of the GI helmet resting on its top while Nelson and his goons try to escape
- Patton - Several lines of dialogue, Bart slapping one of his soldiers (for "being a disgrace") and the music are lifted directly from the movie.
- Stripes - Herman running up and jabbing the training dolls with his bayonet, just like in the movie.
- Life magazine V-J Day photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in New York's Times Square - One of Bart's "soldiers" grabs Lisa and passionately kisses her, the moment preserved on film. The pose of both the boy and Lisa are identical to the famous photograph shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt.
- ABC Afterschool Special and CBS Schoolbreak Special - Bart's post-episode speech, where he warns about the dangers of war and recommends further reading on the topic, pays homage to those "after school specials."
- Nuremburg trials - The cronies' comments, "We were only following orders," effectively summarize those of Adolf Hitler's former Nazi leaders during the trials.
- Peace treaties – Various peace treaties (and events surrounding them) are referenced in the armistice between Bart and Nelson:
- "Nelson recognizes Bart's right to exist" – Much like Palestine recognizing Israel's right to exist.
- "Nelson is never again to raise his fists in anger" – Germany and Japan having to eliminate their offensive armies; and Japanese emperor Hirohito being forced to renounce his claims of being the arahitogami (or, living god).
- Nelson "agreeing" to sign the armistice – similar to Germany signing the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.
Trivia
- Lisa calls her teacher "Mrs. Hoover" instead of "Miss Hoover."
- During their first "fight," Nelson hits Bart twelve times in the face before he knocks Bart out.
- In Herman's model of the town, he misspells the "Kwik-E-Mart" as "Quick-E-Mart."
- There are African shields and spears in Herman's antique shop.
Memorable quotes
- Grampa:: I thought I was too old. I thought my time had passed. I thought I'd never hear the screams of pain, or see the look of terror in a man's eyes. Thank heaven for children!
- Nelson: You made me bleed my own blood.
- Bart: Contrary to what you've just seen, war is neither glamorous nor fun. There are no winners; only losers. There are no good wars, with the following exceptions: the American Revolution, World War II, and the Star Wars Trilogy. If you'd like to learn more about war, there's lots of books in your local library, many of them with cool gory pictures.
- Marge: Well Bart, I hope you're going straight to the principal about this.
Bart: I guess I could do that.
Homer: What? And violate the code of the schoolyard? I'd rather Bart die...
Marge:(interrupting) What on earth are you talking about, Homer?
Homer The code of the schoolyard, Marge. The rules that teach a boy how to be a man. Let's see... (counting on fingers) Don't tattle. Always make fun of those different from you. Never say anything unless you're sure everyone feel exactly the same way you do.
- Principal Skinner: Uh oh, there's your bell. Come along now, all of you. No dawdling, now.
Nelson: (to Bart) I'll get you after school man.
Bart: But-
Principal Skinner: Oh, no, no, no. He'll get you after school, son. Now hurry up, it's time for class.