The Simpsons manages to blend comedy with pathos, having done so with incredible effectiveness over the course of thirty-plus years. This extends to backstories for almost all of the nominally goofy main characters, including a tragic story on unwilling abandonment at the heart of one of the show’s lead characters, Homer. Homer’s mother Mona become one of The Simpsons‘ best characters and brought a new level of depth to Homer.
Mona Simpson infrequently appeared throughout the series, most notably played by the Academy Award-nominated actor Glenn Close. After meeting Abe and falling in love with him while working near an United States Air Force Base (as revealed in Season 26’s “Let’s Fly A Coot”), Mona married him and had a son — Homer. However, their marriage suffered over time, with episodes like Season 28’s “Fatzcarraldo” showing their attempts to seek counseling failing. Season 10’s “D’oh-in’ in the Wind” and Season 17’s “Homer’s Paternity Coot” even hinted she had affairs during this time.
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Despite this, Mona has always been portrayed as a loving mother to Homer, treating him with a wealth of kindness and sweetness. Season 7’s “Mother Simpson” delved into the topic fully, revealing that when Homer was still a child she finally grew disillusioned with her husband and became a part of the hippie movement. However, one of their protests destroyed Mr. Burns‘ germ research lab. Mona was the only member of the group identified (because she stopped to help an injured Burns), forcing her to go on the run to avoid jail. Although she gave Homer a tearful goodbye while he slept, she left with no good feelings for Abe and departed into the night.
Furious that Mona had run out, Abe told Homer that Mona had died rather than reveal the truth. The loss of his mother greatly affected Homer, with Season 29’s “Forgive and Regret” revealing a furious Abe even tried to get rid of the pie recipes/sweet notes Mona had left to Homer as a means of remembering her. It’s been suggested Mona’s departure left Abe an increasingly bitter man, with this affecting his relationship with his son.
Homer wouldn’t learn the full story until he was well into his adulthood. After faking his death to get out of work, Homer was surprised to find Mona had returned to pay her respects to the son she thought had died. The two reconnect, and Mona became close with Homer’s family. But Burns eventually learned of her return, and she ran again.
Mona returned in Season 15’s “My Mother the Carjacker” and was acquitted for her crimes following an impassioned plea from Homer. But Burns was able to ensure her arrest for a separate crime, leading Homer desperate to help her escape. Mona seemingly died in the incident, something Homer had trouble accepting. In reality, she had survived and returned one more time in Season 19’s “Mona Leaves-a.” Having grown exhausted with the emotional rollercoaster of reconnecting with his mother to just see her leave, Homer initially refused to accept her back into his life. But by the time he overcame his hang-ups, she’d passed away while sitting next to the fireplace.
Homer spread her ashes, inadvertently helping her complete one last mission to hinder Mister Burns. Homer finally got the chance to fully say goodbye to his mother in Season 23’s “How I Wet Your Mother,” where Homer and the rest of the family used a device constructed by Professor Frink to take an Inception-inspired tour through Homer’s mind. Along the way, Homer was confronted with memories of his mother and accepted she will always be a part of him.
Upon her introduction, Mona was one of the most tragic figures in the history of The Simpsons. “Mother Simpson” is often considered one of the most emotionally resonant moments in the entire series. The tragedy of Homer growing up without a mother — under the harsh and openly bleak care of Abe — may play a part in why he fights so hard for his own family. Mona even passed away in a manner Homer almost once did in Season 2’s “One Fish, Two Fish, Blow Fish, Blue Fish” — sitting in front of the fire, alone but surrounded by family.
Perhaps most impressively, Mona brings out a melancholy hurt in Homer, who is normally just depicted as a comical oaf. It’s rare Homer gets to be the emotionally complex member of the cast, but his mutual love and distrust of his mother’s ability to not hurt him gave her later appearances — which don’t reach the same level of pathos as her first — an emotional punch that still proves effective. Homer’s complicated relationship with his mother shapes him as a father, hinting at an explanation for why he wants to be a good parent, even if he often fails.
The Simpsons stars the voices of Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria. New episodes air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.