The outrageous characters in SpongeBob SquarePants have spawned numerous fan theories, and one of the most intriguing (and eerily plausible) is the SpongeBob seven Deadly Sins theory. As the name suggests, some viewers have found similarities between the SpongeBob characters and the seven sins outlined in the Bible (Sloth, Gluttony, Pride, Lust, Greed, Envy, and Wrath). SpongeBob and co. have faced a near-limitless variety of circumstances, and this theory maintains that throughout their many whacky struggles and antics, they’ve each displayed qualities that align them with one of the 7 Deadly Sins. Here’s why the SpongeBob 7 Deadly Sins theory has gained so much traction, and why it actually adds to the show.
SpongeBob has, over the course of two decades, introduced viewers to some truly colorful characters, of which many have become main characters, such as SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick, their neighbor Squidward, their friend Sandy, and SpongeBob’s boss Mr. Krabs. Each of the SpongeBob characters has larger-than-life quirks and eccentricities. However, according to some viewers, these are actually a reflection of the SpongeBob seven deadly sins theory. The popular SpongeBob 7 Deadly Sins theory explains that each of the main characters, from Squidward Tentacles to the scientist Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob himself, represents one of the 7 Deadly Sins. And considering that there are seven primary characters on the show who’ve been around for years, it’s not as bizarre an idea as it seems on the surface. Here’s the SpongeBob seven sins theory explained.
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Which Deadly Sin Each SpongeBob Character Represents
The links in the SpongeBob 7 deadly sins theory are unnervingly easy to make. Patrick is Sloth, meaning excessive laziness – something Patrick is superb at to the point where he once got an award for doing absolutely nothing. Gary, SpongeBob’s pet snail, is also included as the representation of Gluttony, since Gary doesn’t really do much aside from eating (although he has shown high intelligence).
Plankton is Envy in the SpongeBob seven Deadly Sins theory, which is clear as his life revolves around stealing the Krusty Krab’s secret Krabby Patty formula. As for Plankton’s rival Mr. Krabs himself, he is of course the incarnation of Greed, which is marked by an excessive love for money and material things. Mr. Krabs lives for money and will do anything to get it, even if that means putting himself and others at risk
The ever-angry Squidward is Wrath in the SpongeBob seven deadly sins theory, which involves an uncontrollable hatred towards everything. Squidward hates almost everyone and everything in Bikini Bottom, except for himself and his clarinet. Sandy represents Pride, as she’s highly competitive, has a big ego, and is very proud of her Texas heritage (she even wrote a song about it).
Last but not least is SpongeBob himself, who according to the theory represents Lust. This term is usually understood as an excessive sexual desire, but others define it as an excessive love for others. That’s where SpongeBob falls, as he certainly shows an incredible amount of love for his friends (and for Spongebob‘s miserable Squidward, who doesn’t consider himself a friend of SpongeBob) to the point where it can be annoying to some. It could also be interpreted as SpongeBob having an intense desire to be loved no matter the consequences.
How The SpongeBob Seven Deadly Sins Theory Makes SpongeBob Better
The SpongeBob characters do share some traits that coincide with the seven deadly sins, but it’s unlikely that was done on purpose. Even between those who support the theory are some disagreements, especially regarding Squidward and Sandy, as some believe Squidward is pride and Sandy is wrath. Like with many other theories related to children’s TV content, this SpongeBob SquarePants one is more for fun than something to be taken as a fact – unless confirmed by a producer or writer. This is unlikely considering the show refuses to commit even to SpongeBob’s age, let alone the characters having set-in-stone personality traits that would tie them to a Bible passage.
SpongeBob SquarePants is artfully chaotic and can be viewed through different mental lenses. Kids’ shows aren’t usually open to interpretation, but the SpongeBob characters are so out there and left-field that it bucks the trend, and watching SpongeBob with the perspective that they’re the 7 Deadly Sins makes for some bizarre and amusing viewing. Given the anarchic nature of the show, it’s almost like the world of Bikini Bottom rewards the “Sins” (or at least never finds a way to truly reform the characters). When interpreted this way, SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and co. almost become a strange inversion of The Sandman’s Endless — immortal beings destined forever to embody an abstract concept.
On a deeper level, the idea of religious parallels hidden among the wholesale nonsense of SpongeBob SquarePants is hilarious. The show doesn’t even take the scientific accuracy of the marine life seriously, let alone bother with underlying complex themes. There are underwater fires, SpongeBob and Patrick catch Jellyfish in nets as a pastime, and there’s a crab with a teenage whale for a daughter. Despite having some real-life inspiration, SpongeBob SquarePants is objectively ridiculous, even more so when coupled with speculation around a hidden religious subtext. The theory adds an unintended layer of darkness that isn’t part of SpongeBob SquarePants but makes the show more fun and elevates its silliness.
The 7 Deadly Sins Comparison Isn’t The Darkest SpongeBob Theory
The internet is the perfect place to find dark fan theories about Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network’s most popular shows, as evidenced by some of the more unsavory SpongeBob theories out there. The SpongeBob 7 sins theory isn’t the only fan-made reinterpretation of the show, although it’s definitely one of the more marcarbre. However, the SpongeBob seven deadly sins theory isn’t the darkest — that award goes to the theory that Mr. Krabs is a cannibal.
The money-grubbing Mr. Krabs has found his main source of income in the Krabby Patty, to which there is a top-secret formula (the one Plankton is always trying to get his hands on). However, one fan theory posits that Mr. Krabs is actually a cannibal, and crab meat is what makes the Krabby Patty so special. This theory is further supported by the fact that there are literally no other crabs in Bikini Bottom.
Other dark SpongeBob fan theories have surfaced over the years. One theory posits that the SpongeBob characters all represent different forms of mental illness, with SpongeBob himself representing ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Another weird fan theory out there is that each SpongeBob character is on a different type of drug. This theory suggests SpongeBob is on shrooms, Mr. Krab is on cocaine, Squidward has a heroin addiction, and Patrick Starr is a cannabis enthusiast of Snoop Dogg proportions. All of these silly fan theories aside, the SpongeBob SquarePants seven Deadly Sins theory is definitely one of the darker ones on the roster.
Was SpongeBob Made With A Hidden Meaning?
SpongeBob SquarePants is an incredibly surreal show with some dark moments. Even if the SpongeBob seven deadly sins theory is just an intriguing thought exercise, many viewers have wondered if there’s a hidden meaning to the show. With such high levels of absurdist comedy, there are plenty of otherwise-nonsensical elements that could be explained if the SpongeBob SquarePants creator had in fact worked a deeper subliminal meaning into the show.
While this fanciful idea would be almost on-brand for the wild and whacky antics of SpongeBob SquarePants, theories like the seven deadly sins SpongeBob character comparisons are the closest the show gets to having any overarching metaphorical narrative beneath the episode-by-episode events. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by the late Stephen Hillenburg. While Hillenburg never got to give his thoughts on the SpongeBob seven deadly sins theory in an interview, he was candid about how he came up with SpongeBob in the first place — and it’s clear that trying to find any hidden meaning in his work is both severely overthinking it and not what he intended.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2016, Stephen Hillenburg explained how he came up with the idea for SpongeBob SquarePants while working on Rocko’s Modern Life, and how it was optioned as a show. Suffice to say, Nickelodeon wasn’t interested in SpongeBob because it had some deep hidden meaning like the seven sins theory. Hillenburg had a simple objective — make a fun kid’s show about a talking sea sponge. In fact, his wholesome desires for SpongeBob SquarePants as a character couldn’t be further away from the dark SpongeBob fan theories — “I wanted SpongeBob to love his job. I always imagined a kid going into McDonald’s and seeing a guy cooking and thinking it was the best job in the world: “You can eat hamburgers all the time!”.
Far from being the product of mental illness or him embodying a biblical sin, SpongeBob is perpetually happy because he’s inspired by the outlook of a child. The same is true of the other characters. Mr. Krabs isn’t pathologically obsessed with money because he’s a living manifestation of the sin of greed — he’s that way because, like with every SpongeBob SquarePants character’s larger-than-life personality, kids find it hilarious. The SpongeBob SquarePants seven deadly sins theory certainly adds an extra layer to the show, but it’s clear from Hillenburg’s own words that, when creating it, he wasn’t setting out to hide any subliminal metaphors among the twee and colorful antics of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward.