Character: Edna Krabappel, voiced by the late Marcia Wallace
First Appearance: Bart the Genius (S01, E02-002)
Occupation: Edna was the 4th grade teacher at Springfield Elementary
General Demeanor
Edna was often depicted in one of two manners while in school - sometimes she's depicted to be as lethargic and defeated as other teachers at the school such as 2nd grade teacher Ms. Hoover, but more often than not she's shown to be someone who still really cares about the success of her students, even those who are hard to keep showing faith in such as Bart Simpson. As such, she was also shown to be very passionate about her profession. Edna wasn't afraid to stand up for herself if threatened, though she had gone into bouts against depression from time to time as well. Edna was also a chain smoker perhaps because of her past depression and/or the stress from her job.
Krabappel was separated from her first husband, whose name and origins remain mostly unknown, though Edna kept using her husband's last name. In many instances in the show's early run, Edna's desire for a partner is a focus, though that partner can vary between "romantic" and "one night stand".
At one point, Edna started dating the meek Principal Skinner, during this time Edna remains devoted to Seymour. Eventually, however, Edna became tired of Skinner's priorities towards his mother as well as his lack of overall courage and broke up with him. In several episodes afterwards (and in the movie), jokes are made over how over Edna was of Seymour.
Lastly, Edna started a relationship with Ned Flanders, with the latter willing to forgive Edna's "loose" past and Edna willing to forgive Ned for making it a big deal in the first place. The two got married soon afterwards, but that little bit of continuity ended with Wallace's passing.
Key Character Moments
The Rise of the Simpsons
Edna was introduced as Bart's teacher in Bart the Genius, however Edna's character doesn't really shine until Season 2's opener Bart Gets an F, where Edna seems to have no choice but to fail Bart in history until an emotional Bart is able to unwittingly recall a historical fact, leaving Edna to allow Bart to pass by the slimmest of margins.
Although Edna is happy for Bart, later in the season in Lisa's Substitute, Edna is more than happy to see teacher's pet Martin Prince win class president over challenger Bart.
The Golden Age of the Simpsons
Another key moment of Edna's character development occurs in Season 3's Bart the Lover, where Bart is punished by Edna after he destroys the class fish tank with a yo-yo. Seeking revenge, Bart comes across a personal ad Edna had put in the newspaper and decides to concoct a fake boyfriend to seduce Edna with. To complete the plan, Bart has the boyfriend "invite" Edna to dinner, but when seeing the since-stilted Edna in tears at the restaurant, Bart feels guilty for his actions and, with the help of the family, is able to write a goodbye letter to help the lovelorn Edna move on.
Edna plays a notable role in Season 4's Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie, as she advises Homer and Marge to become strict with Bart's punishment and by doing so, he may one day become the chief justice of the supreme court.
In Season 6's The PTA Disbands!, Edna leads a teacher's strike after she can no longer deal with Principal Skinner's endless budget cuts. With no resolution in sight and both Simpson children left unamused with their civilian substitutes, Bart and Lisa force Skinner and Edna to come to a compromise - which comes in the form of renting out closet space to the town's prison system.
In Season 8's Grade School Confidential, Edna and Skinner develop feelings for one another born from each other's isolation. The two attempt to keep their relationship private but Bart knows about it - the two try to keep him silent through a deal but abuse the deal far too often, leaving Bart to out the two to the other schoolchildren. With those kids spreading rumors that Edna and Seymour were "making babies" the two are forced to resign, until a regretful Bart convinces the two to barricade themselves inside the school until the truth is awkwardly known. The two then resume their relationship though they tell Bart otherwise to keep him off of them.
The Fall of the Simpsons
In the ever-controversial The Principal and the Pauper, Edna along with basically everyone else are stunned to learn that Skinner was impersonating a war veteran who was just released from a POW camp. "Armin Tamzarian" as the Principal was once known by, leaves town to let the real Skinner resume his life, but Edna refuses to let the weenie leave her life and she along with Agnes Skinner and Marge convince Armin to come back.
Zombie Simpsons
Edna's role is limited for multiple seasons after that up until Season 14's Special Edna. Edna, upset that Seymour constantly pays more attention to his mother than her, gets her spirits lifted when Bart is successfully able to nominate her for teacher of the year. With the winner getting a hefty cash prize, Skinner is worried Edna will win and thus quit teaching - and him, and goes to Orlando to save his relationship with Edna. After some failed trickery, Skinner mans up and admits his faults before proposing to Edna, who gladly accepts...
...but then in Season 15's My Big Fat Geek Wedding, Edna overhears that Skinner is getting cold feet in the days leading up to the wedding. Realizing that Skinner just will never commit to her, she ditches him at the alter. On the rebound, Edna starts going out with the comic book guy and is even willing to marry him at the next Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con. Skinner infiltrates the convention to stop it, but Edna has emotionally recovered and breaks up with both men.
Season 17's The Seemingly Never-Ending Story introduces more backstory for Edna. Some time previously, Edna arrives into town having just split from her husband. The bus hits Moe Szyslak, and a concerned Edna cares for him, though her newfound hatred for her drunk husband and anything related to alcohol - including bars - makings courting Edna a difficult task for the always-desperate Moe. Moe is able to acquire money and plans on leaving town with Edna, but Edna decides to go to the school first to submit her resignation. However, Edna realizes she can't leave as she comes across a (likely acting) Bart Simpson whom Edna decides she needs to stick around and help teach. In the present, its revealed the entire story was being told by Bart to Skinner to get out of trouble, a story which is validated when Skinner sees Edna willing to let Moe go one more round with her.
Zombie Simpsons HD
Edna's teaching styles do not mix well with 21st century-style kids and in Season 21's Bart Gets a Z, takes away her class' cellphones she can actually teach them. Upset, Bat and the class decides to make Edna "more fun" like Homer by spiking Edna's coffee, getting her drunk enough to make a fool of herself publicly, getting her fired. Once again, Bart feels bad for what he's done and tries to help Edna start a new life through a self-help book. Edna is able to start up a cupcake bakery, but upon learning Bart was behind Edna's firing, she refuses to forgive him as teaching remains her one true love. Bart decides to try and get Edna's replacement fired - but the replacement does a good job at doing that himself. Edna is given back her job for some reason, and she gives her class stale muffins as revenge for what they put her through.
The Ned-liest Catch, the Season 22 finale, attempts to pair up Edna with the widowed Ned Flanders. Ned learns of Edna's past with basically every other man in town, but is willing to forgive Edna for those transgressions. Edna takes offense at this, and defends her past against Ned. As the two wonder whether their relationship will work out, the ultimate decision is left by fans to vote online as to whether "Nedna" should be an actual thing or not. Eventually, its revealed in the Season 23 opener that it would be.
Later in Season 23, in Ned 'n Edna's Blend, its revealed that the two have since married. Edna, though is worried about the development of Ned's two sons, Rod and Todd as their current Christian school is really sheltered from real life. Edna decides to enroll the two into Springfield Elementary instead, leaving Ned aghast at how public school has already influenced the two boys. The two are unable to agree on the issue, but after seeing how Homer and Marge don't necessarily agree on everything, Ned calms down and apologizes to Edna, willing to give her idea another shot.
With the passing of Marcia Wallace, who voiced only Edna Krabappel, the producers of the show have since retired the character much like the characters of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure were retired upon Phil Hartman's untimely death.
Season 25's The Man Who Grew Too Much gave Edna a final epilogue, in the episode's own epilogue. Edna does have a couple of lines, which implies that Marcia Wallace would be posthumusly credited for her role in this episode. The epilogue notes that, at the very least, Edna is 'gone' - and the audience can determine whether that means her character has died or not - and that Ned is once again left without a wife. Making good on the retirement of the character, Edna Krabappel has since not appeared in the show even as a cameo background character. A couple of episodes have tried to give Bart's 4th grade class a new teacher, including Season 26's Blazed and Confused, but none of that has been permanent, at least thus far.
Must Watch Episodes That Focus on Edna Krabappel
Bart Gets an F
Bart the Lover
The PTA Disbands!
Grade School Confidential
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