The History of the Addams Family

What are the Addams Family? We’re glad you asked. In 1938, an American cartoonist Charles Addams developed The Addams Family as a parody of the ideal American family – they are eccentric, affluent, they revel in the macabre and the mysterious, and are completely oblivious to the fact that they look strange to others. 

 

Addams Family Series Overview

The original one-panel comics appeared in the New Yorker in the late 30’s of the last century, and they really caught on. They later spawned a two-season television program (1964-1966), and even though it was short-lived, its influence lasted well past its initial run. The renowned spooky family also made an appearance in a Scooby Doo crossover episode.

In the 1990s, the Addams Family film series of two full-length movies was released (first in 1991, second in 1993). The second film in the series, Addams Family Values, earned positive reviews from reviewers but did not have the same level of box office success as the first film. In 2019 we saw another installment of the spooky family, animated this time, to modest success, and most recently Tim Burton himself has got involved to produce a brand new Netflix TV show, Wednesday, focusing on one Addams family member in particular, Wednesday Addams.

Addams Family Members 

There are 9 prominent characters to speak of – let’s get to know them with the help of Family Tree and a  Family tree chart maker.

Gomez Addams

Gomez Addams, the family’s patriarch, may have a slightly ominous appearance, but he is a cheerful individual who exudes enthusiasm and wears a bright smile. He also exudes a strong sense of optimism and appears unconcerned (perhaps due to the enormous wealth he has). Given that his investment ideas lack the reasoning and approaches that many investors use, Gomez appears to be pretty lucky his wealth is still intact. Either way, Gomez is undoubtedly the liveliest character of the family.

Morticia Addams

Morticia, the matriarch of the family, seems to be the family’s mastermind and the thing holding the family together. What makes this character so unique is that, despite her cold and unsettling outward appearance, sometimes even resembling that of a ghost, she’s still got a nurturing and loving attitude about her. Morticia definitely makes up for all the weird things her family does by being incredibly dependable and composed. And this is mainly why she is regarded as some of the best parental figures in cinema.  

Pugsley Addams

Pugsley Addams is Gomez and Morticia’s son, and, depending on the character’s iteration, he’s either the elder or the younger sibling. His characteristics also change from one installment to another – sometimes he’s shown as a vile deviant child, shown committing various heinous acts, other times he’s much more light-hearted, yet still inventive. What doesn’t change, though, is his signature striped T-shirt.

Wednesday Addams

Wednesday from the Addams Family now enjoys more fame than ever. Unquestionably one of the most beloved characters among fans, she has gained an ever bigger following now that Jenna Ortega will be portraying her in Tim Burton’s upcoming television series. Wednesday is Gomez and Morticia’s daughter and her sarcasm, deadpan demeanor, and sadistic beliefs are what makes her tick.

Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester is a character that is easily recognized thanks to his bald head, bulging eyes, and gigantic black coat with enormous collars. The character is a crucial element to the family because of his eccentric, macabre, and bizarre behaviors, such as keeping falcons on the roof or fishing with dynamite, which adds to the family’s sinister atmosphere while also leaving the audience perplexed.

Grandmama 

Grandmama has appeared in numerous iterations of the Addams Family, and her relation to the family member is a debate, since it’s rarely specified whether she’s Gomez’ or Morticia’s mother. She is a witch that adores making all sorts of potions and casting magical spells. And if that’s not enough, she’s also known to delve into casual knife throwing and fortune telling.

Cousin Itt

Cousin Itt (sometimes spelled as “Cousin It”) is a Gomez Addams’ cousin, though it is uncertain how closely connected the two are. He is short-statured and has long hair that covers his entire body from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. He is notable for speaking in an obnoxious, incomprehensible babble that only his family seems to be able to understand. Cousin Itt is also a parent to a child named What.

Lurch 

The gaunt, towering, ghoulish-appearing butler Lurch is another non-family member who plays a significant role in the mythology of this spooky family. He helps around the house, and although he does occasionally fail certain tasks due to his immense size and strength, the Addamses still find him to be quite a find. Most notably, Lurch is exceptional at waxing Uncle Fester’s head and making the kids laugh. 

Thing 

Thing was originally a creature that was allegedly so scary-looking that only the character’s human hand was shown to save the audience from its terror. However, in the later installments, Thing is just a disembodied hand that, just like Lurch, helps the family around the house – fetching the mail, handing and lighting cigars, changing TV channels are some of Thing’s favorite things to do.

Conclusion

The Addams Family shows us that “normal” is subjective and that appearances can be deceiving. Besides, they give us a chance to embrace our own weirdness, gloom, and the spookier aspects of life, which is a big part of what makes them so entertaining. And even though the Addams family is quite large, each of its members is surely fascinating and memorable. 

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