I asked three different LLMs to write an analysis of Mrs. Puff from SpongeBob SquarePants, first without context or Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and then with supplemental context from the Fandom website and a YouTube video analysis. While all essays contained accurate information, they offered only broad, superficial summaries rather than in-depth analysis. This reflection highlights the limitations of LLMs in generating genuine critical thinking and uses Mrs. Puff as a case study to underscore the need for deeper analytical engagement.
For instance, some LLMs referred to her as “Mrs. Poppy Puff” or “Mrs. Penelope ‘Poppy’ Puff,” without even explaining her first name. While initially, this doesn’t seem like a big deal, for fans of the show, it kind of is. She’s only ever referred to as “Mrs. Puff” in the show. For an analytical paper, it should at least briefly discuss this. She was given the first name “Poppy” in a SpongeBob typing game, and not in the show. It wasn’t until the 13th season (2023) that it was revealed her first name is Penelope. For most characters, their full names are revealed to viewers early on, especially considering Mr. Krabs and Plankton are primarily referred to by their last names. We know Mr. Krabs’ first name is Eugene from early on in the show, and Plankton’s first name is revealed to be Sheldon in “Plankton’s Army.” Considering this, at least one of the LLMs should’ve stated when we learned her first name.
We can also observe how LLMs utilize summaries and broad analysis in papers. In the paper generated by Claude (without context), it says:
“One of the most compelling aspects of Mrs. Puff’s character is how the series portrays her gradual psychological deterioration. Early episodes show her as a relatively composed, if somewhat nervous, instructor. However, as the series progresses, we witness the cumulative effect of repeated traumatic experiences. She develops what can be interpreted as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder: hypervigilance around SpongeBob, anxiety attacks (manifested through her inflating), and an increasingly desperate desire to escape her situation.”
It’s an accurate description of the character, but where is the evidence? If I actually had to write a paper on this topic, I would’ve included details about her first appearance in the season 1 episode “Boating School.” It’s established in this episode that SpongeBob has taken the driving test 37 times before this moment, and Mrs. Puff’s demeanor is anxious, and rightfully so. SpongeBob also shows anxiousness, and from my own experiences driving my mother around, I know that an anxious driver can cause anxious passengers. SpongeBob crashes the boat, causing Mrs. Puff to inflate and be rushed to the hospital, and it’s safe to assume this isn’t the first time this has happened to her. But towards the end of the episode, Mrs. Puff sees SpongeBob’s “improvement” and shows pride towards him. He reveals that he cheated, and starts his usual anxious routine, which causes Mrs. Puff to stress out again, rightfully so. She’s totally valid in her reactions; this is his 39th test, and she thought that would be the last test, only to be disappointed once again. While anxiety has a negative connotation, Mrs. Puff’s feelings and reactions are warranted.
We also see in the Season 3 episode “The Bully” that Mrs. Puff shows compassion towards SpongeBob when he tells her that another student has been threatening him. Although she doesn’t go about confronting the student well, mentioning SpongeBob by name, she still demonstrates the responsible teacher role that cares for her students.
By Season 8, we see how much her mental state has deteriorated. In the episode “Demolition Doofus,” SpongeBob’s driving causes Mrs. Puff to inflate so harshly that she loses her inflation ability for good. She’s upset with him, rightfully so, but after visit after visit in the hospital, she’s had enough. So, she enlists him in the Demolition Derby, expecting him to die. After seeing SpongeBob defeat the competitors, she angrily gets into her own monster truck, hoping to kill him. While she’s rightfully upset with him, attempting to murder someone who admires him is a little too far.
There’s a lot more evidence I could use to back this argument up, but for right now, I’m not. You can see me using actual evidence that backs the claim that she experiences psychological deterioration throughout the series. Then I would tie that into mental illnesses and treatments, and why this matters to real life.
While LLMs can mention mental illnesses, they only do so when given context. After giving ChatGPT and Claude access to a YouTube video analysis on Mrs. Puff, did it mention PTSD and Paranoia, but it will only go into as much depth as you ask it to.
It’s also important to note that, while they can discuss mental illnesses, LLMs are NOT a reliable source for diagnoses. In this scenario, it’s okay because we’re talking about a fictional character. However, NEVER rely on an LLM for a medical diagnosis! If you feel that something is wrong, consult a medical professional!
Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that LLMs don’t analyze very well without context. Even with context, analysis is very surface-level. I actually researched a bit on why people may use ChatGPT as a therapist rather than a human, and while it can be helpful, any advice it gives is textbook level. Daniel Kimmel, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscientist at Columbia University, said that ChatGPT can identify a superficial problem and is only satisfied with a superficial explanation. Still, it doesn’t seem to go any deeper than that. He says, “ChatGPT deprived Michelle of one therapy’s gifts: curiosity.” For context, Michelle is a character he made up to experiment with (2023).
ChatGPT lacks curiosity, and as a result, doesn’t analyze information very deeply. And it’s because it doesn’t formulate questions it wants to answer. Yes, it can generate questions, but it typically knows the answer already, has the means to, or it simply doesn’t care because it doesn’t have feelings.
While an analytical paper isn’t therapy, the approach is similar. LLMs lack curiosity, so they don’t explore further since nothing intrigues them. I get it, LLMs sound very human and conversational, but they’re ultimately bots and experience no emotions.
Another thing I wanted to mention is that LLMs can also respond with something that seems like an analysis if you prompt them to. If I say to ChatGPT, “Let’s examine Mrs. Puff’s psychological deterioration step by step throughout the series,” I’ll get a response like this (you don’t have to read the whole thing):
1️⃣ Introduction: Mrs. Puff’s Baseline
- When we first meet Mrs. Puff (e.g., Boating School S1E4), she is already anxious but functional.
- She runs her school with a clear curriculum and genuinely tries to teach SpongeBob.
- Signs of stress:
- Nervous laughter
- Slight tremor in voice
- Exaggerated politeness even when frustrated
Interpretation:
Mrs. Puff likely has mild generalized anxiety already. She appears to cope by maintaining strict rules and teaching methods.
2️⃣ Repeated Exposure to SpongeBob’s Driving
- Episodes like No Free Rides and Boating School show SpongeBob crashing repeatedly, no matter what she does.
- She develops:
- Hyper-vigilance (startles at engine sounds)
- Avoidance (tries to cheat SpongeBob through school to get rid of him)
- Distorted thinking (believes she has no ethical choice except sabotage)
Interpretation:
Chronic, repeated trauma leads to learned helplessness—she feels there is no way to succeed ethically.
3️⃣ Emergence of Trauma Responses
- Episodes show classic PTSD-like traits:
- Flashbacks (Doing Time, where she imagines prison repeatedly)
- Intrusive thoughts (obsessing over SpongeBob’s license)
- Emotional numbing (flat, deadpan reactions after crashes)
Key episodes:
- Doing Time (S3E4): She imagines being arrested for SpongeBob’s crimes. She goes so far as to beg to stay in prison.
- Demolition Doofus: She explicitly says “SpongeBob… destroy me.”
Interpretation:
This is a clear escalation from anxiety to complex PTSD symptoms. She begins to associate freedom with punishment, prison with safety.
4️⃣ Institutionalization and Escape
- Canon reveals she has a criminal record and has been in hiding under a new identity (No Free Rides trivia, Krusty Love).
- Hints in Krusty Love that she’s used fraud to escape a past life.
- The SpongeBob fandom wiki suggests she is living in Bikini Bottom under witness protection or assumed identity.
Interpretation:
Mrs. Puff’s background suggests fugitive paranoia—always worried she’ll be caught. SpongeBob’s chaos triggers that fear.
5️⃣ Episodes of Complete Dissociation
- In Demolition Doofus, she actively encourages SpongeBob to kill her.
- She laughs manically as her boat school is destroyed.
- She has psychotic features—delusions that this plan will solve everything.
Interpretation:
This is a break from reality. She demonstrates suicidal ideation (wanting SpongeBob to kill her) and delusional planning.
6️⃣ Regression and Coping Attempts
- Despite these breaks, she reopens her school in later episodes.
- She oscillates between:
- “Normal” teaching persona (denial, suppression)
- Full-blown terror (when SpongeBob shows up)
Interpretation:
This cycle shows chronic trauma adaptation. She cannot leave the system that traumatizes her but cannot function in it sanely.
7️⃣ Fan Theory / Meta Reading
- Some fan analyses (e.g. YouTube essayists) argue:
- Mrs. Puff is a tragic figure gaslit by Bikini Bottom’s legal system, which refuses to revoke SpongeBob’s ability to test.
- She is forced into a loop she can’t escape, a metaphor for bureaucratic abuse.
📌 Psychological Diagnosis (Speculative)
Based on her progression:
✅ Generalized Anxiety Disorder (early seasons)
✅ PTSD/Complex PTSD (mid-series)
✅ Dissociative episodes / suicidal ideation (later seasons)
✅ Possible delusional disorder (encouraging murder)
Conclusion
Mrs. Puff’s psychological deterioration is one of the darkest SpongeBob subplots when analyzed seriously. She starts as an anxious but competent teacher and becomes a traumatized, desperate, self-destructive woman forced into an endless cycle of abuse by an absurd system.
This seems like a really good analysis. However, if I were a grader for this, I would want to see a lot more from the student.
So, you see, while it appears to be a well-developed analysis, it isn’t. It’s a summary with broad analysis. And professors who assign analytical papers can see that.
My point in all of this is that there is a time and place to use LLMs, and writing an entire paper for you isn’t one of them. In the best-case scenario, you get a mediocre grade because you didn’t actually analyze the topic. The worst-case scenario is that you get caught for cheating and receive a zero. Either way, you lose. And if you use LLMs to complete assignments, and you manage to get away with it, consider the disservice you are doing to yourself.
You are losing your creativity and critical thinking, which is a shame. It’s understandable to be overwhelmed with assignments, but professors understand this. It’s more respectable to ask for an extension or turn in the assignment late rather than cheat and lose your own thoughts and individuality. There are ways to work around excessive amounts of homework that don’t include LLMs, or at the very least, the entire assignment isn’t completed that way.
Additionally, professors are beginning to recognize when something is entirely generated. There are tools out there that can detect AI-generated text, and they’re continually improving. However, professors are also starting to see that AI-generated text often lacks curiosity, analysis, and emotional depth, even when attempts are made to humanize it. Human thought isn’t something that’s easily replicated. Even if you fear your thoughts are “wrong,” it’s still more creative than AI will ever be.
So, please, stop pretending that your professors are stupid and can’t notice when something is AI-generated. And stop doing a disservice to yourself! AI is a great tool for learning and studying, but when it’s the only thing you use, your brain becomes a waste of space.