32 pages • 1 hour read
Dav PilkeyCaptain Underpants
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 1997A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
George Beard and Harold Hutchins
George and Harold are the book’s protagonists. They are fourth-grade students and best friends. George loves to make up stories; he especially enjoys writing episodes about the superhero Captain Underpants. Harold loves to draw; he illustrates the comics that George writes. Both boys love jokes and pranks, which land them in trouble with Mr. Krupp.
At the beginning of the book, George and Harold do not face the consequences of their actions. By the end, they show growth by rescuing Captain Underpants—the product of their greatest prank—from outlandish situations.
Even after their transformation, the boys continue to be fun-loving. Through them, Pilkey emphasizes that Mischief and Silliness Are Essential to Childhood.
Mr. Krupp
Krupp is the principal at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. He is a cruel leader who harshly disciplines the students he is supposed to be protecting. He is a foil to the fun-loving George and Harold, as he despises children, laughter, and joy.
Through Krupp, Pilkey explores the theme of Adults as Villainous Antagonists. He suggests that adults lose their sense of fun and magic as they age. Krupp stands in opposition to all that Pilkey holds out as valuable: silliness, mischief, and humor.
While Krupp himself does not seem to undergo significant development, his alter ego, Captain Underpants, epitomizes all that he despises. This suggests that Krupp—like other adults who have lost their joy—may still be childlike deep down.
Captain Underpants
Captain Underpants is George and Harold’s creation. He is the star of their comic book series: The Adventures of Captain Underpants, which is very popular at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. When George and Harold hypnotize Krupp, they jokingly instruct him to take on the persona of Captain Underpants. He does so, and runs into the city to fight crime. George and Harold have to follow Captain Underpants, and save him. In doing so, the trio also saves the world.
Captain Underpants epitomizes all that Krupp despises: mischief, humor, and silliness. George and Harold don’t have to do much to get Krupp to transform into Captain Underpants, suggesting that Krupp wants to transform. Captain Underpants retains his hold on Krupp’s psyche when George pours water on his head, paving the way for subsequent books.
Doctor Diaper
Doctor Diaper is a satirical and tongue-in-cheek version of a scheming, evil, mastermind villain, the kind often seen in comic books. His sinister tone and plans to take over the world are belied by his very unterrifying appearance: He is a tiny man who wears only a diaper. In line with the book’s toilet humor—a recurring motif—Doctor Diaper is easily distracted when the boys use rubber dog poo to make him think that he has soiled himself. Though he is a villain, Captain Underpants and the boys don’t kill him, but save him from the explosion. This suggests that the world of the book—though filled with masterminds and diabolical principals—is fundamentally good.
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By Dav Pilkey
