There are many characters in the SpongeBob Squarepants TV show. These characters share many traits, but they also have their share of differences. Eugene Krabs and Squidward Tentacles are a great example. Mr. Krabs is the owner of the successful fast-food restaurant, the Krusty Krab, where Squidward works as a cashier. One similarity the two share is that they are seen as intellectual creatures in Bikini Bottom, unlike SpongeBob and Patrick who are seen as, for lack of a better term, "idiots". Squidward and Mr. Krabs both seek happiness, but what makes them happy are two different things. Squidward appreciates luxury items and Mr. Krabs is influenced by money. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Squidward is a relatively dark character on the show, but finds pleasure in beautiful things. He enjoys playing the clarinet, painting self-portraits and reading about luxurious villas. His lifestyle is reminiscent of the ideas of the German philosopher Arthur Schophenauer. Schophenauer had a very sad view of life, he says that life “is not only miserable, but meaningless”. The philosopher said that there is no purpose in anyone's actions as we have no understanding of the world around us. This would explain why Squidward always seems so down in the dumps, feeling like everything he does is useless. Schophenauer also says that desire causes misery because people don't have what they want and struggle to get it. We can also see this in Squidward's life. Squidward desperately wants to get noticed as an artist, becoming a famous painter or a clarinettist. When he feels like he's not being recognized as an artist, he loses his temper and takes his anger out on anyone he can find. Desire never disappears, there will always be something we desire until the day we die. In Squidward's case, he will never be satisfied, even if he becomes a famous artist or clarinettist. However, it's not his fault; this is simply human nature. Schophenauer says this is due to what he calls will. He says that will is what influences everyone's decisions. Therefore, will is what drives people to want more than they can get. The lifelong search for something that is unattainable is what Schophenauer believes makes life miserable. The will of two people can compete with each other and cause even more unhappiness. Think of all the times Squidward has been doing something he loves but is interrupted by SpongeBob and Patrick who are trying to pursue their own happiness. This is known as bellum omnium, which is the struggle between people. This is why Schophenauer says that happiness is unattainable, because for a person to be truly happy, the desires of others must not cause problems for their own. There is a positive side to Schophenauer's beliefs, however. He says there is optimism through art, in what he calls the artistic perspective. His reasoning is simple: when an artist draws or paints something that everyone can see, he is not using his own will. They are based solely on a general idea, so nothing is left to perception and therefore there is nothing to be desired from the painting. Schophenauer says music expresses emotions in a way that's disconnected from the things in life that cause unhappiness. For example, the tone of some music is dark and sad, but there is also music that is happier and makes you happy when you listen to it. Music can change your mood. If something bad happens to you or you're just having a bad day, listening to an upbeat song can cheer you up, even if only for about three or four minutes at a time. Music has the same effect.