And Then Louis Stayed Until He’d Finished Showing Francis Every Shark In His Book.

In an earlier post, I talked about the lesser known sides of Spain. This post will focus on the more obvious, yet ironically ignored, positive aspects of his character. Spain has never been a plain character. The problem is that his personality is often watered down, either as a result of the anime or people choosing to selectively represent certain aspects of his personality.

That said, let’s go over some examples.

He’s not a cheerful ditz all the time: 

Ex: He didn’t take chibi Romano’s constant complaining without any resistance. On several occasions, Spain’s shown to be calling him an idiot.

Ex: He’s an emotional or “violent” drunk. It depends on which translation you have, but it pretty much conveys the same thing.

My translation is a bit different from the one above:

“As long as you keep him away from booze, and don’t get on his bad side, you should be fine.”

Ex: Prior to the strip, teenage Romano had a huge obsession with fantasizing about/ role-playing the medieval chivalric romance novels that he read. In comes Prussia, recklessly spouting out keywords that seem to trigger Romano’s obsession again, much to the latter’s dismay. Mother hen Spain quickly swoops in to give a deadly warning.

Ex: He melancholically looks back on his and France’s rough childhoods.

Ex: When the topic of discussions falls to what each nation is known for, Spain laments over being known for cows and tomatoes.

He’s more than capable of reading the atmosphere: 

Ex: His reaction to America after the Stock Market crashes in 1939.

Ex: He’s heartbroken when Veneziano chooses Austria over him during the Austrian War of Succession. The scene alludes to the fact that Spain was deeply saddened in the years following his divorce from Austria. Likewise, the way Spain revs up his cheery attitude in light of being rejected seems to be more of a defense mechanism, a guarded mask of emotions, than it is of his true personality.

I say this because Romano finds Spain weeping in the next panel.

Ex: He solemnly hints to Chibitalia of what’s to become of him right before he and his brother are both conquered.

His optimism is not out of sheer stupidity: 

It’s more like it’s a desperate sort of optimism. The way that Spain convinces himself to push forward with a smile is eventually internalized until he himself doesn’t even realize that what he’s doing is unrealistic and naive. As mentioned above, it’s also a coping mechanism.

Nonetheless, there are moments where he shows a deep awareness of his economic/ political situation.

Ex:There’s a clear recognition that he’s lost his international standing due to poverty.

Ex: Once again, his [desperate] optimism shines through in how he copes with his weakened economy. He sings songs, and acts happy…

…but he’s more than aware of how deep and serious his money problems are. He’s literally clinging to Germany, albeit for exaggerated humorous effect.

He may have a laid-back personality…

…but once he gets worked up about something, his passion replaces his typical lazing around.

Ex: He fought to have olive oil continually be marketed as a staple product of the EU.

Again, with Spain, it seems that the happiness he forces onto himself allows him to get too carried away in what he does (e.g., over-manufacturing and then causing a property bubble).

That’s why he comes off as naïve and a bit air-headed. You could even argue that it’s a slight dissociation from reality to help minimize any anxiety that he feels.

His constant smiling is also a play on the fact that the sun never set in the Spanish Empire.

He’s selfless:

Ex: Despite all the complaining and constant belittling that he had to endure with Romano, Spain still saves him from Turkey.

Ex: Spain spent all his money on improving Romano’s wardrobe. [Please note that Romano was too young to realize this]. Meanwhile, his own clothes were in tatters.

Ex: When Romano immigrates to America, Spain is the first person he calls. Their relationship is noted to be much deeper than the one Romano shares with Veneziano.

Immediately, Spain’s mother hen mode gets switched on as he asks Romano how he’s been and if he’s been eating well.

He also lets Romano know how proud he is of him working and taking responsibility for himself for once.

That said, it wouldn’t make sense for a character predicated on a stereotype of passion to be flat and static. He’s anything but.

Gilbert, no but yes 

I will never post a spooky selfie, Tumblr, but I will post the 2Ps with their beloved Pokémon 

i’ve been marathoning harry potter and i thought about pottertalia au’s the whole time

now all we need is italy rapping this and my life will be complete “Hit it doitsu! YO HEY PAPA, GIVE ME WINE BIAAATCH”

Remember that strip where Veneziano and Romano were yelling at eachother in Italian

And Germany was all like “I don’t know what they’re saying but it sounds bEAUTIFUL”

This could be a bit of a stretch, but I still think what I’m about to interpret engages the material in an interesting way. You can take it with however many grains of salt that you wish. Remember that there can always be both a figurative and literal element of what characters and objects symbolize – it’s not mutually exclusive.

Before I get into what America’s pets represent, it’s important to explain why America can see aliens, but not ghosts. This often confuses a lot of people, but if you refer to the strips, an implicit but nonetheless consistent logic is used.

England can see ghosts and fantastical creatures because approximately 70% of his people believe in them. At least, this is the figure provided in the strips, I can’t attest to how accurate that is. What’s most important is that this is used in the reasoning behind why Hima characterizes England to possess these abilities.

Since 23% of Americans believe in ghosts, America is unable to see them. Although, admittedly, this does seem to change as the strips become more recent along the timeline. [I’ll get into this in another post].

Similarly, because Americans do not believe in the fantastical with the small exception of Halloween, this is the only time where America is able to see magical creatures and ghosts.

Now, given that UFO’s are only “typically seen” in the US, it would follow that Americans possess stronger beliefs in aliens than they do with the supernatural. This would explain why America is friends with Tony, meanwhile England – whose people don’t possess such a high belief in aliens – is skeptical of Tony.

So…what do America’s pets potentially represent?

It’s not an uncommon trope for authors to make surrounding objects, people, or pets represent aspects of a character’s mind.

America’s Pet Whale: 

In that case, while America did go whale-hunting in Japan for commercial purposes, the whale he later befriends and adopts could also stand for his gluttony.

This meaning doesn’t only limit itself to America’s gorging appetite either.

It can also stand for America’s expansion and befriending of other nations at the expense of leaving England behind and turning his back on him.

Ex: When England hears that America is attempting to befriend a whale, he shyly offers to become his friend.

You can only guess what happens next.

Tony: 

If pets, or rather, familiars, represent the inner framework of a character’s mind, then Tony, as a being of space, could also be equated to America’s own headspace.

In other words, Tony seems to embody America’s old grudge towards England.

Notice how when Tony and England first meet, Tony calls England a “F***ing limey.” 

Meanwhile, America stands there uselessly and is unable to read the situation…

…or rather, what if he is purposefully repressing and keeping his emotions in check, only for Tony to be the one to express them?

Alternatively, Tony could be reading America’s emotions without the latter realizing this. It’s not entirely impossible given that aliens in popular culture often have telepathy or some other kind of mind-reading power. In that regard, maybe Tony has read America’s mind/memories, and is reacting with hostility towards England because of this…

Consider the whole response now: England asks Tony about his home planet.

“Not going back! F***ing Limey!” could likewise be interpreted as America’s vehement opposition to the mere thought of being under England’s rule again. It almost seems as if Tony’s acting as America’s unconscious mouthpiece…asides from the death threat.

We see this again when England visits America and complains that there’s a ghost [it’s actually France] in his house.

Notice the difference in reactions between America and Tony. America laughs it off, while Tony appears to taunt and belittle England for being easily frightened as if he were a small child.

On the other hand, Tony has been seen to end his sentences with “bubu” so this could just be a misspelling. 

More on America’s Emotions: 

I’ve also noticed that America’s pets reciprocate his affection for other nations.

Ex: They are exceptionally fond of Lithuania.

Ex: When Lithuania falls back under Russia’s control during the Great Depression, America seems both worried and sad to see him go.

In sum, while America’s pets are real, there does seem to be some evidence substantiating the possibility of them also representing aspects of his inner psyche.

Pottertalia

before I was a Hetalia blog I actually had a Harry Potter blog. I figure hey, why not take my in depth Harry Potter knowledge and apply it to Hetalia. So here is my sorting of Nordics.

Sweden: Slytheirn. He was REALLY HARD. I had to think about this one for awhile actually. But he’s a Slytherin when you get right down to it. Much like another charter I’ll talk about on this post. His outward personality is much like a shell. He remains serous and stern and only reveals his true feelings to very close friends. Yet he’s also strong and fierce when he has to be. He won’t back down from a fight but he also would never just rush in without a plan.

Norway: Ravenclaw. Ive seen him in Slytheirn and I can see that. But Ultimately I placed him in Ravenclaw. I don’t think Norway would be happy with being a Slythern he’s too soft spoken. The main reason why he’s Ravenclaw is for his interest in the unknown. Ravenclaws are know for being excepting of all possibilities. Norway is typically off in his own world talking to his magical friends that only he can see and interact with. He’s reserved and more of a home body. This is a Raven claw to a T.

Finland: Hufflepuff. Of course he’s Hufflepuff. He’s the mom friend of the bunch. Honestly I don’t have to go into this one too much. He’s a Hufflepuff, it’s Finland for crying out loud.

Denmark: Gryffindor. Again another obvious pick. Denmark is loud, proud and everything that makes a good Gryffindor. He never backs down from a challenge even if he can’t win and the idea of danger thrills him. He stands up for his friends and is a major right fighter. Something tells me he’d make an excellent quidditch player as well. Maybe a beater…but that’s a different post…

Iceland: Slytherin. Now I didn’t put him here because he’s sassy. I put him here for why he’s sassy. He uses it as a front. As in that’s not his real personality. It’s a bit of a splash guard. If he pretends to be serious and cool no one will question him or pick on hi instead. Draco Malfoy used the same personality type. He pretended to be cool but was actually a giant nerd. (I’M NOT COMPAIRING HIM TO MALFOY’S ACTIONS! Just his personalty.) When he lets the mold break he shows us that he actually does care about his friends. But it’s his trope he’s adapted that lands him comfortably in Slytherin. I think he would like it there.

Other parts:

The Axis, Face Family,  The Baltic Trio, Soviet Siblings, Extras 1

Poland

Name: Felix Lukasiewicz House: Ravenclaw Age: 16 Year: 6th Blood Status: Pure-blood Patronus: Mink Hobbies: Potions Anything Extra: Felix is a very talented at potions. His dream is to start his own line of beauty potions for hair and skin. He also enjoys annoying younger students. Not that hes an annoying person. he just gets his kicks by telling a first year the wrong direction for a class and sending them to a restricted area. He plays beater on the Ravencalw quidditch team.

Friendly reminder that APH America…

Was forced to learn about his immortality the hard way by watching his childhood friend grow old and die while he stayed young(you’d think Britain would’ve told him about nations not aging like humans).

Hates his own body but is a compulsive eater.

Represents to people/culture of the United States of America and not the government. He’s been shown to be unaware of the “policies” his bosses are responsible for and has been shown to be a victim of his own government at times. (And no, the jokes in the English dub don’t count as canon because they contradict the source material. Even if some are good meme material)

Is well aware of how hated he is by a lot of the world and envies his brother Canada because of how loved he is.

And because of this, after WW2, he considers Japan his only true friend that won’t leave him and will go out of his way for him to be happy whenever he visits.

Have a nice day!

PS, this can be called “why canon aph America is better than fanon” or “why I love this character(especially in the later seasons/manga)”.