Germany’s car is sturdy enough to drive off of a cliff and land on another road without even bouncing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hetalia World ☆ Stars - Chapter 299 Original Translation: y4nderenka // spaghettifelice Scanlation: jammerlea Please link back to our Tumblr when using translated images on other sites.
HIS SMILE.
HIS SMILE.
HIS SMILE.
HIS SMILE.
What Hogwarts houses would you place Romania and Bulgaria in?
I didn’t plan on doing these two in a post so I’ll go ahead and do them here.
Bulgaria- Ravenclaw- He’s described as friendly and cheerful but he also has a few of strange habits. He’s also said to be quiet unless he knows someone well which is very much a Ravenclaw trait.
Romania- Slytherin- He’s described as Mischievous and he’s a big fan of black magic just as England is so I would assume they have a lot of the same chracter traits.
Commission for @theconvictcolony <33 Thank you thank you thank you ;w;
North Italy ver. is coming soon!
Greetings in Southern Italy are a little more intimate than in other places.
Hetalia World ☆ Stars - Chapter 280 Original Translation: y4nderenka // donamoeba Scanlation: jammerlea Please link back to our Tumblr when using translated images on other sites.
Gryffindor Alfred doodle.