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.