What’s the “fuck song” about anyways?

It’s the mochis national anthem DUH.

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Dec 11th 2013).

The following post aims to give a concise breakdown of
Lithuania and Poland’s relationship. Since the material can be used for both
shipping and friendship purposes, I’ve tagged things accordingly. In analyzing
their relationship, I’ve sorted it into three main themes. Let’s go over them.

Balanced Imbalance

A core theme of Poland and Lithuania’s relationship is that
the inequality (for lack of a better word) of their dynamic is what balances them out so well. In other
words, while Poland may weld most of the power in their relationship, it’s this
imbalance that makes it both strong and palpable.

Poland is known for being extremely shy
and anxious towards strangers. He felt this way before meeting Lithuania—to the
point that he was crying and begging for the event not to go forward. However, during their first encounter he became strangely receptive to Lithuania.

Source: Volume 3, The First Time the Poland Rule Was Used.

We later learn from an observer that Poland joked around
more with Lithuania than he had previously.

Source: Volume 3, the Legend of the Iron Wolf

The power imbalance mostly has to do with how Poland treated
Lithuania. He perceived himself to be the lord and Lithuania, the lackey.

Source: ibid.

Other instances of this would include:

Ex: Poland not listening to Lithuania as the latter recites
folklore to him.

Source: Ibid.

Ex: Poland had a tendency to slack off in his duties.

Source: Volume 3, Tannenberg – The Aftermath

Nonetheless, the two functioned very efficiently.

Ex: They fought together.

Source:

Volume 3, The Ruler of Scandinavia and The King of Eastern Europe.

Ex: They traded together.

Source: Volume 4, At Netherlands’

What you’ll see in later sections is that regardless of
these idiosyncrasies in their relationship, the two made a lasting and inseparable
impression on each other.

Divorce vs Nostalgic
Obligation

This theme involves their forced divorce and the subsequent
end of their empire.

Lithuania was forcefully torn away from Poland. As he begs
for Poland to help him, Poland watches and points out how funny Lithuania’s
face looks. While I attribute the crudeness to the fact that this strip was
created in 2006 and that Himaruya’s characterizations weren’t as sophisticated then as they are now, it’s still material I have to work with.

Source: Hetarchive, Main Storyline Chapter 4

This bitter divorce created a lot of resentment in
Lithuania, who became Russia’s servant in the aftermath.

However, a counter for Poland’s behaviour comes later in the
“While you were gone strip,” where he sees the abuse and torture that
Lithuania was subjected to in Russia’s home. In
that case, perhaps Poland didn’t realize the grave implications of what it
would mean to be under Russia’s rule.

Source: Hetarchive, While you were gone.

We then learn in a character note that Lithuania was so damaged that he was rehabilitating with Poland during this time (i.e.,
the years between WW1 and WW2). The note
also goes on to mention that although Lithuania may be dragged around by
Poland, he seems to be enjoying himself.

Source: Volume 2

Lithuania’s resentment is revealed in two instances:

1)
He feels like he’s in paradise when he moves to
America and lives in the latter’s home in exchange for work, citing how living
with Poland wasn’t exactly the most pleasant option.

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s Out-Sourcing pt. 1.

2)
After being invaded by Russia once more,
Lithuania hears of Russia’s plans to invade Poland. He goes through a series of
conflicted of emotions and flashbacks, calling Poland a bastard for letting
Russia capture him in the past. Regardless, he still has it in his heart to
warn Poland and worry about the latter’s well-being.

The nostalgic obligation, then, pertains to how Lithuania
and Poland’s past, grey and muddled as it may be, still makes them feel a sense
of obligation and duty to look after each other.

Source: Hetarchive, Main Storyline Chapter 4.

Restoration and
Reconciliation

Although touched on in the last theme, the two haven’t let
the past get in the way of their relationship.

Ex: Poland stands
up for Lithuania and protects him from Russia during a world meeting.

Source: Volume 1, Meeting of the World.

Ex: Lithuania
doesn’t attend meetings for the Choral Club (in the Gakuen AU) because he’s too
busy showing Poland around.

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., July 10, 2011)

In sum, whereas political and personal relationships are concerned,
Lithuania and Poland’s has been able to triumph through many obstacles. Their dynamic
has proven to contain considerable resilience as they continue to be life-long
friends.

*wears summer clothes even though it’s fall temperatures*

*September 22nd*

Me:

Who’s the sassiest character?

Poland.

Another contender would be England, but then again, he’s
more along the lines of being snarky.

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Mar 19th 2015).

Sure thing! It’ll be
both a shipping and friendship post since the material isn’t mutually
exclusive. Post coming up tonight!

As most people already know, the nations’ body parts represent
different geographical landmarks/ land within their territory..

What I’ve found particularly interesting about Hetalia is
that it plays around with the idea of Cartesian Dualism, conforming to its
rules at times, while at other times subverting it.

The basic and essential principle is that the mind and the
body are two separate things. Himaruya, on the other hand, blurs those
boundaries.

I’ve broken down representation of this dualism into a model
consisting of three categories.

1)
Physical body part = geographical elements

2)
Geographical element –> personality influence

3)
The sociological collective –> bodily influence

Let’s break down these categories.

Physical body part = geographical elements

Fairly self-explanatory. As mentioned above, geographical
elements of the nation are reflected in the personification’s body.

Source: Comic Diary 2, Hetarchive.

Geographical element –> personality influence

The body in question here is the
body of land as opposed to that of the personification’s.

In these instances, the geography
and/or climate of the country affects the personification’s personality.

Ex: Iceland’s volcanoes and cool
weather are reflected in his canon hot and cold personality. He’s quick to rise
with anger but just as quick to cool off.

Source: World Stars Chapter 114, Hetascanlations.

The sociological collective –> bodily influence

This last category has more to do with the collective unconscious
of the society in question.

Ex: Both Italy brothers’ curls represent the “sexual
something” of Italians and function as an erogenous zone.

Source: Notes and Etc, Hetarchive.

Ex: Austria’s mole is said to have a similar function to the
Italy brothers’ curls.

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., June 26, 2008).

My best guess is that this is a reference to Freud, who
believed that humans at their core are primarily sexual and aggressive beings
and that civilization exists only by repressing these urges into the unconscious mind.

Lastly, although it doesn’t exactly fit into this category, Austria’s glasses also represent his “musical something.” It would stand that this is a larger reflection of Austrian culture considering that classical music is something they are known for.

Source: Hetarchive, Notes and Etc.

In sum, while I understand that Himaruya likely didn’t have
an intent of tracing out and implicating Cartesian Dualism into his characterizations,
it still provides us with an interesting lens to analyze his work. It also proves
that a lot more thought and consideration was put into the characters than he’s
given credit for.

Me: I’m not a violent person.

Also me:

Where can I find that strip where all the nation’s body parts and what they represent are given?

This doesn’t include all of them, but Comic Diary 2 is the
strip you’re looking for.

Source: Hetarchive

Hey Ella! Perhaps you can help me answer this question… I have seen fics equate various nation’s body parts to physical locations in their country (and even one inanimate object – America’s glasses being Texas). Is this canon or fanon? Thanks!

It’s canon. Information like that can be found on wiki articles. However, there’s an interesting fiddling with the idea of Cartesian Dualism that I’d like to discuss in depth.

Post coming up tonight!