I’ll admit. At first I was skeptical as to whether Prussia
shooting birds out of his hands had any particular reason outside of comedical
purposes. While what I’m about to say may still be a stretch, the symbolism of
the type of bird used adds a whole new understanding to this strip. It’s fascinating
and incredibly clever if Hima truly did mean to employ this extra layer of
meaning.

In Chapter 12 of World Stars, we’re given insight into the
origins of Germany. Right from birth, he was thrust into wars. It’s a good thing Prussia was there to step in and protect him.

Now, I think it’s already assumed by most that Prussia’s
birds are canaries. As a spirit animal, the canary represents new beginnings. The
sound it makes is also seen as a sort of healing song, one that cures the wounds
from a past life.

Tying this back to the strips, if Germany is reincarnated
from Holy Rome, then the canary’s symbolism of birth, new beginnings, and the
healing of wounds from past lives is especially relevant.

What’s more, we also
know that Prussia plays the flute, which in Greek mythology symbolizes the shepherd.
The shepherd’s role is to tend to their flock of sheep; that, as well as
herding said flock together.

I went into this in
an older theory, but basically, Prussia’s flute-playing – while also stemming from
the influence of Old Fritz, who also played the instrument – may in fact
symbolize how he herded the ‘flock’ of German states together into one sovereign
nation. Remember that it was Prussia who led this unification.

Taken together, Prussia shooting canaries out of his hands in a figurative sense can mean several
things. One, it represents Prussia soothing the wounds of the before fragmented
Germany. Two, it symbolizes Germany’s new beginning. Three, it can serve as a
reference to the brutal wounds that were
inflicted onto Holy Rome before he died in, yes, war.

And four, it can also be a reference to the number of new
beginnings Prussia himself has undergone. He started out as the St. Maria’s
order, evolved into the Teutonic Knights, somehow became Prussia, and then presumably
into East Germany.

I still don’t know how to feel, considering that the most
asinine thing – a bloody bird – can actually
symbolize all this.