Summary
Spy x Family exposes the harsh realities of war, including propaganda. Martha's encounter with a Westalis widow challenges her beliefs, showing the impact of propaganda on soldiers. The manga highlights the suffering of civilians due to the government's inhumane propaganda.
by Tatsuya Endo Spy x Family is a series that has never shied away from depicting the harsh realities of the world. Everything from the brutality of war to the apparent tension between rival nations can be found in the pages of comics. The story is a loving yet accurate depiction of the circumstances that accompany a military conflict.
Chap 100 is a perfect example of Endo's passion for educating readers, as the series delves into one of the most brutal tactics used during wartime, widespread propaganda. The false information provided to both the citizens of Westalis and Ostania was challenged thanks to a kind but traumatized woman who helped Martha after she was seriously injured in battle.
Martha's encounter with the woman from Westalis proves that propaganda has been spread
Both sides viewed their enemies as mindless monsters guilty of starting the war.
After graduating, Martha Marriot, the future housekeeper of the Blackbell Family and the ill-fated lover of Master Henderson, joined the army to fight for Ostania. The pain of war left her considers the people of Westalis her sworn enemies, greedy creatures who want nothing more than to destroy their nation. During one of the brutal battles she participated in, she was seriously injured and left for dead by her superiors. By a great effort, Martha avoided certain death and was eventually rescued by an elder named Anabel.
This woman, who was later revealed to be a widow from Westalis, nursed Martha back to health. She did this despite the fact that the Ostanian army was responsible for the deaths of her daughter and husband. Martha still believes that Westalis is filled with terrible people, still scarred from the many losses she suffered during the war. However, by the time the two women had to part ways, the future housekeeper realized that her ideas about people from Westalis were completely wrong. Martha understood that the Ostanian government had filled her head with hateful propaganda.
Civilians on both sides suffered because of government propaganda
Soldiers are driven by hatred and see their enemies as monsters that must be destroyed.
Martha's encounter with the woman from Westalis helped her realize that her hatred for the people of the West was unfounded. She believes the lies spread by her government, created to turn the Ostanian people into loyal soldiers willing to do anything. If their soldiers believe that Westalis is a country run by brutal and bloodthirsty individuals, they will not hesitate to kill them without remorse. They dehumanize their enemies to increase their chances of winning the conflict.
As usual, the ones who end up suffering the consequences of these actions are innocent civilians who did nothing to start the war. Martha realizes that this woman, despite losing everything to the people from Ostania, has no ill will towards her. Anabel knows that Martha is just another victim of her country's propaganda. Chapter 100 expertly describes how these lies can negatively affect the minds of soldiers and how difficult it is for them to accept the truth.
Martha's journey through Ostania is far from over because she has just left the house of her savior. Throughout this adventure, the young girl will learn more about the people of Westalis, learning that they are not so different from Ostania. These adventures will likely be introduced in later chapters of the book. Spy x Family story.