i was wondering if you have any meta/insight on the like, meaning or symbolism behind crowley turning the paint guns into real guns and the people shooting each other? i don't really understand the narrative purpose of that bit or what it's supposed to "mean". thanks.
I’m not sure about any hidden meaning or symbolism here but to me it’s a scene that helps underline two importants aspects of Crowley’s personnality and of his dynamic with Aziraphale:- it echoes the previous scene where Aziraphale requires Crowley to use a miracle on something apparently frivolous when he accepts to make the paint stain go away. It seemed foolish but it was here to stress out that Crowley’s services are a demonstration of his affection to Aziraphale, and that he will accept even stupid requests. But then, with the guns, we are also shown that Crowley will also accept to access more serious requests from Aziraphale. “Don’t let humans be killed. Don’t let them be hurt. Even if that’s part of your job. Please don’t be evil.” And Crowley reassures him that he won’t harm any of them.- I think it’s safe to say that, Crowley accessing Aziraphale’s request is a bit of a thing “played for drama”. I don’t really think Crowley had initially much intention for blood to be shed. His disdain for needless violence is more obvious in the book where we learn he got drunk for seven days after discovering what the Spanish Inquisition was up to. I’m not saying his own temptations -especially when they are on a bigger scale - aren’t leading some humans to violence, but I think Crowley himself would much rather stay as far away from violence as possible. Even if he originated it. Especially if he originated it, maybe. ( He’d make the argument that he only offered the temptation and humans took it as an opportunity for violence, but still... ) So, that scene is also an opportunity to show that Crowley is, if not nice, at least not blood thirsty or sadistic. But, he still is a demon, a temptation demon, and giving people what they think they want is part of his job and he’s actually good at it.I mean I analyzed the scene a little bit more in depth but unless I’m missing something I don’t think there’s much more to extrapolate from it, it acts more like one more stroke to paint Crowley’s portrait than anything else. Nothing is truly hidden, maybe just ... not explicitly stated ? idkBut now that I think of it I think there’s one interesting parallel to draw between Aziraphale giving his own weapon to humanity, therefore arming humans for the first time and probably bringing War to them (even though he had the best intentions in the world in doing so), and in this scene Crowley is the one arming humans but it turns out to be totally inocuous and even more of a farce than a dramatic moment (even though Crowley was definitely being mischievous).That’s neat.
