Eden Academy plays a pivotal role in the narrative of Spy x Family, serving as a prestigious educational institution that provides the perfect cover for the enigmatic Agent Twilight. His mission to gather intelligence on Donovan Desmond, a key target, intertwines with the life of Anya, one of the academy’s fortunate students. For Anya, her experiences at Eden not only foster her character development but also propel her story forward.
However, beneath the institution’s polished surface lies a web of dark secrets. The connection between Eden Academy and the nefarious Project Apple, a significant mystery in the franchise, suggests that the school may serve a more sinister purpose. This connection implies that the academy could be inadvertently aiding Donovan Desmond by supplying him with new test subjects or loyal researchers for his dubious experiments.
The Intricate Ties Between Eden and Project Apple
Names Reflect a Shared Abrahamic Narrative
Project Apple, a clandestine initiative initiated by the Ostanian government, aims to enhance mammalian cognitive abilities. While details surrounding these experiments remain shrouded in mystery, it is clear that Anya, Bond, and the timid seal Belle have endured horrific treatments as subjects of this cruel program. Their traumatic experiences were all justified under the guise of advancing humanity.
Chapter #99 of Spy x Family offers critical insight into Donovan Desmond, revealing his background as an Eden student. This underscores his ties to the academy and enhances the ominous nature of its apple-themed emblem. The allusion to Abrahamic traditions suggests that the narrative may be exploring deeper themes of knowledge and morality.
In biblical context, the Garden of Eden was created by Jehovah, serving as the original home of Adam and Eve before their fall from grace triggered by the consumption of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Similarly, Project Apple appears to be driven by a thirst for forbidden knowledge, as Donovan may have orchestrated these experiments to fulfill his sinister ambitions.
Eden Academy: A Breeding Ground for Donovan’s Aspirations
Brilliant Minds as Potential Followers or Subjects
Throughout the narrative, Eden Academy’s Imperial Scholar program has emerged as a focal point, highlighting its elite students, such as the cryptic Demetrius Desmond. These scholars enjoy exclusive privileges, notably access to high-profile social gatherings where influential figures from politics and science often convene. Donovan Desmond’s presence at these events, despite his hermit-like tendencies, indicates that he sees potential value in mingling with these gifted students.
The implications are profound: he could either be grooming future loyalists or searching for capable test subjects well-suited for enduring the horrors of Project Apple. Given the original subjects were sourced from Westalis during a time of conflict, the resolution of that war necessitates a new recruitment strategy, making Eden Academy an ideal hunting ground amidst its ranks of gifted youth.
This theory aligns with the idea that Donovan may be researching mind-reading abilities, as suggested by his wife in chapter #110. Engaging with the minds of Eden’s most intelligent students would yield far superior results compared to the average populace. Additionally, it’s plausible that Donovan seeks out promising scientists to advance his research—support that likely hinges on the tacit complicity of Eden’s administration in this morally dubious endeavor.
Eden Academy’s Questionable Ethics
A History of Political Bias
In Chapter #99, Henry Henderson’s heart-wrenching protest at a military rally within Eden Academy reveals the institution’s political leanings. After the tragic news of his lover Martha’s death, Henderson faces severe consequences for his dissent against an officer advocating for the recruitment of children into the military. This incident showcases Eden’s potentially dangerous patriotism and its willingness to uphold such ideals to the detriment of individual freedoms.
While Donovan’s experiments are undeniably inhumane, the scientists involved may be operating under the illusion that they are contributing to a greater good. The academy’s involvement with Donovan could stem from a misguided belief that they are aiding Ostania’s future, a notion that seems dangerously naive in light of the propaganda issues highlighted in previous story arcs.
Is Garden Connected to Donovan’s Network?
Potential Recruitment from Within Eden
While many consider the Imperial Scholars to be the most intellectually gifted individuals in Spy x Family, athletic prowess can also qualify students for this prestigious rank. This leads to speculation regarding the Garden, the covert assassin organization that Yor is part of, potentially leveraging Eden Academy for new recruits.
Though this theory remains to be confirmed, it’s interesting to note that the Garden’s name shares Abrahamic connotations similar to those of Eden and Project Apple. Interestingly, the Garden seems to harbor a disdain for Donovan, as evidenced by the Shopkeeper’s reaction when Yor mentioned her husband’s curiosity about him. While they may seek to recruit strong and skilled Imperial Scholars, a clear line of rejection appears evident between the Garden and Donovan’s ambitions.