Eren and Reiner: Unsettling Similarities in Attack on Titan

Highlights

Eren and Reiner, despite being on opposite sides of the conflict, share a complex and mirrored relationship shaped by their Eldian heritage and their experiences with war.

Reiner's perspective undergoes a transformation as he finds himself compelled to coexist with Eldians, causing an internal struggle that fractures his identity. Simultaneously, Eren's determination to eradicate Titans takes a turn when he uncovers the actual adversary residing across the ocean.

Both Eren and Reiner, driven by their endeavors to safeguard their cherished ideals, tragically find themselves compelled to commit abominable deeds within the battleground, thus emphasizing the genuine tragedy of Attack on Titan.

In Attack on Titan, Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun share a complicated and parallel relationship, united by their Eldian heritage but torn apart by the world's animosity. The series showcases their connection as an embodiment of its main themes. Growing up on opposite sides of the Eldia-Marley conflict, both Eren and Reiner endured difficult childhoods and witnessed the devastating consequences of war at a young age. These experiences shaped their extremist beliefs, with Eren willing to eliminate anyone posing a threat to Paradis without hesitation, and Reiner willing to do whatever it took to protect his family in Liberio from the perceived "Devils of Paradis."

Reiner's perspective starts to shift when he is forced to live among the Eldians within the Walls, allowing him to see their humanity and causing an internal conflict that splits his identity. On the other hand, Eren initially desires to eradicate the Titans following the fall of Wall Maria, only to discover that the true enemy lies beyond the sea. At this point, Eren's fate is sealed as the wrath of the world descends upon Paradis for the sins of their ancestors. This tragic situation underscores the central tragedy of Attack on Titan, where two individuals who sought to defend what they cherished are forced to commit unspeakable acts within the theater of war.

Molded By Fire

Abandoned by his Marleyan father and manipulated by his mother, Reiner grew up in the Liberio internment zone under the influence of Marley's indoctrination. Pressured by his mother, Karina Braun, Reiner was coerced into joining Marley's Warrior program, a training program for candidates who were destined to inherit one of the Nine Titans. In order to secure the privileged status of an Honorary Marleyan for herself and her family, Karina convinced Reiner to enlist with the promise of being reunited with his father.

Despite facing numerous challenges within the rigorous program, Reiner's unwavering determination helped him succeed and he was ultimately chosen to inherit the Armored Titan. Tasked with the mission of reclaiming the Founding Titan, Reiner, along with Annie Leonhart, Marcel Galliard, and Bertholdt Hoover, were dispatched to the shores of Paradis. Following Marcel's untimely death, the group infiltrated Wall Maria, causing countless innocent deaths in the process. Successfully blending in with Paradis' military, they graduated as members of the 104th Training Corps Southern Division, alongside Eren, Armin, and Mikasa.

Eren's upbringing was vastly different from Reiner's. He grew up in a caring family, with a mother who deeply believed in his unique abilities, and a father who had learned from his past mistakes with his older son, Zeke. Despite the harsh conditions within the Walls, their lives were relatively peaceful, but this tranquility didn't last long. The Fall of Wall Maria not only led to the death of Eren's mother, Carla, but also caused his father, Grisha, to disappear after sacrificing himself to pass on the power of the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan to Eren.

The encounter between Eren and Reiner had a devastating impact on Eren's life. It ignited in him a burning desire for revenge against the Titans. Motivated by this drive, Eren made the decision to join the military, fully dedicating himself to breaking free from the Walls and annihilating every last Titan. Despite lacking natural talent, Eren demonstrated tremendous perseverance, much like Reiner, and successfully overcame the challenges of his training.

Bearing The Hatred Of The World

During their time as new recruits, Reiner became a supportive older brother figure to Eren, fostering a close bond between them. Reiner's physical prowess, confidence, dependability, and empathy earned him respect not only from Eren but also from his fellow soldiers in the military. While Eren's unwavering optimism and relentless determination to combat the Titans and explore beyond the Walls garnered him admiration from his comrades, his impulsive nature occasionally caused tension among the other recruits. The revelation of Annie Leonhart as the Female Titan significantly impeded Reiner and Bertholdt's mission, consequently marking the beginning of the end for their involvement in Paradis' military. Reiner, still grappling with the guilt of losing Marcel and having assumed a new persona as the leader within the Warriors, faced a dual internal conflict due to his deepening relationships with his fellow Survey Corps members.

Reiner's mind shattered, unable to reconcile his conflicting personas. Dissociative episodes plagued him as he oscillated between his Marleyan "Warrior" self and the "Soldier" he created on Paradis. The collision occurred when Reiner and Bertholdt unveiled their true identities as the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan to Eren. Consumed by anger and betrayal, Eren vowed to exact revenge on both of them.

To Reiner's terror, it was later revealed that Eren possessed the Founding Titan within him. The realization meant that fulfilling Reiner's primary objective now relied on someone who would never support Marley's demands. Seeking refuge, Reiner and Bertholdt fled to regroup with Zeke Yeager, the Beast Titan, and Pieck Finger, the Cart Titan. At this point, both Eren and Reiner had fully committed to their respective causes. Tragically, despite their valiant efforts, the Scouts managed to recapture Shiganshina and Wall Maria, enduring significant losses in the process.

Victims Of Fate

After the time skip, Reiner and the pair started to view themselves as opposite sides of the same coin. Reiner, now playing the role of Attack on Titan's protagonist from the Marleyan perspective, became a mere shadow of his former self. He grappled with the memories of his time on Paradis, the guilt for his crimes against the Eldians within the Walls, and the failure to acquire the Founding Titan, resulting in Bertholdt's death. Tormented by his past, Reiner contemplated suicide multiple times, but he couldn't bring himself to do it because he believed he needed to stay alive for the young Warrior recruits who would take his place.

In truth, Reiner had lost his will to live entirely and held a profoundly negative opinion of himself. This led to numerous attempts to sacrifice himself in battle and seek redemption for his sins. These thoughts of self-harm would emerge during various moments in the War for Paradis. On the other hand, Eren experienced visions of the Rumbling and the genocide he would carry out upon encountering Historia Reiss and activating the Founding Titan.

Despite his desperation to ensure Paradis' safety, the Scouts' trip to Marley left him convinced that his efforts were in vain. In defiance of Paradis' government, he accepted his fate and infiltrated Marley to collaborate with his half-brother Zeke. Witnessing the persecution of Eldians on Marleyan territory, Eren understood that Reiner had experienced the same mistreatment and indoctrination that had portrayed Paradis as a land of "Devils." Prior to the attack on Liberio, Eren met with Reiner and learned the true motives behind Reiner's decision to destroy Wall Maria.

Upon realizing that Reiner had believed he was doing what was necessary to save the world, Eren finally saw that they were both mere pawns trapped in an endless cycle of violence and hatred. This revelation was further reinforced when Eren reunited with Zeke in the conflict for Paradis, gaining control of the Founding Titan. This control distorted his perception of the past, present, and future, causing him to lose control over his own thoughts. Thus, both Reiner and Eren had to bear the burden of the world's sins and animosity, leading them to become opposing figures in a war that they could never truly resolve.

Attack on Titan is available to stream on Amazon Prime.