Explaining the Contrast: Marleyans vs Eldians in Attack on Titan

Now that Attack on Titan has reached its conclusion, fans are reflecting on the entire series and everything that has unfolded within it. What initially began as a story of humanity battling against the Titans has transformed into a intricate narrative exploring themes of discrimination, politics, and wars waged against humanity.

In the fourth season of Attack on Titan, viewers of the anime were introduced to the world beyond the walls. They were able to witness the origins of a deep-rooted and intricate animosity between the Marleyans and Eldians. This intense hostility between the two groups can be traced back to a long history of power struggles, war, oppression, and the manipulation of historical accounts. But how did this cycle of hatred between the Marleyans and Eldians first begin in the world of Attack on Titan?

Exploring the history between Marleyans and Eldians in Attack on Titan

The first three seasons of Attack on Titan primarily focused on the Eldians, the humanity living within the walls. After much anticipation, fans were finally enlightened about the truth of the world beyond the walls and the existence of the Marleyans. This revelation brought about a great shock, as it became evident that the Marleyans harbored a deep-rooted hatred towards the Eldians. However, the reason behind this animosity was gradually explored in season 4.

Inexplicably, the Eldian people are descendants of Karl Fritz, the King of Eldia, who ruled approximately 2000 years prior to the current events in Attack on Titan. It was unveiled that the Eldians possessed a unique bloodline inherited from King Fritz's wife, Ymir.

In her youth, Ymir encountered a mysterious force that bestowed upon her the ability to transform into a Titan. Embracing this newfound power, she became the inaugural Titan, known as the Founding Titan. Fascinated by this extraordinary ability, King Fritz harnessed it to establish a formidable Eldian society and secure victories in conflicts. As a token of appreciation, Fritz united in matrimony with Ymir, resulting in the birth of their three offspring: Maria, Rose, and Sina.

On a fateful day, Ymir made a selfless sacrifice to save King Fritz from an assassination attempt. Surprisingly, her power did not perish along with her. To preserve the formidable power of the Titans, Fritz made the decision to have his children consume Ymir's remains. As a result, each of them inherited Ymir's power and became the progenitors of a unique race known as the Subjects of Ymir. These Eldians possessed the exclusive ability to inherit and transform into Titans, setting them apart from the Marleyans and the rest of humanity.

Over time, the newfound power led to the emergence of the first Nine Titans. These Titans were subsequently divided among the eight influential families within the Eldian nation. Empowered by the Nine Titans, the 145th King Fritz embarked on a conquest, triumphing over numerous nations, including Marley. This era was soon overshadowed by a cruel epoch of oppression, as Fritz imposed his ruling with an unrelenting grip.

In Attack on Titan, Ymir selflessly sacrifices her life for King Fritz (Image via MAPPA).

After successfully conquering almost the entire world, Eldia faces internal conflicts and increasing paranoia. As a result, the powerful families within Eldia deploy their Titans to engage in a heated battle among themselves. Seizing this moment of weakness, the Marleyans seize the opportunity to wage war against Eldia, leading to what later becomes known as the Great Titan War.

The Eldian nation experienced a devastating defeat during the war, resulting in the capture of seven out of their nine Titans by Marley. This weakness led to the oppression and torture of the Eldian people by the Marleyan population, forcing them to flee for their lives. They sought refuge in distant lands, eventually finding solace on Paradis Island.

The Rumbling in Attack on Titan Final Season (Image via MAPPA)

Far from the Marleyans' reach, King Fritz utilized the power of the Founding Titan to construct colossal walls around the island, guarded by hundreds of Colossal Titans. To ensure everlasting peace, he manipulated the minds and memories of his people, erasing all recollection of the shameful defeat inflicted upon them by Marley. Consequently, the Eldians residing on Paradis Island enjoyed a tranquil existence, undisturbed until Marley eventually initiated an assault against them.

Contrarily, the Eldians remaining in Marley endured a fate more horrendous than death itself. For generations, they faced severe discrimination, forced to exist as second-class citizens within Marleyan society. Their lives were consumed by the burden of atoning for their people's sins, ensnared in perpetual misery.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the profound animosity that exists between the Marleyans and the Eldians in Attack on Titan is rooted in a complex history of oppression, manipulation, and dehumanization. Both factions have undoubtedly endured immense suffering due to their enduring rivalry.

However, in the final events, this perpetual cycle of hostility between the two groups appeared to come to a close. Eren, driven by a desperate desire to establish peace, allied his people with the rest of the world against himself, employing the Rumbling as a means to achieve his goal.

Editor's P/S

Attack on Titan is a complex and thought-provoking series that explores various themes, including discrimination, politics, and the cycle of hatred. The relationship between the Marleyans and Eldians is one of the most important and compelling aspects of the series.

The Marleyans are a nation of people who were once oppressed by the Eldians. They have a deep-seated hatred of the Eldians and believe that they are responsible for all of their problems. The Eldians, on the other hand, are a nation of people who have been persecuted by the Marleyans for centuries. They are forced to live in internment camps and are treated as second-class citizens. The cycle of hatred between the two nations has been going on for centuries and shows no signs of stopping.