Freedom in Attack on Titan: Unraveling Eren's True Liberation

Highlights

Eren's character development in Attack on Titan has been remarkable, transforming the show from an action-centric dark fantasy to an apocalyptic political thriller.

The moral debate surrounding Eren's actions in the War for Paradis Arc and the subsequent Rumbling arises from the transfer of memories through Titan powers, questioning his autonomy. The involvement of past and future inheritors of the Attack and Founding Titans in shaping Eren's role in the Rumbling implies a predetermined resolution, leaving Eren trapped in a predestined outcome.

Eren Yeager's journey in Attack on Titan has defied expectations, going beyond the initial portrayal of a typical shonen protagonist. While other characters like Levi, Jean, Armin, Annie, and Erwin may have initially drawn more intrigue, it is Eren's pivotal role after the time skip that brings about the dramatic shift in tone, transforming the series from an action-packed dark fantasy into a gripping apocalyptic political thriller.

Yearning For Life Beyond The Walls

Different viewpoints emerged in later seasons and story arcs regarding Eren's role in the narrative. Some perceive him as the central protagonist, while others view him as a tragic antagonist. However, there are also those who argue that Eren defies categorization, making him even more enticing as a character. While discussions around Eren's moral compass have been sparked by his actions in the War for Paradis Arc and the subsequent Rumbling, a more crucial question arises regarding the extent to which he had control over his own choices. The profound influence of transferring memories from past and future through inherited Titan powers significantly shaped the series' ultimate outcome. This forms the foundation of the argument against Eren exerting genuine agency in determining the course of his life.

Growing up in the Shiganshina district on the outskirts of Wall Maria, Eren and his family constantly lived in fear of the Titans. It was this sense of powerlessness and confinement that compelled him to join the Survey Corps, in order to venture into the world beyond the Walls. Unfortunately, his aspirations were shattered when Wall Maria fell, leading to the demise of his mother, Carla Yeager, and the destruction of their home. This tragic event became a catalyst for Eren, fueling his determination to eradicate every Titan from the world.

Enlisting in the military marked the first step towards achieving his goal. The discovery of his own Titan abilities became a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict between the Titans and humanity residing within the Walls. With time, Eren honed his skills as a soldier, standing shoulder to shoulder with Armin, Mikasa, and the other key members of the Survey Corps.

Eren overcame his own insecurities and utilized his newfound power as the Attack Titan to confront and defeat the Female Titan, Armored Titan, and Colossal Titan throughout his journey. Meanwhile, the Survey Corps delved deeper into the mysteries surrounding the existence of the Walls. Following an intense battle against the Beast Titan, Colossal Titan, and Armored Titan in Shiganshina, the Survey Corps triumphantly recaptured Wall Maria and finally reached the long-awaited basement of Eren's home.

Here, they discovered the true state of human civilization outside the boundaries of Paradis Island, as well as the circumstances that compelled their ancestors to seek protection within the Walls. The eradication of all Pure Titans on the island solidified this triumph, granting Eren the longed-for freedom he yearned for as a child, now held within the palm of his hand. However, a fresh adversary swiftly emerged from the opposite side of the ocean. Simultaneously, Eren unintentionally activated the dormant power of the Founding Titan within him, bearing witness to a terrifying new future that he would have to confront alone.

The March Of The Doomsday Titan

Motivated by this vision, he resolved to use any means necessary to safeguard the Eldians of Paradis from the collective anger of the world. The world held them accountable for the past wrongdoings of the Eldian Empire, and as avenues for diplomacy gradually closed off, Eren faced the dire consequences of unfathomable animosity. In order to shield his comrades and uphold everything they had fought for, he made the fateful decision to willingly accept the path laid out before him.

Eren defied orders from the Paradis government and infiltrated the Marleyan military. In the Raid on Liberio, he not only killed innocent civilians and diplomats from different nations, but also eliminated any chance of peace for Paradis. Later, Eren persuaded Zeke to cooperate with him and successfully obtained the Founding Titan just in time. By undoing the hardening and releasing the Titans inside the Walls of Paradis, Eren made the decision to protect his home by annihilating all life beyond the Walls through the catastrophic Rumbling.

In doing so, Eren brought to life the very horrors he had been striving to prevent, hoping that someone would intervene and put a stop to him. The extent of Eren's control over initiating the Rumbling remains ambiguous. While he seemed to be fully aware of the unforgivable nature of his actions throughout his genocidal campaign, the complexities of the Founding Titan's power raise doubts about his ability to alter the timeline at that point.

This was partly due to the unique capability of the Attack Titan, which allowed users to witness the memories of future possessors and subsequently influence past events. Consequently, the past and future became intertwined in a singular causal loop, where there was no genuine possibility to deviate from the predetermined course of events. The loop itself commenced with Eren Kruger's choice to bestow the Attack Titan upon Grisha Yeager, followed by Eren Yeager persuading his father to claim the Founding Titan from the Reiss family after the Fall of Wall Maria, and ultimately concluding with Eren experiencing his own future memories of the Rumbling subsequent to the operation to reclaim Wall Maria.

Trapped In A Cage All Along

Furthermore, the activation of the Rumbling was heavily influenced by Ymir Fritz. Eren's plea to her played a crucial role in allowing him to overcome the barrier of not being a member of the Fritz bloodline, which had previously prevented him from utilizing the power of the Founding Titan. He became the first person to offer Ymir the choice of determining her own destiny. In doing so, he vowed to eradicate all Titans, thereby freeing Ymir from her everlasting confinement in the realm of Paths.

During the process, Eren questioned if she had waited for someone to free her during the 2,000 years between her death and the Rumbling. Eren's subsequent form as the Founding Titan was unique as it merged with the Attack Titan, granting the ability to transcend time and simultaneously experience the past, present, and future through the Paths. This overwhelming experience shattered Eren's own sanity. If this was true, it implies that the events of those 2,000 years were predetermined, as the users of the Attack Titan were gradually given incomplete memories of future inheritors, influencing their actions.

A clear example of this manipulation occurred when Eren received a memory from the Founding Titan through the Paths, altering the actions of Dina Fritz's Pure Titan to spare Bertholdt Hoover and instead devour Carla Yeager during the Fall of Wall Maria. Witnessing this event from that perspective made Eren feel personally responsible for the tragic death of her mother, a defining moment in her life. However, it remains uncertain whether this was Eren's own choice or the collective will of Ymir and all previous inheritors of the Founding Titan, subtly guiding the threads of destiny towards an inevitable outcome.

In the Attack on Titan storyline, the conclusion brings forth a deterministic perspective. It reveals that Eren was merely an instrument of the collective will, which was ultimately freed from the attachment between Ymir and Paths when Mikasa Ackerman made the choice to kill Eren and put an end to the destructive Rumbling. From this viewpoint, Eren was trapped in a never-ending cycle where he was destined to eradicate most of humanity and sacrifice himself for the Eldians of Paradis, despite fulfilling his promise to eliminate the Titans. Despite gaining immense power, Eren had little control over shaping the future. This cruel irony is evident as the boy who cherished freedom above all ultimately became a victim of his own predetermined fate.