Preserving Paradis: Alternatives to the Rumbling

Highlights

Paradis Island was severely behind the rest of the world in terms of technology, military power, and diplomatic relations.

The islanders made efforts to establish diplomatic relations with other countries in order to bridge the gap, but were instead faced with widespread animosity and rejection from the international community.

As a final measure to safeguard Paradis from external threats, the activation of the Rumbling was reluctantly pursued, despite the catastrophic aftermath it brought forth.

Upon reaching the basement of the Yeager family home in Shiganshina, the Survey Corps and residents of Paradis Island were confronted with a startling truth. The world beyond the Walls, as depicted in Attack on Titan, was not only abundant and far-reaching, but also remarkably advanced in comparison to Paradis. The island was woefully lacking in technology, military power, and diplomatic relations, partly due to the perception of Paradis as a threat to humanity. In an attempt to level the playing field, the Scouts and government of Paradis sought to establish diplomatic connections and ensure their long-term safety, allowing them to catch up with the rest of the world. However, their efforts were hindered by the pervasive global animosity towards the Eldians of Paradis. This ultimately led Eren Yeager to activate the Rumbling, seeking to eliminate all life outside the Walls. During this chaotic period, many inhabitants of the Attack on Titan universe likely questioned whether there was a nonviolent means to resolve the longstanding conflict between Eldia and Marley.

Bringing Paradis On Level Terms With The World

During the time skip, the Survey Corps encountered a faction called the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers among the Marleyan forces sent to investigate Paradis. Led by Yelena, a devoted follower of Zeke Yeager, the War Chief of Marley's Warrior Unit and possessor of the Beast Titan, the Volunteers consisted of individuals from nations that were conquered and annexed by Marley, as well as a few captive Marleyans. Their goal was to assist the Eldians of Paradis in catching up with modern technology.

The main objective was to establish the necessary infrastructure and military power in order to reduce Paradis' reliance on the Power of the Titans. With the assistance of the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers, Paradis also reached out to Hizuru, a nation that had previously had close ties with Eldia. Mikasa Ackerman, who descended from the Azumabito family, which had historically been connected to Hizuru's former shogun clan, played a pivotal role in forming a relationship between Paradis and Hizuru. Kiyomi Azumabito, an ambassador from Hizuru, became an essential connection for Paradis.

Both the Volunteers and Kiyomi agreed that a small demonstration of the Rumbling would give the islanders the time they needed and deter any external aggression. This plan relied on Zeke, a Titan shifter with royal blood, who could grant Eren access to the Founding Titan. However, the Survey Corps and the government of Paradis, under Queen Historia Reiss, were hesitant to use the Wall Titans in such a gruesome manner and continued to pursue diplomacy for peace.

Their attempts to trade with other nations were repeatedly rejected due to the crimes of their Eldian ancestors, which instilled fear in the minds of other nations and led to the islanders being labeled as "Devils." A visit to the Marleyan mainland confirmed that diplomacy was futile, as the Scouts witnessed the widespread prejudice against Paradis. This indicated the need for more extreme measures.

Zeke's Euthanasia Plan

Yelena and Zeke collaborated on a plan to bring an end to the persecution faced by Eldians worldwide. Their strategy involved uniting Eren and Zeke to fully utilize the power of the Founding Titan. They believed that anyone, even non-royals, could access this power by coming into contact with a Titan shifter of royal blood. As Zeke was the son of Dina Fritz, a member of the original Fritz line who remained on the mainland, he was deemed suitable for this role.

Upon witnessing the world's hatred toward Eldians from Paradis, Eren became convinced that diplomacy was futile. Thus, he sought out Zeke directly by infiltrating the Marleyan military and spending time as an Eldian in the Liberio internment zone. When they finally met, Zeke disclosed his own plan to Eren. Rather than resorting to the Rumbling, Zeke intended to utilize the Founding Titan to modify the bodies of the Subjects of Ymir, effectively preventing them from reproducing.

This forced sterilization plan would effectively lead to the gradual extinction of the Subjects of Ymir, eradicating the perceived threat they posed to the world. Zeke's support for this plan stemmed from an ancient legend about a previous ruler of the Eldian Empire who had altered the bodies of the Subjects of Ymir to grant immunity to a particular disease, which subsequently eradicated an outbreak of that ailment.

While this plan would have ended the persecution of all Eldians, the Subjects of Ymir would not have accepted this dire fate passively. The cruel nature of its implementation, combined with Zeke's lack of concern for his own people, would ultimately result in its failure, as only Yelena truly supported it. Even Eren deceived Zeke by pretending to agree, solely to gain access to the power of the Founding Titan and initiate the Rumbling, revealing the strong opposition to this plan from the people of Paradis.

Was There Any Way Apart From The Rumbling?

After the time skip, Armin consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution without resorting to the Rumbling, despite Marley and the rest of the world fueling hatred towards Paradis. The truth was, no matter how hard the islanders tried to convey their lack of interest in war, the world refused to listen due to their deep-seated animosity and the spread of anti-Paradis propaganda by Marley.

Although even a limited use of the Rumbling could have temporarily protected Paradis, the rapidly advancing military power of other nations posed a serious threat. It was highly likely that all countries would retaliate together in the future. However, this does not justify the Rumbling, considering the immense loss of life it caused, unlike anything seen in history. During the Raid on Liberio, Eren's actions, which took the lives of innocent civilians and numerous world leaders, effectively sealed the inevitability of the Rumbling.

Attack on Titan's storyline offers a deterministic perspective, suggesting that choices are mere illusions. The future and the past are interconnected through the Founding Titan and Attack Titan, ultimately leaving no definitive solution. This grim notion emphasizes the significance of preventing the cycle of discrimination, persecution, violence, war, and hatred from taking hold. Now more than ever, it is crucial to understand that averting this cycle before it becomes irreversible is what truly counts. You can watch Attack on Titan on Amazon Prime.