The Staggering Deception of Attack on Titan's Ending That Fooled the Entire Fanbase

Following the conclusion of the Attack on Titan finale, fans have been engaged in an ongoing debate regarding its ending. Throughout the narrative, Eren Yeager, the series' protagonist, has been relentlessly driven by the pursuit of his personal freedom.

Amidst the chaos of the Rumbling, where the titans wreaked havoc upon the world, a widely circulated scene depicted Eren atop the world, declaring, "This is freedom". This led many to believe that he had already achieved his objective. However, a popular theory suggests that Eren's quest for freedom was an elaborate deception, with Ymir manipulating him in order to achieve her own liberation.

How the Attack on Titan ending fooled everyone on the truth of Eren's fate

Eren and Mikasa in the Attack on Titan finale (image via MAPPA)

In the recently concluded Attack on Titan finale, the culmination of Eren Yeager's journey saw him meet his end at the hands of Mikasa, who had made a solemn vow to protect him at the cost of her own life. While it may have appeared that Eren's destiny was predetermined from the moment he initiated the Rumbling, there is a deeper significance to his fate.

From the very outset of the story, Eren's central aspiration was to eradicate all Titans and seize his freedom. He displayed unwavering determination in pursuing this lifelong objective, going to extreme lengths to eliminate any Titan that stood in his path. In many ways, he became akin to a captive bird fiercely fighting for its liberation.

According to fan theories, Eren Yeager's lack of freedom in the story is a recurring theme, and the series' conclusion supports this idea. This theory is based on the notion that true freedom is not a choice, but rather an inherent human nature that inevitably leads to conflict and loss of life, as noted by Erwin Smith, the Survey Corps commander. Consequently, death becomes the only means through which one can achieve true freedom. Eren also reaches this realization at some point in the story.

Furthermore, in the second part of Attack on Titan Final Season, Eren grants Ymir the freedom to make a choice - either obey Zeke's command or lend her power to him in order to bring about the destruction of the world. In this crucial scene, Eren questions whether Ymir is the one responsible for leading him down this path. This strongly supports the theory that Eren's freedom was never truly his own, suggesting that Ymir may have been manipulating his will all along, with the ultimate goal of attaining her own liberation.

Ymir's backstory also holds significant importance. Throughout her entire existence, she had never tasted true freedom, as she was enslaved to King Fritz due to her deep love and unwavering devotion to him. For countless millennia, she had no choice but to obediently carry out his commands. By compelling Eren to initiate the Rumbling and allowing Mikasa to end his life, Ymir could finally sever her ties to her own love for King Fritz and break free from the chains that restrained her.

Ymir, in a way, orchestrated the freedom that Eren had spent his life pursuing. This freedom, which drove him to betray his friends and the entire world, leading to numerous deaths and ultimately his own demise.

From the start, it was clear that Eren's fate had been sealed, destined to become humanity's enemy and bring about the destruction of the world. His initial focus on attacking the Titans shifted towards perceiving the entire world as his adversary. While his cause might have been labeled as fighting for freedom, it was not his personal freedom that drove him. While there are those who argue that he fought for the sake of his friends, it was ultimately Ymir who attained true liberation. In summary, Eren's path was determined, leading him to become a formidable foe to humanity and leaving Ymir as the one who ultimately gained freedom.

Throughout the narrative, it has been repeatedly emphasized that the world depicted in Attack on Titan is a harsh one, plagued by ceaseless wars and conflicts. The only way to break free from this perpetual cycle is to relinquish one's own life, a choice Eren ultimately made at the conclusion of the story. Although he never had the opportunity to taste the freedom he so desperately yearned for, he ultimately found liberation in death.

The tree in the Attack on Titan finale possibly represents the never-ending cycle of violence and cruelty in the world. Eren's ideology hinted that in order to break this cycle, everything needed to be destroyed.

Editor's P/S

Attack on Titan's ending was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some praising its boldness and others criticizing its execution. However, one thing is for sure, the ending has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among the fandom.

Personally, I believe that the ending was a fitting conclusion to the series. It was both tragic and hopeful, and it left me with a lot to think about. I think that the ending did a good job of addressing the themes of freedom and determinism that have been present throughout the series.

Overall, I think that the ending of Attack on Titan was a complex and thought-provoking one. It was an ending that will stay with me for a long time to come.