Contents
Intro
Eren Yeager undergoes a profound and tragic transformation throughout the course of the story. What initially began as a tale of a determined and idealistic young hero fighting to protect humanity takes a dark turn, leading Eren down a path of moral ambiguity and controversial actions. This transformation explores themes of retribution, sacrifice, and the weight of duty, creating a complex and multifaceted character study.
Back in 2012, none of us could have predicted that the typical shonen main character like Eren will make a 180-degree turn and become someone so different. But how exactly did Eren change? Did he even change, or was he just being true to himself the entire time?
Childhood Trauma and Motivation
Eren's journey begins in his childhood in the walled city of Shiganshina, where he witnesses the brutal attack of the Titans that results in the death of his mother. This traumatic experience fuels his desire to eradicate the Titans and liberate humanity from their terror. Eren's unyielding resolve and a genuine sense of justice inspired him to join the Survey Corps, dedicating his life to the cause of destroying the Titans.
Eren’s mother, Carla, gets eaten by a Titan right in front of him.
However, Eren's character takes a significant turn with the revelation of his Titan-shifting ability. Discovering his power to transform into a Titan, Eren becomes both a fascination and a source of fear among his comrades. The weight of this newfound power and its implications burdens Eren, leading him to question his own humanity and the morality of his actions.
Freedom and Dreams
Eren's early years were characterized by a profound sense of boredom and a lack of personal dreams or aspirations. However, everything changed when he came to the realization that he was living without true freedom. This revelation struck him deeply when Armin opened his eyes to the world beyond the walls by sharing a book. The vivid depiction of freedom within those pages ignited a burning desire in Eren to experience that liberation firsthand.
Eren was a bored and dreamless kid until Armin showed him a book which made him realize that he is not free.
And ever since then, Eren started to have an obsession with freedom, one that has coincided with his nature, to his entire being. He was born with a nature of wanting to be free.
Initially, Eren believed that reaching the basement would be his ultimate goal, as this will give him the opportunity to know the truth and see the freedom that he has always envisioned ever since he saw Armin’s book. However, he soon discovered that the reality outside the walls was far worse. The freedom portrayed in the book turned out to be a mere fantasy, and the real world was harshly different.
The Reality About One’s Own Nature
Eren and Reiner can be seen as two sides of the same coin. Reiner, driven by his dream of becoming a hero, cast aside his morals and loved ones. During Eren's time living among the Marleyans, memories of Reiner resurfaced, leading Eren to realize that the people inside the walls and the Marleyans were fundamentally similar. Eren assumed that Reiner destroyed the walls not because he believed it was right, but because it aligned with his personal desires.
Eren confronts Reiner.
Driven by a desire to attain freedom, Eren contemplated whether wiping out humanity would lead to their liberation. He believed that by starting anew and eliminating all enemies, true freedom could be achieved. This mindset led Eren to undertake the Rumbling, not out of necessity, but as a personal motivation. He had a difficult time accepting that the world outside the walls, which he initially perceived as freedom, was not what he had envisioned.
Eren's pursuit of freedom can be seen as a manifestation of his nature as a slave to his own dreams. However, he became consumed by this dream, ultimately becoming powerless against it. Eren’s true nature can even be seen in the spin-off manga, “Attack on School Caste”. Eren dreamed that he was in a world where he was fighting off zombies. After being awoken from his dream, he fell into boredom and a sense of purposelessness. This led him to long for a world without freedom, where he could have a reason to fight for it. He was even willing to destroy a free world to create one where he could fight for freedom.
Seeing The Future
During Historia's ceremony, Eren glimpsed the future when he kissed her hand. He saw the Rumbling, and believed that going through the Rumbling would lead to his desired freedom. However, what he actually saw were memories from his father, Grisha, which depicted Eren's future. Eren was unaware that he would be stopped during the Rumbling and that his knowledge of the future was limited to what Grisha knew. Eren only learned that he would be stopped once he gained full control of the Founding Titan.
Eren kisses Historia’s hand and sees the future.
In the deterministic universe of Attack on Titan, only one future is possible. Eren's ability to see the future meant that he acted according to fate rather than free will. However, his knowledge of the future did not mean it fully dictated his actions post-time skip. The future he saw aligned with his own persona, and he pushed himself forward with absolute determination, as the steps he saw ahead were the ones he would naturally take.
Disappointed by the world beyond the walls, Eren desired its destruction because it did not align with the freedom depicted in Armin's book. Eren, unable to accept the world, became a slave to his own dream, while Armin continued to accept the world and dream within it.
Eren's goals revolved around experiencing freedom, granting his friends long lives, destroying the outside world (without concern for others except for his friends), ending the curse of the Titans, and turning his friends into heroes. Eren allowed himself to be defeated because he foresaw it in the future. He knew his friends would be able to stop the Rumbling and that Mikasa would make a choice that would end the curse of the Titans. He believed the Rumbling was inevitable and that he would die in the end.
True Freedom
Given how obsessed Eren was to the idea of freedom, did he even manage to become free?
At the end of the manga, Eren's experience of freedom is subjective and open to interpretation. While he achieved certain goals and made sacrifices to create a better future, whether he personally experienced true freedom is a matter of debate.
Eren at the end of the manga as he achieved his own version of freedom.
On one hand, Eren's actions can be seen as a means of pursuing his own version of freedom. He sought to break the cycle of oppression and bring about a world where his friends could live long lives without the curse of the Titans. By carrying out the Rumbling, he believed he was paving the way for the freedom he envisioned.
However, it can also be seen that Eren's path was more of a tragic one. He became a slave to his own ideals and ultimately succumbed to the weight of his actions. In his pursuit of freedom, he caused immense destruction and loss of life, leaving behind a world scarred by his choices.
Though Eren couldn't complete the Rumbling, he still managed to experience the freedom he sought because he fulfilled his inevitable goals. Valuing his friends as much as freedom itself, he chose to sacrifice himself to ensure their safety. But if his friends weren’t there, he might have finished the Rumbling and wiped out the whole world.
Eren is a character who, at first glance, has gone through a total change. Sure, his physical appearance has changed, he had become less of a brat than he was before the timeskip, and his personality had somehow matured. He had also become more cynical and more ruthless when it comes to the things that hinder his true goal - achieving true freedom. However, deep down he didn't undergo a true change; he has been like that from the very beginning, and he only embraced his true nature. He was a child who refused to grow up. He chose to pursue his desires without considering the consequences for others, driven solely by his own wants.
At the very least, Eren has remained the same in his desire to achieve freedom, and this is what drives his character.
What do you think?
Did Eren achieve freedom?
How did Eren become an antagonist in his own series?
Did Eren’s character fundamentally change?
Let us know in the comments or drop us a line on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)! We’d love to hear from you!
About The Writer
Cristy is a freelance artist and writer who has been obsessed with anime and manga since childhood. Her love for these imaginative worlds fuels her creative endeavors, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
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