Understanding Eren Yaeger (Attack on Titan)

[@SagesRain]

manga spoilers, sorry if that wasn’t clear. what are your thoughts on eren? To follow/support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/sagesrain Twitter: twitter.com/sagesrain Instagram: instagram.com/sagesrain/ thank you for watching!

[@maylabrown4584]

Naw, first blatantly wrong video, cope with the Ending.

[@loganshalloe5927]

@@maylabrown4584 bruh at least watch the video first, it literally came out 2 minutes ago. Why spread salt for no reason

[@brooks1162]

Eren is the greatest protagonist

[@maylabrown4584]

@@loganshalloe5927 I've seen this type of video many, many times before. Especially after the Manga's Ending, it's no different, cope with the ending.

[@maylabrown4584]

@@brooks1162 *Greatest badly written protagonist you mean.

[@TreyWayz44]

Eren's radicalization towards genocide has a disturbingly natural progression to it, given all the hatred and suffering we saw Eren bare during the story. Even more terrifying when you remember Eren understood his enemy &motivations, yet still decided on violence. It's scary to think what we humans are capable of when pushed to the edge. True harborers of destruction

[@thalmoragent9344]

At least Eren still felt remorse over the Genocide, his loyal fans who "understand" him seem to like the Genocide he commits more than he himself does. Imagine the man committing a Global Extinction has more remorse and sadness over it than his supposed loyal fan base? That part always made me laugh. I get why he's doing the Rumbling (even though he shouldn't be Rumbling Hizuru considering they were the Old Eldian Empire's only ally and Paradis' only current one) and if I were in his spot then yeah I'd want my people and homeland to be safe, but best believe I wouldn't try to be all "Oh well, the rest of the entire planet deserves it", as if Paradis getting attacked is the ultimate evil. Like, the fact Paradis is the one that gets to decide if Humanity lives or dies is EXACLTY the reason the World Rebelled and the world hates Eldians in the first place. It's not the fault of the Subjects of Ymir today who were born in peace time, no, but it's also not fair for everyone to act as if the world should just open up their arms to the race of Titan-turning humanoids like they weren't the ones who subjugated most of the world over their 2,000 year conquest

[@MrWill9002]

He never got to it

[@joshuahecht6866]

Everyone is a slave to something Kenny Ackerman said that and that is true even today. While no one is a slave physically some of them are slaves within their minds permanently

[@MrWill9002]

@@joshuahecht6866 Well as is shown the mind is a powerful thing

[@nullakjg767]

lol he was radicalized in episode 1. it wasnt gradual and there was no progression. he sees his mom get eaten and vows to kill them all.

[@joonbee]

based on the title alone, you’re so right. everyone’s like “omg Eren’s so crazy now” like, the boy that killed at least 2 people when he was like 8?? yeah, _now_ he’s crazy 💀

[@Philsburneraccount]

I mean would you let slavers take away someone peacefully?

[@corpse_launch]

You’d let your childhood friend be kidnapped and sold & just stand idly by while it happened?

[@aarontsafack16]

@@Philsburneraccount it wasn’t just that, it was the way eren was just brutally stabbing them with no remorse. And to remind you he is like 8 or 9 years old. We see mikasa reflect on that moment a lot to question herself, if eren was always a monster since the beginning.

[@ligmafigma9631]

@@aarontsafack16 Eren explains it himself in the manga. "If someone threatens to take away my freedom, I'll take away theirs." He's not a monster, he responds in kind. Those men were gonna kidnap an 8 year old to sell her as a slave and do gruesome things to, they deserved it.

[@aarontsafack16]

@@ligmafigma9631 I never said those Guys didn’t deserve it. We all know those guys were going to kidnap them and do bad things. But I’m not arguing that. What 8 year old do you know can stab somebody multiple times like that with no remorse. Not even mikasa could bring herself to do it until eren convinced her. Even zeke was shocked when they were in the memories. And yes eren is definitely a monster the story has established that multiple times. Like I said mikasa always reflects back at that moment.

[@elvibora6218]

Some fans don’t want to accept that eren was always like this, because he’s the protagonist and we have many memories with him.

[@exclusiveoro5349]

But his character was contradicted by Yams by the end sooooo ur statement is false

[@egp2497]

@@exclusiveoro5349 doesn’t contradict his nature, did you watch the video he explained all this

[@needahandle-g5v]

@@egp2497 ending is good cope

[@EnveeH2]

@@exclusiveoro5349 No it wasnt lol its the same character

[@egp2497]

@@needahandle-g5v I said it was good or bad? I’m neutral in all this, I just know how great of a story was told, y’all fans who mad about the ending are just mad and can’t accept yams did not write Eren like you wanted him to write him, the cards was there for both you can say, but he went with something different, Eren decision to destroy the world was not a man who destroyed the world because he had too, or because he wanted to take all sins of the world and become a devil, this was a guy obsessed with a unobtainable dream, and knew what he was doing was wrong but still ahead and went and did it, he did it because he want to and he was selfish because his plan didn’t account for what his friends wanted, he didn’t want them to continue of line of kids eating their parents but that wasn’t really his call to make. What he did was not at all selfless letting go of your dream for others is selfless but Eren couldn’t do that

[@MegaIiyambula]

Another awesome part about Eren Yeager, is how his father raised him. Like Zeke was being brainwashed by his parents and Eren was raised to be free and himself. Much like the Nature vs Nurture debate. Where as Zeke is nurture and Eren is nature. They both also use the 'because I was born in this world' line. I think an in depth analysis on the Yeager brothers would be an awesome vid.

[@SGCentral]

Someone said Zeke was the son Paradis Grisha wanted and Eren was the son Marley Grisha wanted And that makes a lot of sense

[@jahfaricoumarbatch3947]

@@SGCentral yup yup yup. I agree too

[@thehermitman822]

Eren vs Ymir would be another good nature vs nurture analysis.

[@MegaIiyambula]

@@thehermitman822 fr and they be similar

[@reinertoast2195]

Eren, Reiner and Zeke are all the biggest parallels between each other in my eyes. Eren - willing to sacrifice the world to save his loved ones Reiner - willing to sacrifice himself to save his loved ones and the world Zeke - willing to sacrifice his loved ones to save the world

[@devonwilliams136]

If we look at Attack on Titan from a more critical standpoint it can also be a commentary on the human condition about dreams, ambitions, war, survivors' guilt, radicalization, propaganda, political corruption, ethnic cleansing, and authoritarianism.

[@handlerone5172]

Oh there is much more. That is the basis on what the story is telling. The war and the players in it serve as the stage for the bigger story of questioning humanity and why we do things, and what drives us to quote "Die for our dreams" even if we may never see them realized. Kenny Ackerman's death tells the whole story. "Everybody had to be drunk on something" which allows us, the viewer, to think about our ambitions and goals and why we seek them. Are they noble? Are they worthwhile? What are we willing to do for them? How far are we willing to go? Those questions are at the heart of the AOT in my opinion as we follow characters who constantly are pushing towards some type of goal and are willing to throw everything away for it. Eren, Reiner, Erwin, Kenny. These are a few examples of people who were willing to sacrifice everything just to obtain their true goal, what mattered to them, and only them.

[@devonwilliams136]

@@handlerone5172Yeah you make an interesting point in that it's also about human ambition as well. And how we as people get so caught up in our own goals and beliefs that we can fail to see the greater picture of things.

[@reybladen3068]

And yet many anime fans refused to analyze it beyond the motivation and limited POV of the characters.

[@charliekowittmusic]

@@devonwilliams136 That’s really interesting! I think there are several themes in the story. The nature of dreams, freedom, and ambitions. Hope in the face of hopeless circumstances. There are Interesting sub plot themes about authority, freedom of information, relationships, the tension between duty and personal desires, etc. But I think, in terms of Erin’s character, we are forced to confront a rather uncomfortable truth. Even the most evil among us still exist on a continuum of humanity. The genocidal maniac is entirely human, even sympathetic. That’s why the story is so powerful and controversial I think.

[@arnowisp6244]

@@reybladen3068 probably because it tried to be deep when it came off as an unmitigated disaster.

[@thanhnguyensolo]

I think what makes Eren different from Armin is that he kept looking for things he didn’t have instead of valuing small things he had in his life. He was so busy trying to look pass the wall that he forgot to appreciate the beauty lied in front of his eyes.

[@fusiontoa18]

The beauty being the wall? lel

[@thanhnguyensolo]

@@fusiontoa18 No it's the good memories he shared with Armin, Mikasa.

[@fusiontoa18]

@@thanhnguyensolo i think youre wrong, he valued them plenty. Infact he valued them so much, he was willing to go that far to protect them.

[@hpmasterswagestgames985]

@@fusiontoa18 true man that's exactly why he did all of this

[@vihan3423]

Eren was freedom in its purest form. Being restricted within 3 fucking walls waiting for the world to drop bombs on you and your people for merely existing doesn't equate to "beauty lying in front of his eyes". If anything that just means sheer ignorance.

[@MrMultiPat]

AOT became my favorite anime because the final section in Marley became a masterclass in perspective. Suddenly, you can see how someone could rationalize an attack like the one you saw in the first episode.

[@nullakjg767]

for me, the show lost its magic the moment they introduced all that pagan nonsense and the outside world.

[@jareddesilva6957]

@@nullakjg767 huh without the outside world the whole plot makes zero sense hahaha that’s actually crazy

[@nullakjg767]

@@jareddesilva6957 it makes aboslutely zero sense that they let their most hated enemies live on an island to seek revenge. Historia, the memory horseshit. Time travel. It was incredibly nonsensical and stupid. AOT is like the anime version of game of thrones. Started off strong and got mega stupid.

[@brycelacy3545]

@@nullakjg767 There are more nonsensical pieces of fiction out there than AOT, what separates it though are it’s core themes on war, ethnic cleansing, violence, political corruption, religion, propoganda and how they connect to our world. Honestly, season 3 and 4 elevate the show to another level, the world building is masterclass. But you do you I guess.

[@nullakjg767]

@@brycelacy3545 Nah the world they built was just a cheap imitation of ours. It was actually unique when it was walled off surrounded by titans. They couldve done all the things you mentioned without a 21st century time skip. Everyone clowns on AOT, just because there is worse stuff out there doesnt mean what they did was good.

[@Danivriv]

Love the part where you mention that this is what happens when the most powerful person in the world doesn't feel free. So many versions of freedom and we all try to achieve our own, but what happens when your freedom is blocked by someone else? Would you want to fight it? Do you have the power to fight it? When Mikasa put other's well-being before her desire to be close to Eren, that is when everything ended, she was always the strongest character, and like Armin said " the future will not change for a man that will not change". If we do not evolve our idea of freedom, we'll have a fixed mindset, and that is how wars start. This is the most mind-blowing manga I've ever read, like one of those books that you read a page and let's you thinking the whole day. An absolute masterpiece.

[@zurut99]

Can't agree more

[@JaketheMovieGeek]

Deep.

[@elevate07]

14:27 "The future will not change for a man that will not change" Yeesh. What a line

[@GHJ_AS]

Truly one of the most fascinating stories ever written.

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

Indeed. It has huge flaws imo but the core story and the work on Eren’s character is so intensely fascinating.

[@avid4288]

Huge flaws?like?

[@CephalonAxii]

@@Ismael-kc3ry Yeah I agree with @Avid, what flaws? Don't tell me you are one of those people who think Attack on Titan is a positive view on Fascism? You're not right?

[@crowzero7187]

​@@Ismael-kc3ry care to elaborate about those flaws you talk about? I'm curious.

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

@@CephalonAxii I do not lmao, AoT was far from perfect before it ended. That doesn’t stop it from being one of my favorite stories of all time.

[@SoLoboo]

I just finished my second watch 2 weeks ago after season 4 part 2. It was always in our face. Even Levi said it back in season 1; “Yeah he’s a real monster, and not because of his powers. No matter how you try to tame him, he can’t be caged.” Eren was always willing to destroy whoever his enemy was for the sake of his own freedom. The story was consistent all the way through, we just romanticized him like every other shonen protagonist & didn’t see him for who he truly was. Someone willing to do absolutely anything to keep his “wings of freedom.”

[@nullakjg767]

You dont need to even go past the first episode. He literally says he wont rest until he exterimates every last one. The whole reason he was an interseting MC is he wanted to be hitler to the titans. (which then extended to the people who surrounded them by titans)

[@radogen7845]

@@nullakjg767 there's a reason the shirts wore by the survey cops resemble the ones the nazi were

[@SoLoboo]

@@nullakjg767 omg yo you right. Especially with all the german, and SS Gastapo & Jewish vibes. He was hitler of it all. Ironic it came from Paradis & not Marley.

[@zub41r75]

@@SoLoboo No he was nothing like H. You missed the whole point. He was not based on H at all. Idk why tf people say this. Eren doesn't care about ethnicity like he did. Eren only cares about freedom. Get that in your head. H and Eren are totally different

[@thehermitman822]

@@zub41r75 they both blamed a group of ppl for their plight and came up with a final solution.

[@ANormalGamingChannel93]

Remember when Attack on Titan was..."lighter"?...we had NO idea how dark this rabbit hole got in later seasons. The mystery behind this story demanded darkness. I remember not thinking much of Eren's character, other than some screaming child. But after reading the manga AND watching your video, I'm glad to be wrong. THIS is the kind of storytelling I live for. As always, glad to see your content. PLEASE keep this up, I'd live to see a series on ALL of the 108 Cadet Corp, as well as the Survey Corp.

[@london8615]

It was always dark tbh, just the depth of darkness increased. Went from Titans eat Humans to world genocide

[@totmgsrockxd9900]

AoT was never light. People were being picked up and crunched left and right like apples.

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

It’s honestly hilarious how early attack on Titan does feel “lighter”. Because it’s just really violent and a lot of characters die, but thematically it’s honestly a little uplifting, because through all the darkness and the odds against them, Eren and his friends don’t give up and are fighting towards freedom. And ironically, the thing that makes the story so unbelievably dark in the end isn’t that humanity is nearly extinct, it’s that they’re alive. That’s the horrifying truth. They’re alive and well, and they’re all coming for Paradis.

[@AldrianCG]

Do you mean the first 5 minutes of the first episode?

[@iantaakalla8180]

The training arc is also comparatively light, given it is just the interactions between potential cadets like a typical military manga. Otherwise, there is the celebration after the second Shiganshina war. That is it for the light moments.

[@worldeater2414]

You can immediately tell the difference between Arman and Eren by their eyes, Arman has big eyes that are filled with wonder and childhood. As he gets older they shrink but still remain round and "largish" Eren in contrast always has had squinted, squarish eyes. They have never been filled with wonder except for the rare times, it is no wonder then that Eren has always been jaded.

[@pitruli_]

"we believe freedom to be an inherently good thing. But when the most powerful being in the world decides that he is not free, and decides to destroy the world for it, is freedom still inherently a good thing?" oh my god this hits so hard

[@INdySycive]

Eren is such a beautiful, yet so tragic of a character. He was so close, yet so far from truly realizing what it means to be free, and to live, and how there’s good in the world even with the bad. He was so close.

[@hpmasterswagestgames985]

What is your definition of being free in aot universe?

[@GutsandBlood231]

He is free now. He was before he killed first as a child and is with his dead. His sacrificing gave him freedom in a complex and tragic way i could explain with my worse english haha.

[@hpmasterswagestgames985]

@@GutsandBlood231 he realised what freedom is and he realized 2 things . 1st people of the world would not be free while eldians live . But free from fear not from bondage or slavery. 2nd Eldians cant live freely while their enemy exists. Cause if Eren didnt provoke war. Marley wouldve been back with more firepower and men . And if he just gave up on rumbling world leaders would ask for him to stand trial and Paradise people would have to pay reparations and would be hated by other people cause they are titans and they tried starting the war.

[@GutsandBlood231]

@@hpmasterswagestgames985 exactly👌🏼 but it is even more complicated. My English is just not good enough to explain more deeply. But overall you nailed it:D

[@hpmasterswagestgames985]

@@GutsandBlood231 it seems good enough to understand 👍

[@williamxxc]

" It's clear to me . He is a true monster and not because of his titan abilities . No matter how you try to hold him down , no matter what cage you lock him up in , forcing his mind into submission is an impossible task . " One of Levi's hunchs .

[@mithvibes4727]

yet the eren loyalists with 0 analytical skill will go "but-but isayama just randomly made eren a monster for no reason"

[@jaakjoostur5253]

I love that AOT can have so many deep discussions just on singular characters while other anime communities struggle to have heavy, rich, real discussions on the whole series, let alone single characters like eren. That's another reason I love AOT, its not surface level deep, it's 'from the beginning deep'. "To you, 1000 years in the future"

[@valmid5069]

“The danger with people like him…is that we put them on pedestals. They become symbols. Icons. *And then we start to forget about their flaws”* -Baron Zemo, MCU

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

*Grisha refuses to kill the Reiss Family* Eren: Fine. I'll make you do it, myself.

[@ErutuffLOL]

I guess grisha would have still killed them, eren just made the work faster

[@navidvarzeghani2789]

@@ErutuffLOL he took the responsibility away from his father so he could blame him instead.

[@المهديشقيقرسولالله]

​@@navidvarzeghani2789 I like your thought A *LOT* 🤯 I never realized that!! Really thank u for posting your idea

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

"Everyone's a slave to something." *- Kenny Ackerman*

[@christiangonzalez6945]

freedom can not be granted it must be taken max stirner

[@FlutterSwag]

@@christiangonzalez6945 someone's freedom is someone else's chains

[@_Circus_Clapped_]

**Shinso Sasageyo playing while world gets rumbled** "Did someone ask for F R E E D O M?"

[@hawkeyemihawkgettingmoneylord]

No your not slave for following your ambitions. People need to stop using that quote to call everybody a slave.

[@JaketheMovieGeek]

“Everyone had to spend their lives drunk on something” It’s saying that Eren is a slave to his goal of being free and that he’ll do whatever it takes to reach freedom. The irony is that he can never reach total freedom so he’ll always be chasing after that goal. Hence a slave to it

[@d1anacrystal127]

I SAVED THIS FOR A YEAR i can finally watch it as an anime only fan

[@justsomegirlwithoutamustache]

When I first read the manga when it came out, I was a bit disappointed and confused and it felt like too much, but this video cleared up so much and now I hold the ending as a very good wrap-up to an amazing story. The anime also executed a few flaws in the manga so thats a cherry on top

[@qiziqkop_]

Same

[@zurut99]

Agreed completely. The only flaw ending has that its very confusing especially for normies

[@ulasyldz6350]

“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does." once said Jean-Paul Sartre. It actually explains Eren's situation.

[@NGKC3]

EREN NEVER CHANGED. HE WAS GOING TO ELIMINATE HIS ENEMY EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM. HE SAID THAT TO REINER FOR THE TITANS. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS THE ENEMY. HIS GOAL NEVER CHANGED.

[@myhandlehasbeenmishandled]

Yes. I'm a bit confused with argument that he is the person titans made. Once he had opportunity to influence people to do something about past he influenced his father to do bad things. He essentially made sure he grows up angry.

[@mouse7965]

his goal certainly changed in chapter 139 lol

[@Timliu92]

Yes, Eren's goal never changed. Prior to his knowledge that humans exist outside the walls, Eren saw the Titans being an obstacle to that freedom he desired - a beautiful world beyond the "remaining" humans and inhabitants of Paradis where he could do anything he wants and pleases. However, after Eren realized it was not true and that there is humanity beyond the walls, deep inside he wants to hold on dearly to his child-like notion of freedom that he initiated The Rumbling when given the power, since he basically saw the human beings outside Paradis as an obstacle to the goal. This ironically makes him a slave to what he perceives as freedom, and Isayama wants to make it clear to us that Eren's character has always been way more twisted than we think all along.

[@yuukichan12]

Why you yellin???? Jk lol Scream it loud and proud from the rooftops, so many people seemed to have missed this core aspect of his character fr

[@Ale-dd3ek]

The story of aot Is the story of a sadistic fake God Who manipulated events to scorch the Planet

[@muhammadalifto8076]

A good friend of mine told me a possibilites if Eren's Rumbling is Successful. He said it like this: "Even if the 80% population of the world got decimated, the rest of 20% would most likely starts a conflict with each other" He even mentioned a game called Fallout as an example. That the games featuring many different factions that collide with each other. The point is, Paradis most likely still in conflict, but with each other of their own people. Even a few possibilities that there would be so many factions that were created during the conflict.

[@epRivera]

Either he saw the extra panels or he's a genius. The extra panels show Paradis getting destroyed by what was probably Marley

[@luceafarul5740]

@@epRivera you don't really have to be a genius. Besides the whole philosophy that "humanity will always fight each other until there is one person or less remaining", it was pretty evident that the remaining 20% would destroy paradise. What was unexpected was that the marleyans at fort salta didn't shoot all the eldians the moment eren died.

[@muhammadalifto8076]

@@luceafarul5740 that's the point that my friend trying to elaborate. Humans always get drawn to a conflict

[@_Circus_Clapped_]

except, we see planes coming from OUTSIDE the island, how are eldians infighting? if anything Marley has shown they start every conflict and them being saved for the consequences of their actions is a mistake that repeats itself, how would anyone negotiate with entities that don't want to negotiate

[@Wolf-vy7et]

Shitty headcanon, there no reasons for them to fight eachother .

[@alithat1]

God i can finally come back to this video after watching the end. always good to hear your thoughts on these shows

[@herohamza1196]

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." "You will always be the protagonist, but you will not always be the hero."

[@CHRISCAMPO-wq8bi]

The ending made it pretty clear that Eren is both the protagonist and the hero.

[@sirken2]

His inner battle really is spoken well in the lyrics of the ending song for season four part two.

[@MrKage-fb2wy]

Whether you loved or hated the ending, the endless debate about whether or not it was good only underlines the main theme of the story: conflict will always exist.

[@JamaicaZ160R1793010A]

Indeed.

[@a.r.mproductions5616]

Nice

[@clayongunzelle9555]

genocide can never be justified but I don't think rolling over and just accepting cruelty is justifiable either...

[@Mohamedlord223]

Well said that’s why eren’s is such a tragic character

[@historylover9999]

Perfectly said.

[@handlerone5172]

Now you understand the core of at least part of his character, the one that is visibly presented to us.

[@user-io2dm1uh9w]

Totally agree. Those who only condemn Eren but think Armin's gang is on the right side annoyed me. They still stuck in the black and white.

[@thehermitman822]

He became a doomsday weapon as soon as he goes god mode. He could simply exist at that point and no one would think of messing with Paradis. He could even send out colossal titans to stand guard around other nations and always be on standby. There more options than the extremes.

[@tylercraig5633]

This might be your best video! So well done. I think the quote by Jean Jacques Rousseau which reads “Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains.” perfect captures Eren here

[@sharkdude7]

Awesome video, I really appreciate the analysis between Eren with other characters: Armin, Mikasa, and Reiner. I feel like some people disregard the relationship and comparisons that he has with those characters and how they affect Eren. Eren being human and a monster at the same time is also a great way to look at his character. Eren showing Mikasa an alternate future is something that I only thought she wanted, but looking back Eren secretly wants that as well.

[@nihalbharath8667]

I’ve come across this video a little late but I think it’s wonderfully depicted how Eren’s desire for freedom has affected his development over the course of the story. I agree that his fixation on freedom is innate, but I don’t think he was inherently a monster. When Armin first told him the stories of the world outside, i believe he was fascinated by the prospect of exploring a vast space free of people. Apart from being angered by how the titans were confining him within the walls, I think Eren understood from a young age that people fight with other people and push each other down. He’s seen Armin get bullied, he’d gotten involved in a number of fights as well, and experienced Mikasa’s kidnapping, suggesting that it’s the people he’s surrounded by that also shackle him and the people he cares about. He also claims at some point (either to Erwin or Pixis) that he believes that people will never stop fighting. And while he believes that he needs to fight to win, he doesn’t like fighting and hates when it involves his friends. I think that’s why Armins story of the undiscovered lands were so alluring to him: because there would be no fighting in a vast new land where people didn’t have to interact. What I took away from the story was that the love for his friends was as intense as his will to be free. I believe that in learning about the presence of civilization outside the walls, he was disappointed because it wouldn’t be possible to explore in a land where people wouldn’t bring about conflict, and that was especially evident when he traveled to Marley. But despite reality not measuring up to his ideal view of freedom, he tried hard to find alternatives for paradis to survive in the world alongside the scouts and the military. But when the best option involved sacrificing his Historia to pass down the founder and protect eldians using a small rumbling, he rejected it fiercely because he cares too deeply about his friend to consider sacrificing her and her lineage. To follow that plan would be a violation of his cherished friend Historia’s right to be free as well. I believe that it was through the several failed attempts to find a good plan that the stress of the only idea he could think of began to pile onto him. As the person that the whole of Paradis depended on to protect them from the world, I believe Eren leaned on his role as a protector of his loved ones to rationalize his actions when he no longer had the mental fortitude to rationalize them himself. So I believe Eren’s radicalization was caused by the compounding stress of protecting his loved ones, failing to come up with a solution to bring peace to paradis and the world, and the world’s incessant insistence on wiping him and his people out because of their status as Eldians, not because he was inherently radical or a psychopath, or because his view of freedom was twisted from the start. Eren was failed by the world that he cared so much about. I didn’t write this as clearly as I wanted to be able to, one day I hope to have enough mastery over speech to convey my thoughts about this story clearly and without inconsistency.

[@newdookierecordz6829]

wow

[@icomeinpeace3756]

This. Video. Is. Incredible. Eren is simply a flawed man that was given the most pviotal crucial power of changing the outcome of the world. Rather than carrying it out selflessly he did it selfishly to attain his version of freedom. He is truly perfectly imperfect. This video is truly as good as it gets when it comes to AOT analysis. Amazing. Liked and subscribed.

[@nERVEcenter117]

The best textual and thematic analysis I've yet seen. Sublime.

[@lycanthis9963]

How ironic and somewhat paradoxical that Eren was a slave to freedom.

[@yagmur.ah3]

thank you sage for this amazing video about eren! i think a lot of people don’t understand his character and you explaining him and his motive for the rumbling was incredible! eren’s version of freedom is a very corrupted version of freedom that I personally believe is worth looking into.

[@McWms99]

I don't think he corrupted freedom. This is the suffering of truly subjugated people, how can he win for those he cares about without sacrificing the world, without sacrificing humanity who was his true opponent all along

[@thalmoragent9344]

I mean, his reasons of the Rumbling and later why he changes his mind and supposedly never intended to fully go through with it kinda irked me Considering Eren's made it blatantly care he didn't want Paradis to be wiped out and he was doing this for the Eldian people on his homeland, as well as his close Friends/family, it makes no sense for him to risk everything on where Armin may or may not be able to convince the world into peace, which evidently he doesn't get everyone on board. I mean, he destroyed Hizuru despite them having been allied with the Old Eldian Empire as well as Paradis currently, and it was clear he'd be killing even innocent Eldians who were unlucky enough to be born outside of Paradis. This guy suddenly says that all Ymir did was because she was in love with Fritz and interested in Mikasa's love life... for some reason, and Eren had no intention on protecting Paradis, maybe only protecting his friends for a few decades at best, even though if THAT was what he wanted, he could've done the partial Rumbling and it would've had the same effect, even without the Euthanasia Plan So not only does his desire and will go into question, but now his mindset also seems to have been so backwards that it makes him come off as an incompetent idiot. Saying he's doing this to protect Paradis and its future knowing damn well that just letting himself get killed and watching as his comrades like Floch and Hange go through to such lengths and hardship with everyone around him just for such a shitty result. He killed his own mother but had the audacity to ask Reiner why his mom died (like bruh, what? 🤔), went to such lengths despite having no intention on seeing things through, hell, even Zeke's intelligence was butchered whilst sticking with Armin in paths. So much BS, not even just including Eren, that makes my head spin 🙄

[@aarontsafack16]

@@thalmoragent9344 you say that eren asks reigner why his mom died even tho he killed his mom. But the eren in Marley didn’t know he was the one killed his mom because that was future paths eren doing that. And even if he did he could of ask reigner that because he just wanted to know reigners perspective of how things played out. About the zeke part. You do know that the reason why zeke wants to get rid of eldians is solely based on because of his own trauma with his dad and family. Which lead him to think life is meaningless. In zekes whole life he couldn’t find meaning. Chapter 137 was a perfect conclusion for zeke. The reason why the conversation between armin and zeke work so well is because zeke was never a bad/evil person. Zeke was never some final boss. What simply happened was zeke and armin both gave there opinions on what they think the meaning in life is. And they both came to a common ground that it’s the little things in life that give there lives meaning. For zeke it was baseball. Baseball is a huge part of zekes character and he loved playing it and it gave his life meaning but he was never able to realize until his final conversation with armin. Everything that happens in that chapter and the rest of the chapter gives all the characters amazing conclusions

[@aperson2697]

Yeah the more I read about Eren the more I realized I never understood him. I feel like I understand him more now and I love his character even more but I'm unsure about what to feel about him as a person. And I think I finally understood his "We're the same" line with Reiner. Both justifying their actions with noble reasons but they did it out of selfish reasons. And still kept going despite understanding the other side's situation.

[@flapjackxl]

@@aarontsafack16 That’s not true at all, Eren knew he killed his mom since pre time skip after he kissed Historia’s hand.

[@The_Gronne]

When I watched AoT with my girlfriend, she pointed out in season 1 that Eren seemed crazy and weird. Eren has always been like this.

[@Yeezykidnshii]

Also Him accepting his Fate and the Reality of the world outside of his subjective world is what I believe made him free, not just by his desires but him not Accepting the external reality of the world of Aot and Him Seeing through the future is what makes his Freedom don’t coexist and that leads to his display of “Freewill vs determinism” . I love the way you explained the essence of Aot on the “Nature of human freedom” and Expanding on the cast related to they Nature as being Human, Eren has a great display of “rational acceptance” as well, you got a new subscriber now❤️.

[@Grayson-Winchester]

I think it's important for anime protagonists to find the perfect balance of developmental growth being relatable and not boring op while also not being a little bitch. People that do that really well in my opinion are Edward Elric, Eren Yeager, Ken Kaneki, Thorfinn, Johnny Joestar and Guts

[@muhammadalifto8076]

I've seen this comment before, but from where?

[@muhammadalifto8076]

But yeah, this comment are actually well said from whoever wrote it in the past.

[@minor7805]

Ken kaneki is one of the best protagonists I’ve watched

[@Bigbluemeanie234]

I think I'd put Eren on the same level as Griffith

[@xysm5224]

Guts is leagues above Eren, he would not cry for Casca being with another man and for her to think about him for 10 years at least. He died like a little bitch.

[@OliverGgE]

Bro you crazy smart. Salute to you. Literally every single video I’ve watched of yours has been an absolute pleasure. I realized through this video that it contains manga spoilers which I haven’t read, but I still went ahead and watched this whole video because your philosophical/psychological analysis is infinitely more powerful to me. Thank you.

[@chrysopelea1986]

While the ending could've been better executed, I think everything that happened (particularly regarding Eren's development) made sense. From day one he believed freedom had been taken from him, and that he had to fight to obtain it. He didn't know why, he just knew he had to. Fundamentally he never changes, only our perception of him does. In the end he doesn't become a villain, we simply see him for the villain he always was.

[@jojomahmoud5752]

no the ending doesn't make sense it assasinated his character

[@yohaan2323]

@@jojomahmoud5752 re-read aot mate

[@MrMetaVal]

he is the so called "villain" at the end since he is the one with all the power. He sacrificed his humanity in order to rise above monsters which was Marley and the world. At the end of the day they were all most likely evil. Eren just became the absolute evil to stabilize the world for an amout of time since if good exist evil will too.

[@rosegiogio9255]

@@jojomahmoud5752 so what is Eren for you?

[@yohaan2323]

@@rosegiogio9255 he probably thinks eren hates his friends and wants to fuck historia

[@johnfisher6844]

Bro this video is soooo well done. Great philosophical references and well organized. Good job dude

[@drunkeldian3150]

My favourite line from the final chapter is when Armin asks Eren why he wanted to leave the world a blank plain to which he responds. "I don't know why, but I wanted to do that, I had to" As he says this we see the memory of Grisha holding him after he's first been born telling him his name and that he's free. A clear visual way of presenting the "because I was born into this world" line. It's this self reflective line that I think really speaks volumes about Eren, his innate nature that drives him, his contradictions and clashing motives. Up until this point whenever Eren has been asked about his motivations he's always responded with the iconic "because I was born into this world line" or what he said to Zeke "I am just me, I always have been" or when he said to Armin "I don't know why but when I think about getting that freedom back strength flows through me". Essentially saying there is no definable reason, this is just who I am ever since I was born, and there is no version of me that wouldn't do this. But this line in 139 unlike the others which Eren said with resolve and confidence is much more reflective and genuinely honest. Eren has already achieved his goals at this point, he's left the world the blank plain he wished to see it as and he's guaranteed his friends will live long lives after he's gone. So now he's left reflecting on what truly drives him and why he has this innate drive to achieve his own unique ideal of freedom. It would be easy for him to just use the same answer he's always given and say that's just who he is, but this time he genuinely answers it and admits that even he doesn't fully understand this innate nature of his. He can't explain why he wants to leave the world a blank plain and he doesn't even try to justify it. He feels he was born this way but he doesn't know why or where this uncontrollable drive comes from. In the same way a natural born psychotic serial killer can't explain why they're a psychopath and why they were born that way.

[@eserey]

Exept that isn't really the subtext is it? It's your interpretation and I respect that, It's a good opinion. But the writing in that line is terrible. Armin asks him why he committed mass genocide and he literally says: ''I don't know.'' that is horrible dialogue.

[@drunkeldian3150]

@@eserey Except that is the subtext, isn't it? It's the subtext I've seen many people bring up and agree on and I haven't really seen any other opposing general consensus surrounding the line. Especially since the line directly lines up with Isayama's 2017 about Himeanole where he talks about how it made him think outside of the social norms of right and wrong, who is to blame if someone is born a serial killer and him saying he wanted the ending of AoT to reflect this rather than passing judgement on what's right. If people don't like the line itself, and how it's worded or wanted more from it then that's fine but I think the explanation behind why Eren says it is pretty self explanatory. The interview in question; www.reddit.com/r/AttackOnRetards/comments/nv5qxq/how_minoru_furuyas_manga_himeanole_influenced/

[@MrJCarter8]

@@drunkeldian3150 I agree it’s all in the subtext. I re-read the last two volumes of AOT (131 - 139) and I appreciate that line so more now than I did before. I also love how it was the man bun version of Eren that Isayama chose for this scene because everyone saw that version as a child but all Isayama did was break that facade Eren put up. AOT is so fucking good man!

[@MrKage-fb2wy]

Funny enough, I hated this line. Eren already explained why he wanted to rumble the world in 131 which chronologically speaking, happened before the Eren/Armin conversation. Now he just forgot. I can buy the he may have lost sight of his true goal, but we don’t ever see his process of realizing that and the next thing to come out of Armin’s mouth is “thank you”. There are some interesting themes here, but they were poorly executed and that’s where all the polarization came from. Also, a better example where this theme is executed is in Naoki Urasawa’s Monster with the character Capek.

[@fusiontoa18]

Sounds dumb

[@TevyaSmolka]

Eren becoming a monster is just freaking insane but does make a tons of sense.

[@sivanlevi3867]

That scarf Eren gives to Mikasa reminds me of the scarf from Naruto The Last. It does represent beauty, but it also represents craftsmanship and love due to how much effort is put into making it.

[@randommonkey4900]

remember that movie lmao

[@fusiontoa18]

Pfft

[@icomeinpeace3756]

​@@fusiontoa18hater Sakura fan

[@ItsAMiiAMario]

I have never seen a single episode of attack on titan in my life and watching this out of context so far is an experience 💀💀

[@ameerioo4757]

you have to watch it man

[@EpicAlcatraz99]

I went back and rewatched the show. Yes, Eren always had that rage and anger towards everything outside the walls. I simply marked it up to childhood ignorance and bluster but he grew up and made it reality

[@EmeraldPhoenix-sp8hm]

Feels good to come to a video/comments section that isn't out of its mind. Eren was driven by hate and rage from DAY ONE. We see this, it's not hidden - he vows to destroy the Titans with hate in his eyes and his hands violently clutching the railing of the ferry. Hell, he mercs two grown men when he's EIGHT goddamn years old. He's been messed up for a while, and the warning signs were there from the beginning.

[@viridianacortes9642]

35:07 I like the editing there. In the moment when you say “Eren does not” it kinda looks like Eren blinks and looks surprised in reaction to what you said. Very nice. 😊

[@user-qj5bm6rw8v]

Don’t you guys wonder how amazing Attack On Titans managed to represent what’s actually happening in the world and wars? The message the anime is trying to demonstrate… I’m really speechless! It’s amazing… The anime really touched me personally! Being born and raised as a Palestinian who never got to experience freedom as most people around the world did!! It’s crazy how accurate is the resemblance between its story and the Palestinian-Isreali conflict, the walls built around me, and even the inability to travel freely around my own country and other countries around the world…Showing both perspectives of freedom from both sides. Certainly, one of the best animes ever! Free Palestine 🇵🇸✌️

[@alidirie2835]

Wow, this is touching now. Imagine the whole world wanted to kill the Gaza strip. Would you activate the Rumbling?

[@suleimangh]

@@alidirie2835 this is was my comment by the way from this very account lol! I believe my account got hacked! How did that even happen? Anyway; of course not we want peace. I just would seek for freedom by resisting the oppression 🤍

[@alidirie2835]

@@suleimangh definitely! Inshallah Palestine will be free!!!

[@danjelrhodes9516]

Dude you are amazing for this character analysis. It’s always riveting and I enjoy your insights.

[@Cripplified]

Eren, the boy who sought freedom was poetically the character bound to be a slave to his own destiny. He wanted desperately to change his destiny, but had to experience every moment he foresaw. He looked for anyway to change who he'd become, but he couldn't, and ends up empty not even understanding his own actions. He, like Ymir, only lived as a slave and never got a choice. Only when the rumbling happens do they feel any semblance of humanity in themselves or a choice. It's why he likens himself to Reiner. Reiner never felt like he had a choice but to serve Marley.

[@lornm1856]

Dumbass 😭

[@neardarkroad1347]

Incorrect, he likens himself to Reiner because they both kill many innocent ppl for their selfish naive dream

[@annepaulinetiu4036]

He's not bound to his fate. He literally said he wanted to see this sight "pertaining to the massacre". And Reiner did want to be praised for doing his Job as a warrior. He went back and decided to destroy the world because he wanted to prove to anyone that he is worthy. Like the armored titan was supposed to be Pocks. So both Eren and Reiner are selfish. The reason why Eren said that he has no other choice was because he is convinced from the very beginning that his concept of freedom was other people taking it away from him and when they do they will take theirs. Its like he was set in stone that the enemy was outside the walls. So for him to cry is just the self justification between his ideals and the world that he had understood for almost 4 years. He just can't give up what he had already set in mind. Just as how Isayama said when he started writing AOT he had already an ending in mind and that he just can't change it because that's what he already set his mind onto. Unlike Reiner who at least had a character arc that he is indeed remorseful of what he had done, Eren didn't. He is remorseful but he choose to make thia idealized version of freedom come to life. Hence the scene where he is flying in the clouds of the rumbling. Eren is the antagonist of the story, if you would put him in the context of simple right and wrong. But the story itself its so complex like the more the story progresses, the more that we can see the other side of the coin. Its so hard to just be a right and wrong story. I believe Eren just choose to stick to what he believes in the first place. He is no saint, he is just a human.

[@emaitchess3821]

Great, great video like always, only greater bc it's about AOT, nice job Also on a side note, who would've thought Sealed Vessel's theme over manga panels of Eren going nuts in his own mind would fit so perfectly together? Seriously perfect music choice, it was amazing

[@lachlanle7940]

This what I think about when Eren says "When I learned that humanity lived beyond then walls, I was so disappointed" I see a lot of people who read this line tried to interpret it as "Eren is disappointed that he saw the same oppression outside the walls as he did in Paradis". And while that interpretation may not be wrong, I feel that the real meaning is a lot pettier and childish than that. If we look at the context of the scene, Eren was talking to Ramzi alone while crying. Because Ramzi cannot understand the Eldian language, Eren can freely express his true thoughts without being reprimanded. And when saying your true thoughts, you DON'T say anything cryptic. You say your true thoughts as it is. So when Eren says "When I learned that humanity lived beyond then walls, I was so disappointed", I think he is saying it as it is. That he is simply disappointed of that fact that other people lived outside the walls. That these people had the AUDACTIY to exist in the first place. That these people ruined his fantasy of an empty world beyond the walls where NO HUMANS exist and lands yet to be explored. Eren was so dissapointed that he decided to trample the outside world to recreate the fantasy that he imagined as a child. The fantasy based on what Eren saw in Armin's book of the outside world. So even if the outside world was not hostile towards Paradis, Eren would have still destroyed it. If that sound childish and petty, that is because IT IS. It is why Eren was depicted as a literal child in chapter 131. When child Eren said "Freedom", he was depicted to be above the clouds where he cannot see the destruction below him. The destruction that Eren himself is causing. He only sees the vast, never-ending land to freely roam around without facing any consequences. That's the "freedom" Eren wants. But that's just my own interpretation and I could be wrong. What do you guys think?

[@brudapeace]

While I can see where you're coming from with this statement I don't think it's quite accurate yes u can make the statement that he probably was dissapointed when viewing the outside world but no concrete evidence points towards him destroying the world simply for that reason, could it be a motivating factor, probably, but I'm sure he wouldn't have destroyed the world if the humans weren't hostile towards him simply because it was shown that he gave the world a chance to change their minds on attacking Paradis for four years but instead he had to hear that he is being painted as a villain in the Willy Tybur speech and him gathering the global alliance (which is basically the world) to attack Paradis Island to take the founder in order to "save the world" and he was even willing to wait until that speech was pretty much over in order to solidify his conviction of attacking Marley which later on resulted in him doing a full scale rumbling. Some people may say "Armins 50 year rumbling plan was the best option simply because it will buy them time to make a concrete plan" and to that I say what makes them sure that it will take 50 years before they attack, what if it's 30 years or 10 years or even 5 years since the mechanical anti-titan power is so ever developing and Eren is stated to not wanting to leave the Island to fate and added to the fact that he had about 4 years left to live (I think correct me if I'm wrong) resulted in him taking action immediately for his Island and his friends. Some people may say "well at least Zeke's plan is better than Eren's plan" and to that I say in what way since it's literally the same thing Marley is doing except in a more "peaceful manner" in other words it's peaceful genocide against Paradis Island which is also messed just as messed up and that is due to him having daddy issues. Some people may say "but he's doing the rumbling anyway and genocide is wrong which makes eren wrong exc." and yeah genocide is wrong no kidding but take into account on why Marley attacked Paradis Island in the first place, why is it that it took over a hundred years for Marley to attack Paradis Island at least aggressively, some will say "well that's because of the deal between the Tybur family and Karl Fritz which stated that the king will accept Paradis fate if they were ever attacked due to the sins they committed during the Great Titan War and now they are reaping what they sow due to that history" and yes while some of those points might be true it still doesn't answer the question as to why they attacked and the why is pretty simple, they wanted the resources of Paradis Island which is the founder in order to take control over the rumbling for their wars since war mechanics were catching up to the Titan power it's as simple and Paradis Island being painted as devils was just a cop out and a very strong motivator since the world hates Eldians so much in order for them to fulfil they're own selfish desires to stay on top and this is a result of their over reliance on the titan power in order to win ther wars, in other words they shot themselves in the foot and as a result they now want an easy way out(kinda reminds me of the United States but I digress). As a result they became what they were fighting against which is a running theme in the show which applies to Marley, Hange, Historia and funnily enough Eren. All these points is the reason why eren chose the rumbling in the first place and as a child he always lived by his philosophy of "if anyone tries to take my freedom I won't hesitate to take theirs" which is what should be pointed out, his version of the outside world was simply "freedom" and people seem to over complicate simply because there is no such thing as a free world, it's a concept hard to grasp simply because it hasn't been truly experienced by anybody at and that a whole other topic on its own that I don't wanna get into and Eren having the mindset of being upset due to the people having the AUDACITY to exist isn't valid due to the points I have made and him crying in front of Ramzi in and while you can say that he doesn't understand what Eren is saying he can see the remorseful emotion that he is putting out there for him to see and it is known that emotion is easier to understand than words. In other words with this Eren situation it is just a "If you poke the bear don't be surprised if it comes and attacks you" situation and Eren being shown as a kid is simply because he is finally attaining the freedom he so longed for as a kid albeit in a messed up way and the book fantasy thing was just an extention of the freedom he longed . So in conclusion Eren is a character that was literally backed into a corner and as a result has committed great atrocities due to him being in that corner oh and he wants freedom and his dissapointment towards humanity is a result of what they're capable of. I wanna bring my own interpretation but it could be a bit inaccurate, I think why Eren was so disappointed when he realized humanity lived outside the walls is because for some of the reasons you stated above aside from him wanting to kill everybody for that reason but also because he knew humanity was capable of ruining that fantasy for him like the titan walls have, added to the fact that his home got destroyed and he got betrayed by the very same people that made his life a living hell in the first place and that the king was literally in the way between him and freedom and the memories he collected from previous titan shifters and it's not hard to see why he would be dissapointed with humanity existing in the outside world. Sorry if there's some words missing or spelling errors I was to lazy to re-read everything to see if I made any mistakes

[@BlingTheSlim]

Pretty sure thats how Eren feels isayama make a comedy manga called School Scattates or whatever and In a chapter or page it shows him having a zombie dream and when he wakes up he is disappointed so it shows how Eren was even if there was peace in a set world

[@MotorcycleWrites]

I agree, but I read it more like Eren is disappointed that he has to shift his hate from the titans (who don’t really have humanity and Eren doesn’t regret killing) to humans (who Eren clearly has a lot of issues with killing and constantly had to “hype himself up” for lack of a better term just to think about killing them). When it was just titans, Eren could kill every titan in the world, achieve the freedom he wanted, and be a hero. When it turns out that it was humans oppressing him, Eren had to do something a lot more difficult and a lot less heroic and simple.

[@Sanguinnius]

Thank you,I'm tired of arguing with people who say eren was disappointed coz of racism towards eldians lol,which is in some way true but in ch131 he's not implying to that,like how can people forget armin was the one who gave eren a dream,in ch76 he says it himself that he didn't even cared about what was beyond the walls it was because of armin's eyes as he said after armin showed him that book,it ties perfectly to ch131 but somehow people keep ignoring it and still headcanon a complete different interpretation and when story goes on with canon stuff they call it a retcon, talk about stupidity

[@sreenivas6071]

this. 100% this.

[@TheTummiez]

I really appreciate this video. I remember observing many years ago, before we ever left the walls, that Eren was a kind of hysterical idiot, but that his passion was meaningful and inspiring to the people around him. I agree with your interpretation that one of the core themes of Shingeki no Kyojin is actually about nature and emotions. It's about the unbearable paradox of Eren's emotions, and the horrific consequences of them when he is given (by the chaos of nature) a terrible power.

[@davidjones-jj2kd]

Damn, I got goosebumps on how well executed you describe eren and what freedom means to him. Great vid man!

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Eren: Because I was born into this world. Willy Tybur: That's my line!

[@jghifiversveiws8729]

Living up to that name I see.

[@wanna-be-thinker2377]

Carla Yeager: Nope, I said it first! So property of the Yeager family.

[@captainvalourous6668]

Off Topic: In my opinion the whole final story of AOT is never about Eren nor anyone of the Eldian or Marleyan characters in the first place but rather its about Isayama telling a message to whole world about the true and complex nature of the war.

[@HypnosisBear]

Exactly! Finally someone understands it..!!!

[@bohanxu6125]

I think the charactor of Gabi is what Isayama really think about the nature of war. She is what Eren could have been if he has a different life experience. She grew from the worst eldian-hater and someone who wants completely annihilation of her enemy, to become someone who can sympathize and forgive her enemy for the sake of overall well being of humanity, instead of only for the well being of her tribe of people. Her change is through experiences and communication with her enemy. Gabi is what Eren could have been (Gabi also kinda looks like Eren... Falco is also what mikasa could have been if mikasa confesses her love to Eren). Eren didn't learn to sympathize his enemy, to care about his enemy, nor to care about overall well being of humanity. He only want the complete annillation of his enemy... but Gabi is able to change this mindset. If most people in our real world can be like Gabi who is capable of change, capable of sympathizing her enemy, and capable of valuing overall well being of humanity over her own tribe.... our world would be such a better and peaceful place.

[@kleberson777]

Its about tragedy of endless conflict/war

[@hawkeyemihawkgettingmoneylord]

That means he failed because how the war turned out didn't make sense.

[@ゆゆ-j9t3i]

Not only the manga, but also the songs "Akatsuki no Requiem" and "To you in 2000 years or 20,000 years later" have interesting lyrics that depict war.

[@callmesenpaidesu1506]

Sage Bro I been needing videos like this and appreciate it deeply. I been a fan for a while but been too busy and life almoast got to a breaking point so now i took me time and listening to this and catching up really beats even therapy. btw yes im ok just stress and solitude abd we all are dealing with it i just want to deeply express u help heal scars ever since you got me to cry then stop crying with your first video.

[@Mr.Needle-Hamster]

A monster and a man. Victim of the world and mass murderer. Free and yet un-free. This is Eren Yeager.

[@grumpysheep3710]

I love how all of this explained cause to be honest I don't think I'll be watching the anime or reading the manga anytime soon, so this really helps. Especially since there were originally four ending from what I heard in another explained video about the endings and how it had to be rewritten. But I honestly do believe that Eren is one of the best if not greatest well written character in all of manga along with a well designed and thought out character development. I mean yea he did really change much, but that's the biggest plot twist of them all! The fact that he did ALL this for years and in different timeliness AND still did not change or feel the freedom he so desperately thought he wanted/deserved!

[@BillyBob-tr5cv]

Honestly, only dude I’m okay with leaving for a month and coming back since everytime he does he comes back with a banger

[@raistlamar99]

Bravo Gave you a standing ovation in my room Absolutely Phenomenal work, many thanks to all those involved

[@streetgamer3452]

Before I watch the video I want to bring something up about how he never changes and how that makes him a villain. Main characters in 90% of shonens usually has a fundamental goal that drives them through their adventure and said goal is usually brought into question and ultimately sees it evolve into a more mature outlook of said goal. However, a lot of Shonen or hell any villain usually have their goal set in stone and will not budge from it with some thinking of what would happen if they changed at the end. This brings me to Eren who is on the villain’s POV. Eren never changes nor makes his goal more mature. He keeps the exact same definition of freedom that he had as a child. A warped sense of freedom that is in direct contrast to Armin’s freedom who is very much the hero who matures and tries to understand. This is why Eren is a villain. Even when confronted with the fact that Marliens are also just people living their lives, doesn’t accept that because it doesn’t fit into his POV nor his goal. Eren never allowed his goal to be changed and when something came to contest his belief, instead of maturing from it he choose to lock himself in his cage of “freedom” shunning anything that didn’t follow the same type of “freedom” he believes in and actively destroying it. This is why Eren is a villain, he never allowed himself to grow past that 8 yr kid and tried to force his warped ideals onto everyone else instead of choosing to become more mature.

[@BlingTheSlim]

I think calling Eren a villain is underselling evil or good does not exist we humans created morals for the good of society and for selfish reasons but Eren is different Eren is a different kind of monster a Monster whos lost never ever finding the true reason why he kept moving forward eren was so free that he allowed himself to never be happy

[@streetgamer3452]

@@BlingTheSlim imo Eren was the never truly free til his death since he knew his fate which meant he knew he was destined to do it, whether it was predetermined by a force or just that was his own actions but he now knows what he’ll do we’ll never know. That’s why I think the line of “I just did it” was a thing because he kept following his destiny that he could never escape but it at least freed his friends from their destiny of death by titans.

[@luongtuanhung6723]

Eren's arc to me has always revolved around learning about empathy and accept the reality of the world he's living in. Everyone around Eren managed to grow into the best version of themselves except for him. Armin accepted the world for what it is and just go with the flow, doing his best to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Jean overcame his inner demons to do the right thing. Mikasa got over her infatuation with Eren. Reiner (somewhat) got over his ptsd phase and drop the "warrior" facade. Eren, however, refuse to accept both the world and his enemies. He chose his childish dream over the world and stick with it till the end, even if he had to trample on billions of lives to accomplish it. While that can be admirable to some people, what he wanted was inherently evil. Deep down inside, he is a childish, selfish, violent and ruthless person who will do anything for himself. We only see his true nature thanks to the shift of perspective in season 4. I wish he didn't get away with it as easily as in the manga.

[@handlerone5172]

You nailed it. You understand Eren completely, you also get why Isayama wrote the other characters around him full of growth and acceptance. It wasn't enough that Eren knew of the ocean like Armin. It wasn't enough to overcome inner conflict like Jean, and it wasn't enough to fight for and with others instead of wanting to be the hero like Reiner. No, Eren wanted things his way and only his way. Like a child.

[@lancenkosanasenda8211]

Mhmmm the mikasa one could a somewhat, depending on how you look at it (talking about the extra pages iin the manga). The test is post on

[@vihan3423]

Hmm I agree and yet disagree. Sure Eren was selfish but I personally still felt that his selfishness was a much more realistic depiction of human nature than the idealism shown by Armin and the others. He also truly wanted what was the best for his people. He didn't go with Armin's short term rumbling plan cos it would've just delayed the war and then the next gen would be burdened by it thus achieving nothing. Eren had always been obsessed with freedom and didn't wanna restrict the freedom of the next gen kids of Paradise by taking away their childhoods. That's why he was against Zeke's euthanization plan as well. Also there was no way that a relatively tech backward area like Paradise could catch up to the rest of the world who had already started achieving advancements in anti-titan technology. Further, when Eren said that he was disappointed (in chp 131 I think) he was actually referring to the entire human race and not just Marleyans. He was disappointed in humanity itself. He perhaps started thinking along the same lines as Erwin- that as long as humans exist the cycle of hatred and revenge would forever continue and lets be honest he was proven right at the end. Up until then he used to think that the titans were his enemies and he now realised that humanity itself was the biggest enemy all along. Talking about the likes of Armin, Jean etc I personally wasn't a huge fan of the morality and idealism being displayed by them. I dunno but it just felt too unrealistic and shonen-esque. You have the entire world willing to destroy you and your people for merely existing and here you are trying to talk about ideals. Armin legit couldn't come up with a good enough plan to save Paradise in all those time skip years which only further pushed Eren down the path of destruction. Again I'm not saying Eren was all innocent either. He had always had darkness deep inside of him and the world's actions only brought it out more and more. I just personally found Eren a lot more realistic character as a victim of war than the others. Just imagine a teenager having to witness the fucked up future and realising that he's the one who'll have to do it all. All of this would be too much to handle for anybody let alone Eren who always had that darkness inside of him. Eren was freedom in its purest form and to achieve that he was willing to do anything. It doesn't make his actions morally right but I personality could understand where he was coming from. It was a situation of kill or be killed after all.

[@beastyboy101bo]

@@vihan3423 you're missing the point about him having a perverted view of freedom. Yes you're right the world was fucked up but also he was fucked up as well. Genocide was not the answer, it's an extreme that had no justification. Yes the world was cruel, however this story isn't so much on the solution of the problem as it is the exploration of a character who doesn't wanna fight his nature of being. The extra pages in the volume show Paradis getting completely wiped out a century later so his plan only did even MORE prolonging than Armins plan would've. The cycle of hatred would never be defeated and probably won't ever because humanity is just cruel. There definitely would've been a dispute in Paradis if there would have been a total genocide in the yeats to come. There's really no solution to the cycle of hatred if we're being honest.

[@javrocks]

If eren's arc was about learning empathy and accepting reality then it just makes all his actions look stupid. He had a whole breakdown infront ramzi where he basicly tells the kid that he has to die because he CAN'T accept reality for how it is. U telling me that after killing ramzi and billions of others he can finally put humanity above his own goals and let the remaining 20% live.. Like my mans empathy came at the worst possible time. If he realized he had emotions sooner the world would of been saved lol. That's just cheap IMO As for the other characters they just turned into hypocrites. Armin can justify blowing up a port, and letting all of humanity within the walls die off but not what eren's doing. Jean is currently working with Marco's killers in order to guarantee the destruction of Paradis. And he killing his comrades to do it. Isn't that exactly how Marco died, by being betrayed by his so called comrades. jean just created more Marco's when he killed the yeagerists and so did Connie. Mikasa nvr took off the damn scarf or got over her infatuation with eren. And reiners sniffin letters now.

[@jokerismile7135]

I think Eren represents Us Humanity with all the contradictions. That’s why I love Eren Yeager.

[@ryanroswellcacho]

In my Opinion. Freedom is just what my father said and his father said. "That Freedom is an event that you can do anything and everything you want just for a Day". 24 hours of satisfaction, pleasure, and Hapiness, whether is it Good or Bad, as long that you smile to it that is all that matters.

[@roastbeef4918]

I was wondering when you were going to make this one. Eren never changed. The world changed...and so did his friends.

[@kragonz01]

Almost as the author Isayama said, for much is Eren fighting for Freedom, "He's the Slave of the Story"

[@Igami_No_Io]

"You're just an animal, and you will never change." - God Of War

[@rickysalgado1623]

Absolutely amazing commentary on the very complicated character that is Eren Yeager. Thank you sage

[@elkhaqelfida5972]

"To the boy who sought freedom : Goodbye" Eren finally achieved his dream, to be free. He was initially scared of death, because he didn't know what will happen after he died. Now after he died, his spirit materialized/reincarnated as a bird. The very bird that Eren himself described what a freedom looks like. As a bird, he keep watching over his friends along the story of AoT, from the very beginning. Just like what Eren said to his father "You started this story, didn't you?" and thus we got those episodes; "To you, 2000 years later" and "From you, 2000 years ago" and finally it all answered in chapter 138 "To the boy who sought freedom, Goodbye" in which Eren finally fulfilled his part and achieved freedom.

[@-paul-2191]

That line wasn't animated, was it? I'm here the day after the anime ended and I don't remember reading/hearing that

[@khloros17]

@@-paul-2191 It was the "splash text" written at the end of chapter 138. There were lines like this at the last page of each chapter in the monthly release, although it probably was the editor that wrote these just to keep the readers hyped for the next chapter.

[@childish6059]

I love these videos there always so poetic and deep and so well made. The ending left me with goose bumps

[@oliaziabrieva8662]

This is incredible! Thank you ☺️

[@justsomegirlwithoutamustache]

This is one of the best analysis videos about AOT I've ever seen

[@cecemetro]

Damn good video sir, while i definitely don't agree with his actions, I understood his motives.

[@gojo9620]

Problem with 17:10 Chapter 84 Eren: "Have you heard of the ocean? It's like a gigantic lake that stretches far beyond the horizon. Not only that apparently it's all made out of salt water that's what Armin said. He said someday we'd go and see the ocean on the other side of the walls but that was a dream we had as little kids. *I'd forgotten it a long time ago*." Eren never wanted Armin's freedom

[@kelvyn6048]

About to sleep and Sage’s Rain posts a new video. Guess I’m up for another 35 minutes.

[@assentodele]

Definitely my favorite Eren analysis so far. Keep up the good work, man.

[@spits61494]

Erens story goes back to his WILL to fight against his childhood bullies. Those that infringe on his peace will get what’s coming. The rumbling.

[@Jangofet952]

Man I honestly love your videos so much and wait for every new vid this one was incredible please keep up the good work :)

[@sarruto87]

I have been waiting for this thank you Sages Rain for the video to understand Eren and his ideology better

[@keithb3101]

After about a month the manga ended.. I really dove back into it to understand Eren's character. I came to this same conclusion many times. Even reading the season 4 part of the manga, you could see how Eren was broken. He never wanted to do it, yet he knew he didn't have a choice. He wouldn't be free, his friends wouldn't be free. Such a broken character, and I love him all the more because of it. Understanding who Eren is makes me want to cry. Such a beautiful character. Another note, when you mentioned how Mikasa said "you are family" after that, the friends shout out "eren!" .. Eren looks down, and simply says "perfect timing" in the manga. He had seen this moment before. He knew how it went. He knew what she said. You are correct, Mikasa was his last hope that he didn't have to start the rumbling.

[@yurkdawg]

“Freedom is just another word for ‘nothing left to lose.’”

[@thegoldenlion4082]

Right now it's 1:20AM in Germany ... perfect timing Sage! 🔥😁

[@A2forty]

The only crazy thing about the ending is that so many people try to make Eren a hero when he was always the villain. He had always been filled with rage and hate and almost always puts himself and his rage over everyone else.

[@oreo-postraphe]

Maybe Marley shouldve just dropped a line

[@aldogjipali2835]

nah i still think he is the hero of the story

[@APrime25]

According to literature Eren is the protagonist because he is pushing the story forward. Eren, Mikasa & Armin would all be main characters because we’re following what happens to them. Eren is the hero because we align w/ his (initial) goals, but he stops being the hero for us depending on where we don’t agree with his goals anymore. For some, it’s the Rumbling, for others, it’s giving up completing the Rumbling. And for some of us, he never stops being the hero. But at no point is he the villain. In fact, AoT has antagonists, who change throughout the story as more is learned, but in the end, arguably, there is no villain. Everyone acted according to the things that happened to them. The only “bad guy” not fleshed out was the original Fritz that enslaved Ymir’s people, but I bet it was a warring-states period on earth, meaning tribes were all fighting m for power and killing & enslaving each other. He ended up bringing an end to that age using Ymir’s Titan power & becoming King. Either everyone was bad for good reason or everyone was good for bad reasons.

[@WillemDefoe]

@@APrime25 Well said, heroes and villains don’t exist in Attack on Titan. It’s just who’s alive and why

[@StormSnakeMG]

@@WillemDefoe While I agree, there are two exceptions. Levi, and Armin. Both of these people were willing to give up their goals and aspirations to ensure humanity's survival. They always put everyone else before themselves. They're heroes in every sense of the word. Hell, even the title of the episode where Armin dies in Shiganshina is called Hero.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

"The only way to win... is to FIGHT!" *- Eren Yeager*

[@uhlexseeuh]

but he totally didn't stand by that quote with the ending

[@aarontsafack16]

@@uhlexseeuh because mikasa killed him

[@fusiontoa18]

@@aarontsafack16 he let her

[@thehermitman822]

It's no longer a fight if no one can compete against you. Just slaughter.

[@hikkigayakomachi6657]

T A T A K A E

[@elsafowl]

There are so many layers to your video and to this character, it was really fascinating. It's so complicated. If Eren strives for negative freedom, Armin with positive freedom, I guess Mikasa is simply learning to be free. She said Eren taught her how to live, but she was also not free as long as she was following Eren. Eren's dream was to be free, Armin's dream was to discover the world and Mikasa's dream was to live a peaceful life with Eren. I guess, out of the three, only Armin did reach his dream (and even then, he got to explore the world destroyed by Eren, not the one he was imagining). But isn't good? Eren was a prisoner of his dream and in a sense, Mikasa was a prisoner of her love for Eren. I may be reaching here, but Ymir freeing herself from King Fritz is kinda the same as Mikasa freeing herself from Eren (even though King Fritz and Eren are nothing alike), because they are freeing themselves from monster who can't control their true nature (Eren/Freedom and King Fritz/Power). That's maybe why Ymir smiles at the end, when Eren is killed and kissed by Mikasa. It's the healthiest way for them to part... Anyway, Eren is a complicated and rich character, but thinking he is evil by the end doesn't negate this. One can be a monster and human at the same time (see Hannah Arendt for more reflection on that), I think that's the main message of SNK. Now, fans need to be able to take a step back and stop supporting Eren or the yeagerists and telling the genocide is right ans justified, because no genocide is ever justified or right. And that's what worries me more about SNK and Eren's fandom interpretations: are people truly getting the point of the story, or are they creating excuses and justifications for a monster (because he's the main character and we spent years by his side)?

[@hawkeyemihawkgettingmoneylord]

How is wanting to be free from racism and violence negative freedom? You guys are trying to be to deep.

[@НикитаСимонян-ж5е]

Ymir smiled, because Mikasa was able to kill the person she loved the most, when it was solution . Ymir cant do it. There is no paraller between Mikas,Eren, King and so on. Eren loved Mikasa and he was giving her comfort. And the point is Mikasa was always free. So you dont get it right. Her love wasnt selfish ,she wasnt caged, she was always free. Any strong love is a cage and slavary, if we gonna think your way

[@elsafowl]

Well, we can also agree to have different interpretations of the same characters/stories, but to respond to your point: I think the point of Mikasa's story was to be free. I think she IS free by the end of the story, but she wasn't at the beginning (most characters aren't free in SNK, they are pushed in a certain direction because of circumstances, roles, etc), mostly because of Eren but not entirely. And I'm also not saying loving Eren was a bad thing for Mikasa - it's just that Eren is bad for the world, and even Mikasa can't help but recognise this truth in the end (even if this Eren was always there, to a degree). Mikasa was selfless, to love Eren so much and to support his dreams for most of their time together. Mikasa is one of the most selfless character, because she sacrifices her wants (living a peaceful life with Eren) to save the world. She becomes free (from Eren, but not from her love for him) as the story evolves, but I'm not saying it's not a painful process. Finally no, not "any strong love is a cage and slavery", because not all strong love are toxic and include the leader of a genocide. Love can become abuse and toxicity if there is an imbalance in power, if one or both partners are toxics and evil, but it isn't the "strong" part that makes this love bad. Look at other SNK pairings: they are strong but they aren't comparable to Eren/Mikasa, simply because Eren isn't a part of them. @@НикитаСимонян-ж5е

[@Chann223]

I always love your videos Sage. Having just watched the last episode of Attack on Titan recently your analysis is very accurate. Eren is such a complicated character because he is truly us, just like humans of the real world with all our complex messiness. People who grow up in such horrid, constantly traumatizing life circumstances never walk away from them unscathed. And it doesn't necessarily "change" who they are, but can add on to it, in good or bad ways. It depends on the rest of the choices they make throughout their lives. But also, some have so few choices to choose from that it may seem ( to them) that there is only one road to go down at any point and time. I personally think there is always two sides within us that we constantly struggle between, like Carl Jung would say "the ego and the shadow self". Our shadow self is everything about ourselves we try to hide, that we dislike, and want to ignore, or maybe aren't even aware of. But it is apart of us like it or not. The more we have an integrated relationship with our shadow self the more we are able to view life as a whole, instead of strict black and white, all or nothing extremes. To be able to accept the ugly and the bad, without wanting to wipe it all away takes a healthy mindset, one that can endure suffering. Eren had the same problem Anakin Skywalker did I feel, which inevitably lead both to becoming enslaved to the lesser aspects of their personalities as a way to aleviate their own perosnal suffering. To "fix" the world as they both saw it. But what they probably couldn't see was that it was really them trying to fix ( wrongly) their own inner world.

[@Die.in.freedom]

Eren didnt changed all he wanted from the begining is freedom and his friends to be happy. He also loves mikasa many ppl needa understand that

[@Die.in.freedom]

And i think he cares abt the ppl he killed bc of the rumbling a lot but he is just torn his dream and his friends are worth more for him then those other ppl/he said for him there is no past or future for him its all at the same time some maybe thats the problem he cant let go some dreams

[@martintinajero9140]

I love his videos please continue to make more like this especially one about berserker.

[@nicolenicolereis6783]

Your analysis' are top notch. Just fantastically done once again! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing insights into this incredible story and these incredible character's that Isayama created.

[@ImmortalRecon]

Awesome video, very in depth and explained well. Will definitely be rewatching in the future in order to better understand Eren as a character.

[@blitzlag4406]

Such an amazing video, You broke down erens character very well

[@lp6636]

his goal at the begining of the anime and at the end has never changed.

[@GohanLSSJ2]

Amazing job. I'd love to see your take in similarly grim tales like Monster or Berserk.

[@DumplingDave]

I still think its crazy that people hqte the last panel with eren crying talking about mikasa. They want him to be this sigma mass murderer on his grindset but he's just a broken deeply flawed human.

[@yuukichan12]

We all were in relative agreement with who Eren was originally but, post-timeskip, it feels as though people accepted the persona Eren was putting on as his true identity, having fully realized his potential. The fact that we stopped getting much of his POV should've been a sign that this was just an act but some folks really wanted to see Eren as this freedom fighting, 4d chess playing gigachad, ignoring all of the aspects of his that we _already knew_ were core to his character. I love Eren, but I could never have accepted the Eren that many of those who hated his breakdown in 139 wanted him to be. It's like they superimposed themselves onto a fake character and were disappointed when he turned out to still be a mentally broken, teenaged boy who had feelings...

[@icomeinpeace3756]

​@@yuukichan12Couldn't have reasoned this better. Exactly.

[@Z-A-C]

Attack on titan parallels real life for me

[@logic8965]

You know I have the same thinking now

[@42Zeided]

20:14 gotta love the Hollow Knight music haha, very fitting touch! Awesome interpretation man

[@gummidusa1076]

I had the same thought! What great parallels between the two stories too, loved it