Eren Yeager was the main protagonist of the Attack On Titan series and a young man who underwent an unreal amount of suffering. Given his short-tempered and vengeful demeanor, he was a dramatic departure from typical anime leads since the beginning of the story.
To the surprise of some, Eren’s reactions to his surroundings render him the series’ most realistic character, even despite the drastic measures he took at the conclusion of the series. By identifying the ways Yeager is better grounded than most, we can better appreciate his sophistication.
10 Eren Had Much More Character Development Than The Series’ Other Heroes
Eren had significantly more development than the series’ other main characters, Mikasa, Levi, and Armin. His journey from hero to anti-hero to flagrant villain was arguably the series’ most surprising and devastating plot twist, turning every accomplishment that his friends had made against them.
Although Mikasa and Armin’s arcs were not entirely inconsequential (putting the lives of others before Eren and finally seeing the sea, respectively), neither were nearly as dynamic as their rogue comrade.
9 Eren Had A Firsthand View Of War’s Casualties
Oftentimes, war is glossed over as a plot device in order to compel the protagonist into action. For example, Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha in the Naruto universe did not have any direct effect on its central protagonist, and Bleach‘s Ichigo took the summons of the Soul Society as a voluntary challenge.
Eren, however, did not have a choice in destiny and was forced to watch as a pure titan devoured his mother. This traumatizing event had a lasting toll on his psyche and created a realistic means for his ambition, one that extended beyond the generic “saving one’s friends” motif.
8 Eren’s Goals Changed As More Information Was Revealed
Eren’s motivations may have initially been set on eradicating the titans, but as details became clear about their nature and origins, his objectives shifted. Instead of seeking to exterminate them, he directed his wrath at Marley, the nation responsible for their creation to begin with.
This showed an acute intelligence and flexibility that many people from the real world share. Moreover, it’s consistent with the notion that he is driven by the death of his mother, as the Warriors were ultimately responsible for the fall of Shiganshina.
7 Eren’s Actions Had Political Undertones
As Eren’s ultimate agenda gradually began to coalesce, so too did the series’ nascent political undertones. Having rationalized that the world would never accept Eldians for who they were, the conflict between the Yeagerists and traditional military generals (such as Dot Pyxis and Zackly) became a battle of ideologies.
The former were nationalists who sought to place their country above all else, whereas the latter were willing to risk Paradis in order to prevent innocent lives from being exterminated. Such themes have been explored historically since the beginning of civilization and continue in modern discourse.
6 Eren Understood Reiner’s Point Of View Even As A Villain
It is rare that a typical anime protagonist will not only acknowledge a rudimentary understanding of the villains’ argument but also flagrantly agree with it. During Eren’s infiltration of Marley, however, he privately confided in Braun that he would have also destroyed Shiganshina under his circumstances.
Nonetheless, that did not excuse the Armored Titan’s pending execution. Since Eren still registered the Marleyans as a threat to be dealt with, he knew he could not let them live regardless of how “relatable” he felt their behavior was.
5 Eren’s Recklessness Against Annie Was Punished Immediately
When Annie Leonhart pursued the Scouts through the forest and gradually began to pick them off, Eren attempted to save his comrades as any typical hero would. This led to a premature confrontation in titan country – one that Yeager lost almost immediately.
Having much less experience than his opponent and an inability to harden his body, Eren’s loss was as immediate as it was brutal. Simultaneously, it depicted that courage is not always noble, especially now that Levi’s comrades technically died for nothing.
4 Eren Was Unable To Obtain Godlike Power By Himself
After Eren made contact with Zeke, he obtained the full godlike power of the Founding Titan and ossified his place as the series’ final antagonist. With an army of Colossals at his disposal, he began the Rumbling and crushed most of the planet.
However, his ascension to prominence would not have been possible without the heroes’ aid. Should they not have fended off Marley’s invasion, he never would have made contact with his brother. Subsequently, the conditions behind his transformation were realistic and portray vulnerability amidst his staggering might.
3 Eren Was Eaten During His First Mission
Another instance of Eren’s courage bearing disastrous results was when he was eaten by the Bearded Titan. This was in order to save Armin’s life, even at the price of his own.
The fact that neither young man could have defeated the monsters as easily as the other Scouts illustrates their inexperience and fear. As a result, they are better humanized since their (understandable) visceral reactions profoundly impacted their ability to perform and cleanse Paradis from the giants plaguing it. Fortunately, Eren’s Attack Titan ensured that his first failure would not be his last.
2 Eren Was Feared & Nearly Killed For His Titan Form
When Eren demonstrated an ability to turn into a titan, he was immediately feared and reviled by many of Paradis’ other defenders. Kitz Woermann in particular suspected that he was a titan infiltrator who somehow wanted to destroy what remained of civilization from inside.
Though irrational, Kitz’s fears are a realistic reaction since his paranoia is fueled by ignorance. Propitiously, the Scouts would claim Yeager as their own in court, thereby preventing him from being executed for a factor that he had no control over.
1 Eren Lost Most Of His Childhood Fights
Eren spent most of his childhood defending Armin from local bullies. While a traditional anime hero may successfully bludgeon his opponents to a pulp as a sign of his latent fighting potential, Yeager had no such luck. Instead of properly saving Armin, he simply took his beatings for him.
He was only saved when Mikasa intervened, her presence alone enough to intimidate the ruffians into fleeing. Eren’s early failure to protect Armin further illustrates his mortality as a character, with his shortcomings making him easier to relate to and root for.
About The Author