#analyses and discussions

[digitalzombie]

On (the updated) Chapter 139.

This is not necessarily a rant. Instead, these are some thoughts I had after reading (the new) Chapter 139 of Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan. I also briefly talk about the Rumbling and Ymir’s characterization. Of course, this is not spoiler-free, so beware if you are not caught up with the latest updates on the series/chapter!

Spoilers below:

First and foremost, I enjoyed the series. I wouldn’t call it “perfect,” nor “the absolute best,” but it was entertaining and, dare I say, awe-inspiring. Isayama presented something that not many shōnen mangaka do, which is a realistic take on war and the irreparable actions of humanity. To say that this is a story about mankind fighting monsters is not entirely wrong; in fictional stories, “man is the true monster” tends to be a reoccurring theme, and Attack on Titan, Shingeki no Kyojin, is no exception. I’ve said the following in a previous post I made, and I’ll say it here again:

This is mostly a reflection of humanity and the terrible things people are capable of doing when they’re given too much power, and when they’ve been stripped from having any of it. (digitalzombie)

Was it all for nothing?

All characters are victims of corruption. We saw that with Eldians who were persecuted in Marley and the Eldians on Paradis. The Rumbling was Eren’s desperate attempt to protect his friends more than to protect the island. It is apparent when he refuses the Founding Titan to any of his closest comrades in the flashback in Chapter 108…

By the end of the series, we see time-skip after time-skip of the Island’s growth and eventual destruction. We see a boy encountering the tree where, presumably, Eren was buried. It is different from the other trees, as it is the largest (probably the oldest, too), and bears a huge resemblance to the tree Ymir, the Founder, had fallen into. This seems to tease that everything will begin again—the rebirth of the titans and, potentially, more war.

So, did Eren commit mass genocide for nothing in the end? My answer is no.

Eren fulfilled what he wanted/needed to do, which was to protect his friends (or at least those who survived the battles leading up to the Rumbling). He aided in freeing Ymir. And just as he had hoped, his surviving friends lived for a long time, as suggested in the final panels. Eren’s motives are questionable, and it begs the question: Is Eren selfish? And my answer is yes, although he does not openly show it as he lived his whole life living and fighting for other people’s sakes. Eren is a paradoxical character: he is selfish for choosing his friends over the world but selfless for putting his friends ahead of himself.

Isayama gave us a bleak ending, one that makes sense since something as unforgivable as the Rumbling would be a justifiable reason to start a war--at least in the eyes of the world leaders. We are only given a small glimpse of the attack, so there is no saying if The Rumbling truly was the motivation, or if Paradis acted first. What is true is that the cycle of hate continues. Historia's reign, as well as the rise of the Yeagerists, prove that as time passes, ideals and people in power change. Truly, history repeats itself.

The Rumbling

Side note: Of course, The Rumbling wouldn’t be the absolute best solution to end a war in reality. (I didn’t support it either.) However, I read the manga with the idea that there really was no other way to end the war between Paradis and Marley because the whole world was dead-set on destroying the island, as suggested in chapter 123:

Not to mention that the Association in this part of the series reacted with cheers to the speaker’s sentiment. Even the displaced Eldians were brainwashed to abhor the so-called “Devils” of Paradis Island. We can assume (based on what we know about the views that Marley, the Eldians in Marley, and the advocates for “displaced Eldians” have) that Paradis was the so-called enemy of the world (at least to the public outside of Paradis). Armin and Hange’s approach to the situation, the diplomatic way, was not wrong either; however, given the other nations’ resolve to decimate the island, this strategy would not have worked.

This is where Eren’s plan to wipe out the rest of the world, save the island, comes into play. He did not want to conform to the original plan and repeat the same cycle the Royals have for hundreds of years, which was to sacrifice Historia and her descendants, and the future hosts of the Coordinate. He was only meant to scare the world— to dare them to attack—by waking some of the dormant Colossal Titans. Of course, he chose a different path. The Rumbling, Eren’s Rumbling, was meant to buy time for Paradis’ restoration, to secure their safety, to expand their military forces, and to eventually end the Titans’ curse… which did happen.

Ymir, the Founder

Ymir is the most mysterious character in the series. Due to her lack of speech (as her tongue was cut off), she is easily the most misunderstood. She was abused and used for power; Ymir was a slave—both literally and metaphorically—to Fritz and the following Coordinate hosts. My understanding is that she had some kind of attachment to Fritz and his ideals. Chapter 139 introduces the idea that Ymir did, in fact, love Karl Fritz. I doubt that this is really the case, given that Eren’s words contradict the art on the panel (surely, purposely done by Isayama):

In this panel (chapter 139), she is unhappy: her marriage is a joke, given that her husband flirts with other women (they were most likely his mistresses) while she tended to his needs and continued to have his children. Her “love” for Fritz is not real. Ymir was attached to the idea of love and desired it all the more.

I believe that Mikasa did not necessarily free Ymir; rather, Ymir was inspired by Mikasa’s unwavering love for Eren. Mikasa loved Eren and was able to let go of him despite how much it hurt her. In turn, Ymir finally let go to of her abuser by realizing that what she felt was not truly love. Mikasa suggests Ymir’s true feelings when she says: “Your love must have felt like a never-ending nightmare.”

I should also mention that the panel above does not necessarily mean that Ymir let Fritz die, although this is open to interpretation. I thought that this clearly expressed Ymir’s regrets. Should he have died in her stead, Ymir would have been able to live the rest of her life with her daughters in peace. This might have also avoided future wars, aka, the war on Paradis. However, Mikasa’s words ring true: “It’s only because you brought your children into this world that I stand here today.” There is no way to undo the past. It is true that Eren could have rewritten the past by letting her live and letting Fritz die; however, that would completely change everything: Eren and his friends would have probably never existed, and Ymir would have been trapped in Paths forever, as the Founder would go to a random newborn child.

Another interesting point I’d like to add is Ymir’s appearance. In Paths, she presents herself as a child but finally shows herself as an adult in front of Mikasa. She expresses her fragility via regression, or appearing as her less developed stage in life (childhood) as a coping mechanism. (This can also be said about Eren’s child-like appearance at the start of the Rumbling.) Only after freeing herself from Paths does she take on the appearance of a grown woman. We cannot say that she completely healed from her trauma, but we can say that she was ready to move on.

Why wait 2000 years?

My take on this question is that Eren was Ymir’s answer as he did not bear royal blood and therefore could not command her to do anything for him. Recall that nearly all previous hosts of the Coordinate were of Royal blood. No one understood Ymir, nor seemed to care to communicate with her. Grisha was at the end of his life when he stole the Coordinate and then passed it to Eren.

Potential sequel?

As for the final panels of the chapter, I don’t think that this sets up a potential sequel. Unlike Eren, Armin, and Mikasa during their childhoods, this boy has the freedom to explore the world as is his birthright. He does not have to think or worry about being confined behind tall walls, nor worry about a government's restrictions to question the mysteries of the world. He is free to explore. I think that this is Isayama’s way to tie the story back to that simple dream Eren had as a child. Despite the obvious attack on Paradis in the previous panels, there is reason to believe that not all of Paradis was destroyed. This boy should be proof of that. For now, whether he becomes the new Founder or not is strictly based on our own interpretations.

That’s all I have to say about Chapter 139. Let me know if you’d like me to delve deeper into anything else from AoT! I was thinking about taking a closer look at other characters later on, but I’ll be happy to add my take on anything AoT-related.

[digitalzombie]

SnK/AoT: "The world is cruel..."

A Short Analysis of Mikasa.

In this post, I discuss Mikasa’s character, or rather, my understanding of Mikasa’s character. The following is just my analysis/interpretation, so you don’t have to take my word so literally. I also don’t mind reading your thoughts. As a matter of fact, I invite them!

Beware of spoilers if you are not finished with the manga or are caught up with the latest updates/chapter.

In Ep 6, Chapters 5 and 6, of AoT, Mikasa recalls a pivotal moment of her life after slaying a titan and saving a crowd of civilians. In these chapters, we learn about Mikasa’s family and how she came to meet the Yeagers. Isayama also presents us with the idea of inhumanity, or people’s cruelty.

Mikasa believes that the world is cruel. She is both a victim of and a witness to other people’s actions. For instance, Mikasa’s parents were murdered in front of her. She was also a target for human trafficking. Due to her home’s location, Mikasa also had firsthand experience with the concept of survival: her father hunted animals for sustenance, and in turn, witnessed how other creatures preyed on each other.

(Chapter 6)

She also witnessed these things between people. Like many of the characters of the series, Mikasa was well aware of how people took advantage of others, given that she was almost sold into sex slavery.

It was only after encountering Dimo Reeves (Flegel Reeves’ father) where she remembered her childhood. The crowd she saves in Chapter 6 were almost victims of the titans due to a rich man’s greed. It is easy to see how people prey upon each other and how the rich and powerful benefit from the poor and helpless. These things are a catalyst for her beliefs, which are challenged by the good she sees in her friends and the bad she sees in their brutish actions.

It is clear that Mikasa recognizes Eren’s cruel side, which is something that she cannot brush off. Even his heroics are a haunting reminder of his cruelty, which can be seen throughout the first part of Season 4.

(Chapter 109).

After Eren’s attack on Marley in S4 Ep 6 (Chapter 101), Mikasa is obviously distraught by his actions:

(Chapter 102).

Even so, she clings to the Eren she grew up with. He saved her from what would have been a merciless life had Eren not succeeded in rescuing her from the traffickers. This is apparent when she reminisces about Eren and his wish for his friends’ wellbeing, and when she is pressured to reevaluate his actions without bias (Chapter 108). Doing so is not impossible; however, like Armin, Mikasa knew Eren differently from the others. In her eyes, Eren is her savior, the love of her life, and her childhood friend. Armin’s words to Annie in chapter 31 “To some, you are a good person, while to others, you are a bad person” apply to Mikasa’s relationship with Eren. To Mikasa, Eren is a good person because of the seemingly good things he has done for her despite the terrible things he did to others. Likewise, Mikasa is a good person because she protects her friends despite having killed many people. This is a matter of perspective. It is also safe to say that Mikasa shared other experiences with Eren and her friends that molded her character and strengthened her relationships with them that were not added to the story; however, this can be left to the readers’ assumptions/interpretations.

Additionally, Mikasa’s belief about the world being cruel can be linked to the trauma she experiences as a child and later on as an adult. This can be seen as her way to justify her actions (and Eren’s), but it can also be seen as a coping mechanism (emotional detachment) for things that are/were out of her control. Mikasa’s belief is a foundation for her character, but as the series progresses, she forms more bonds with others and grows to cherish them. Through her bonds with other characters, Mikasa learns empathy and the importance of preserving life.

Additional notes on Mikasa:

Mikasa’s controversial interaction with Louise regarding the scarf in chapter 126: Mikasa’s scarf is a comfort object, which is a self-explanatory term. Comfort objects may also be known as “security blankets.” This is something mostly seen in children; however, adults may also find comfort in them. Throughout the series, whenever she was stressed or distraught about something, Mikasa would tug and hide behind her scarf when. Seeing her react coldly to Louise is somewhat shocking. But remember that Mikasa’s life is full of traumatic moments. She held onto her scarf until the day she died. While this may be seen as her inability to move on from Eren, it can also be seen as her being unable to move on from her past entirely. She is a veteran of war who witnessed many atrocious things. It is possible that she could not completely overcome her trauma, which is, unfortunately, common in the real world.

Mikasa’s final moments are seen mourning for Eren and visiting his grave. We can assess that Mikasa did eventually marry and have children. It is definitely possible for a person to find love again. If she did marry Jean, then it would not be surprising. It is also possible that the two of them could have strengthened their relationship over time. And because the two shared similar experiences and are war veterans, it is very likely that they would understand each other more than other anonymous suitors would.

Again, what I said above is all based on speculation. There are definitely more things to say about Mikasa that I didn’t get to say here. Feel free to share your thoughts on her character!

[digitalzombie]

Ambitions in SnK/AoT

(Previously titled: “Freedom in SnK/AoT”)

Chapter 131 Spoilers

When Armin entered the paths dimension and saw young Eren nonchalantly embracing his so-called “freedom,” I wonder if Armin truly believed that Eren’s careless attitude (in Paths) reflected a desire for what Eren always wanted.

Seeing his friend’s child-like appearance and celebrating his new-found freedom at the cost of millions of lives seems to have changed Armin’s perception about Eren’s wish to save humanity—or completely confirmed that Eren’s desires for freedom never wavered despite the ever-changing circumstances.

Eren saying that he had finally reached “this scenery,” can only remind me of the beach scene where Eren contemplates Paradis’ secure future if all their enemies across the ocean were destroyed. I believe that Young Eren represents Adult Eren’s current, naive opinion of the world: no one ever truly changes, just like he and his ambitions (and his supposed predetermined future) never really did.

What were your thoughts/interpretations of Eren’s appearance in the chapter?

[digitalzombie]

The “Greater Good” in SnK/AoT

I think the themes of this series haven’t been discussed enough in the fandom. In recent chapters, we catch a glimpse of the problematic idea of what the “greater good” is and how any choice will always outweigh a favorable outcome. Isayama is writing a story about corruption and lies, humanity and the loss of it. We’ve seen different perspectives and how their choices impact their lives and the lives of people they met. This isn’t a discussion about which characters have had it worse—this is mostly a reflection of humanity and the terrible things people are capable of doing when they’re given too much power, and when they’ve been stripped from having any of it.

We’ve seen how the governments have corrupted Eldians and how weapons that are inaccessible to other countries made it easy to persuade people under the same rule. Fear and violence are tactics performed by characters we’ve known since the beginning of the series. Now, we see Eren holding unimaginable power that seemingly surpasses man-made machines and the average titan.

We saw Eren grow into a powerful man who had recently made horrific decisions. It’s easy for us to feel sympathy for his character despite his actions. He’s sacrificing everything for the sake of Eldians and for his home, but at the cost of millions of lives with little to no regard of the impact it’ll have on the survivors whose memories cannot be altered (assuming that Eren succeeds and that Mikasa, Levi, and the Azumabito and the engineers survive). We see the toll his decisions are taking on those who were once regarded as traitors of humanity (Annie and Reiner) and assume that they had it coming. It boils down to the perspective we are reading the story from. Would we think the same way about Eren if the story began in Marley through the eyes of a different child, an Eldian or a Marleyan?

There is no good or bad in this series and everyone is just as guilty as those who have “stained their hands with blood.” Eren is neither a hero, nor a villain and I think most of us seem to forget that. He is desperate enough to go through with something drastic and inexcusable. For now, he has detached himself from humanity to proceed with what he believes is for the best of those on Paradis. The situation is very grim and it’ll only get darker from here.

Notes

The suggestion of the Inability to alter Asians’ and Ackermans’ memories comes from Volume 16, Chapter 65, and Volume 17, Chapter 69.