What do you think levi would be like if his mom was still alive? Like if she got to raise him, and maybe she somehow escaped prostitution with him? Sorry if someone has already asked this or you dont like answering this question lol.
Hi anon, thank you so much for this question—and for your patience! I'm sorry it's taken me an eternity to answer; I’ve had this message in my inbox for many months and truly didn't mean to leave you hanging. I hope you're still around to read my response! And, please don't worry, I actually love this question, lol.
This is a challenging question because Levi is so profoundly shaped by his grief and trauma. That’s not to say he is his trauma (he isn’t defined solely by what happened to him), but it’s clear that our life experiences, especially severe hardships, play an enormous role in forming who we become. Memories and experiences shape our worldview, our coping skills, and our sense of self. Yet, Attack on Titan also shows how innate character traits matter, and Levi stands out as a prime example—particularly as a foil to Eren, who repeatedly insists he was “born” the way he was. In contrast, Levi’s innately good nature shines through, even when he’s compelled by circumstance to act violently. Or even when his violence as one of his flaws is highlighted.
So, when asking how Levi might have turned out if Kuchel had lived and raised him, the core of the question becomes this: how much of Levi’s personality is innate, and how much is shaped by the instability and loss that marked his early life? Put differently, if his basic needs had been met by a loving, stable caregiver, would his protective instincts and kindness have emerged in less violent, less self-destructive ways? What was always within Levi, and what did the world force upon him?
Levi's Self-Esteem
Throughout the series, Levi often displays signs of low self-esteem. When kids gush over “Humanity’s Strongest,” Levi’s flat affect and “somebody please shut up these goddamned brats” quote read as a rejection of hero worship and a reflex to deflect admiration. It demonstrates a discomfort with praise.
Special Chapter: "Captain Levi"
In the "Uprising" arc, Levi calls himself “not normal… an aberrant person,” useful because he can “respond faster than anyone” in abnormal circumstances—framing his value in terms of utility rather than inherent worth (Ch. 56).
Chapter 56: "Role"
In the "Female Titan" arc, he redirects credit to the backup squad who bought them time with their lives, an instinctive self-effacement that centers others’ sacrifice over his own contribution. This implies an inclination to minimize his own achievements.
Chapter 26: "The Expedient Path"
In the lead-up to the final battle, Levi stated, “If I sleep longer than this, you’ll just forget about me.” That lands like a fear that he only matters if he keeps performing.
Chapter 132: "The Wings of Freedom"
These beats reflect a broader pattern in canon: Levi often talks as if “all I can do is fight,” treats a better life as unattainable for someone like him (in "ACWNR"), and rarely takes pride in heroics. He acts like a man doing grim necessities, not a hero basking in them.
This subdued sense of value is a hallmark of someone who never received stable affirmation growing up and had to rely solely on survival skills. It also connects to how Isayama himself described Levi and his role:
In order to reach the standard of being a “Humanity’s Strongest”, one has to pay unusual efforts. One will not flinch even to the extent of destructing oneself in order to achieve the goal. So the dark circles under Levi’s eyes are the proofs of his sacrificial performance. (source)
Nature vs. Nurture
Levi is both extraordinarily kind and ruthlessly violent. On one hand, he commits extreme acts of brutality: his takedown of Kenny’s squad during the "Uprising" arc (Ch. 58) shows that he can—and will—kill quickly if the situation demands it. He’s also relentless in battle, as we see in his scuffle with the Female Titan (Ch. 30) and his battles against the Beast Titan (Ch. 81, 112). These moments highlight his capacity for lethal force.
Yet Levi is not inherently violent by nature. His childhood circumstances forced him into that role: growing up in the Underground meant that survival required fighting, and Kenny modeled aggression as the appropriate way to solve problems.
Chapter 69: “Friend”
As an adult, this learned violence sometimes spills over into flaws—such as when he manhandles Historia, or when he threatens Annie and Zeke. These are moments where his instinctive reliance on coercion or intimidation becomes a shortcoming.
Chapter 56: “Role”
At the same time, Levi’s innately good nature is undeniable. Compassion was never modeled for him—Kuchel died when he was very young, Levi barely remembering her, and Kenny offered no warmth—yet Levi demonstrates compassion again and again throughout the series.
He honors fallen comrades, quietly tends to his squad, and shoulders pain to protect others.
His kindness, Erwin noted, is part of what inspires loyalty:
Erwin: He just has a rude attitude…but he cherishes his comrades’ life more than anyone else. His reputation cannot be established based on strength alone, Humans can subconsciously detect how much concern others have for them… and when they notice this kindness, it inspires power (AU Smartpass - Erwin & Levi Close-Up Interview Part 2)
From a psychological perspective, attachment theory helps explain Levi’s guarded demeanor. As a child growing up in the Underground, he met all of the risk factors for reactive attachment disorder (RAD).
DSM-5-TR, American Psychiatric Association
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in brief
RAD is a childhood disorder that arises after extremes of insufficient care early in life. Core features (DSM-5-TR) include:
Inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior toward caregivers (rarely seeks or responds to comfort when distressed).
Persistent social/emotional disturbance (limited positive affect; minimal responsiveness; episodes of unexplained irritability/sadness/fearfulness even in nonthreatening interactions).
History of neglect/deprivation, repeated caregiver changes, or rearing in atypical settings that severely limit opportunities to form selective attachments.
Onset is before age 5, with developmental age of at least 9 months.
Importantly, RAD is a childhood diagnosis. In adults, we don’t diagnose RAD; instead, we discuss long-term attachment patterns (e.g., secure vs. insecure) that can follow from early deprivation.
Levi’s childhood risk factors (why he was “high-risk” for RAD)
Canon gives Levi a cluster of adversities that map closely onto RAD risk conditions:
Loss of primary caregiver very early: Kuchel dies when Levi is still a small child—based on "Bad Boy" age estimates, he was likely age 4 when Kuchel died.
Extreme poverty & unsafe environment: the Underground entails chronic scarcity (food, shelter, medical care) and constant threat—classic conditions that derail secure attachment and emotional regulation.
Replacement caregiver with low sensitivity/instability: Kenny provides sporadic, instrumental care, models aggression as problem-solving, and offers little warmth.
Minimal opportunities for selective, consistent attachment: instability, hunger, and violence leave little space for comfort-seeking to be reliably met with comfort.
Chronic stress/trauma exposure: malnutrition, violence, and grief during sensitive windows of neural and social development.
Taken together, these are textbook insufficient-care conditions. While the manga doesn’t depict toddler-age attachment behaviors in detail (so we can’t say he had RAD), it’s fair to argue Levi was high-risk for it.
How childhood RAD risk often shows up later: insecure attachment in adulthood
Even though RAD isn’t diagnosed in adults, children with severe early deprivation often develop insecure attachment styles later. There are three insecure attachment styles:
(Yes, how many different names they go by is confusing, lol)
The most common adult insecure attachment styles following a diagnosis of RAD in childhood are avoidant-dismissive and fearful-avoidant (anxious-preoccupied is most common following a diagnosis of disinhibited social engagement disorder, a different childhood attachment disorder).
Levi's Attachment Style
In Levi, you can read a fearful-avoidant attachment style.
This pattern combines high attachment anxiety—craving closeness, fearing loss—with high avoidance—distrusting dependence. It often develops after inconsistent or frightening caregiving and plays out in approach–withdraw cycles: the person longs for connection but expects harm or rejection, so they manage vulnerability through distance, control, or hyper-competence.
As the Attachment Project notes, people with this style “deeply want connection but are also terrified of it.” Levi embodies this paradox. He forms strong loyalties—most notably to Erwin, Hange, and his squad—yet keeps emotional distance, rarely allowing others to see his vulnerability. Isayama himself noted:
Interviewer: So…so that’s the situation…(Shock) Levi keeping his distance from most people, and avoiding in-depth relationships - that’s also because he takes his power into account?
Isayama: It’s likely because he is afraid of forming close relationships. Because he exists in a world where one can be eaten by a Titan at any time, he consistently avoids building “family”-like connections with others. (2016 Answers Fanbook)
And crucially, it’s implied in canon that Levi didn’t make his first friends until his young adulthood. The AoT ACWNR visual novel (not to be mistaken for the ACWNR manga)—which I generally don’t like, but is the most direct information we have—states outright:
“From the time he was born until now, Levi had not really been able to make any friends on his own—however, Furlan and Isabel were perhaps the first people who he could truly call ‘friends.’”
This detail reinforces a fearful-avoidant reading of Levi’s attachment style. It suggests that his long isolation wasn’t only circumstantial, but also psychological: a deep fear of loss or abandonment, likely compounded by Kenny’s own abandonment of him. That mix of yearning for closeness yet holding back out of fear is exactly what defines fearful-avoidant attachment.
Another hallmark of fearful-avoidant attachment is oscillating between seeking intimacy and withdrawing. Levi can act warmly or protectively, but then step back, deflect praise, or erect barriers. His pattern of connecting deeply but cautiously reflects that tension. It's notable that one of the primary ways he demonstrates closeness is by engaging in playful insults, like with Erwin or Hange.
Additionally, people with fearful-avoidant attachment may dissociate from uncomfortable emotions or swing between over-disclosure and retreat. Levi fits this pattern: most of the time, he has a flat affect, suppressing or isolating his suffering. Yet he also shows extremes—explosive anger, like when he manhandles Historia during the "Uprising" arc. And while he kept his childhood private for most of canon, he suddenly trauma-dumped his past to Gabi and Falco in “Bad Boy”. That mix of suppression and abrupt disclosure mirrors the push-pull dynamic of fearful-avoidant attachment.
In the Kuchel-lives scenario, a steadier, nurturing base would likely nudge him toward greater security, letting the same protective instincts express with less distance and self-erasure.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs also sheds light on Levi’s circumstances. Early in his life, he had to struggle for even the most basic physiological needs like food and safety. If you’re constantly fighting for your next meal, psychological needs like esteem or self-actualization are hard to prioritize. This might explain Levi’s low self-worth—he never had the chance to develop healthy self-esteem when all energy was directed toward mere survival. Had Kuchel survived and removed him from this environment, Levi likely would have had more of his foundational needs met. A stable home, plus a mother’s love, would foster secure attachment, healthier coping mechanisms, and more self-assurance, potentially letting his innate kindness flourish without such reliance on violence.
If Kuchel Had Lived
So, how would Levi differ if Kuchel had escaped prostitution and raised him in a safer environment? Levi’s nature—loyalty, protectiveness, empathy—would still be there. With nurture providing:
Secure Attachment: Providing a consistent source of emotional support, reducing his guardedness.
Basic Needs Met: Access to consistent food, shelter, and safety, freeing him from the desperate scramble for survival. Would have allowed him greater opportunity to develop friendships during his adolescence and build a healthier self-esteem.
Positive Role Model: Instead of learning violence from Kenny, he might have learned affirmation and conflict resolution from a maternal figure.
Levi would still likely be reserved—some elements of personality are innate—but he wouldn’t equate his only “worth” with combat ability. More importantly, without violence being modeled as the primary way to solve problems, his protective instincts could have manifested in gentler forms. His innate compassion, which already shines through despite everything, would have been allowed to flourish without being held back by the violent habits his childhood instilled.
Other aspects of Levi would probably remain unchanged. His love of tea, for example, seems to trace back to Kuchel, and would likely still have become one of his defining comforts. Likewise, Levi would almost certainly remain short—he’s short even in canon alternate universes like the School Castes AU, and Isayama has mentioned that Levi’s father was also short. Since Levi’s canonical height (5’3”) is listed as slightly shorter than Kuchel’s, he might still have ended up small in stature, though with better nutrition and more sunlight he could plausibly have grown an inch or two taller (perhaps 5’4” or 5’5”).
His sleep, however, might have looked very different. In canon, Levi’s sleep is notoriously poor—he often appears exhausted, with the “dark circles” under his eyes explicitly linked to his sacrificial efforts. But growing up in the Underground, cut off from natural light, likely disrupted his circadian rhythm. A lack of exposure to sunlight often results in sleep disorders, such as non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, which may explain why Levi struggles so much with rest in canon. In a world where Kuchel raised him above ground, with natural light and less trauma, Levi might have had a healthier sleep cycle, one more in line with human rhythms rather than the severe insomnia we see in the manga.
In that alternate life, Levi’s kindness would not have had to coexist in constant tension with brutality. Instead, it could have been expressed openly, without fear, and without the lifelong scars of deprivation and violence.
Hello, loved that levi ask and what you said is what i believed since bad boy came out, however there's this piece of information from isayama from his autograph session in 2018 he says :
Q: Kenny said he will never go to a brothel. Does Levi think the same way?” Isayama: “Because it’s an environment that Levi had been part of since childhood, it seems like he considers prostitution as just another ordinary job.”
I have a hard time seeing how this fit or maybe isayama changed his mind? What do you think?
This ask is in reference to this post.
Hi, anon, thank you for your ask! And thank you for your kind words. I’m glad I was able to verbalize some of your own thoughts.
You know, I’ve seen this quote referenced several times, and I also find it interesting. Now, I don’t speak Japanese, so I can’t entirely speak to (1) the accuracy of the translation and (2) the nuances of Isayama’s intended meaning and phrasing. But, based on how I interpret his words, I don’t think they contradict the idea that Levi may have experienced trauma related to the environment he grew up in.
When I read that quote, I interpret it as Levi not judging people who engage in sex work, not that he views the industry as entirely harmless. Growing up in the Underground, prostitution was likely one of the few options available for survival—especially for women like Kuchel. Levi knows that. He saw it firsthand. I think Isayama is saying Levi doesn’t look down on sex workers or moralize their choices because, to him, sex work was part of the economic reality of poverty. It was common. It was normalized. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t also exploitative, violent, or traumatizing; it just means Levi is able to recognize the systemic forces that put people, including his mother, in those positions. And crucially, it means he directs any judgment or anger toward those systems, not toward the people trapped within them.
We know, for example, Levi deeply respects his mother. He holds Kuchel in the highest regard; he honors her memory, seeks to remember her, and he never speaks about her with bitterness or shame (he even sees her as elegant). But that respect doesn’t mean he was blind to the toll her occupation took on her, or on him. Levi understands what poverty and desperation can do to people. So it’s entirely consistent that he would view sex work as “ordinary” in the sense of “commonplace” or “survival-driven,” while still recognizing the harm and coercion often embedded in it.
Those ideas aren’t mutually exclusive. You can have compassion for the individuals involved, even as you criticize the system that exploits them. And Levi, more than most characters, is capable of holding those two truths at once.
Also, it’s important to recognize that Isayama’s comments outside the manga often reflect a broad, neutral stance. He tends to give room for multiple interpretations and has admitted before that his thoughts on characters evolve over time.
Levi’s Childhood: “Bad Boy”, The Underground, Kuchel, and Kenny—What Are the Implications?
Content Warning: Discussion of rape, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking
“Bad Boy” makes it even more explicitly clear that the Underground was no place for a child. From the “Bad Boy” panels alone, it is evident that Levi likely had constant people preying on him at all times—especially before he awakened his Ackerman powers. All these men Levi encounters here had no issue beating a child to (near) death or selling him into sexual slavery. Similar to the way it is portrayed in the “A Choice with No Regrets” storyline, the Underground is also described by Levi as “hopelessly dirty” with “rotten air”.
It is significant to note here that Levi was well-known for being a prostitute’s son; all of those men were aware of Levi’s relation to Kuchel, even before Levi himself made it clear. They wanted to traffic him for that reason. In terms of speculation, it is very believable and even highly probable that Levi experienced sexual assault and rape before he awakened. Having grown up in a brothel with his mom, and now further seeing how common sex trafficking in the Underground was and also Levi’s infamy for being a prostitute’s son—there is no doubt that Levi was exposed to extreme levels of sexual violence regularly, whether it be him being witness to it, him experiencing the direct threat of it such as in “Bad Boy,” or him experiencing the actual act. The trauma of this is impossible to overstate. It seems the most likely, however, that Levi has had direct personal experience with the act itself, as men would have likely continued visiting “Olympia” after she died (and before Kenny appeared), and upon discovering she was no longer a viable option to have sex with, some of those men would have set their sights on Levi, who was a helpless child in the process of starving to death.
The men in “Bad Boy” spoke about Levi as if he was born strictly to live a life of sexual slavery, referring to him as a “whore’s child” and discussing how they’d be able to profit from making him do the same job as his mother, saying he may have “inherited her talents”. Levi had probably heard this sort of language used in his presence before. As such, it would not be surprising if Levi had learned to expect this sort of treatment, as if he was placed in the world solely to suffer. Levi would have sought out a reason for this—why must he constantly be subjected to suffering? Is it because there is something wrong with him? If that’s the case, what specifically is wrong with him? It is important to consider as well that Levi’s entire sense of identity at this point was wrapped up in being the son of a prostitute and being raised by a serial killer, who may or may not have been his father.
The violence Levi was subjected to in “Bad Boy,” such as having his head repeatedly smashed against the ground with a fist, would have most certainly resulted in his death, or at the very least, permanent brain damage, had Levi’s powers not awakened in that moment. However, what’s notable to me during all of this is the absence of Kenny’s presence. This indicates that Kenny would leave Levi alone in the Underground for significant enough periods of time that Levi still had the opportunity to find himself in situations of extreme danger, situations such that would have resulted in his death. Given what we know about Levi’s childhood from Kenny’s recollection of it in the main series, Kenny would subject Levi to fights against fully grown men in order to develop Levi’s combat skills and likely prompt his awakening. It is also clear in these “Bad Boy” panels that Levi already knew how to fight, given the way he initially tried to protect himself from being beaten by all those men. He was, however, helpless in protecting himself, given the deep disadvantage he had from being a child, as well as being faced against multiple opponents. Levi’s combat skills after his awakening also demonstrated he already had significant training. The responsible thing for an adult in Kenny’s position would have been to, not teach Levi how to fight, but remove him from the environment that necessitated that knowledge in the first place.
Needless to say, this practice was cruel and immensely abusive. The amount of psychological damage and self-worth issues this would undoubtedly cause Levi are immeasurable. It was Kenny’s responsibility to protect Levi’s childhood innocence, but it is because of Kenny’s actions (and inactions) that Levi was placed in a position of having to kill multiple men as a young child. Kenny may have saved Levi from the imminent death of starvation, but his abuse and abandonment ultimately caused Levi more harm than good in the long-run; he taught and exposed Levi to a life of violence. Indeed, Kenny wanted Levi to be a force for violence. That is all he ever modeled for Levi and desired from him, even though he had the capability of sparing Levi from such experiences. However, it speaks to Levi’s innate goodness that he still loved Kenny after all he was made to suffer by him and even forgave Kenny by the end.
The awakening of Levi’s powers demonstrated to Levi the idea that he was an agent of destruction and a monster. Recall back to the moment during the “Uprising” arc when a man accuses Levi of being such and Levi simply responds, “Maybe I am”. Levi’s awakening was described by Levi as a form of dissociation, as if he was not fully aware of what he was doing. Consider his words here: “I didn’t think it was strange that something had happened to me at the time. The pain in my head disappeared and I felt calm, as if my head was submerged in water. And the idea of what to do came to mind. But I just followed the instinct and acted accordingly.” And yet, Levi likely blames himself for the brutality of which he killed his attackers, despite acting in self-defense and having no other recourse. It was an answer to his question: what is wrong with him? He must be a monster. Being forced into such a situation as a child would instill this view in Levi that he was born into his life only to bring suffering to others. That is why he suffers in turn.
This perception of an inner monstrosity in Levi is furthered by what the man in the glasses tells him directly after this: “Stop doing things that will make your mother in heaven sad!” Levi’s impression of Kuchel, his mother, was the one thing that brought him comfort in his life. He remembered her “elegant” posture. With these man’s words, even that one comfort was lost to Levi. Now the thought of his mother would instead be associated with the idea that she would view him as bad—that she would have seen his “murderous” actions and would cast judgment on him. This is completely incorrect, of course. The only reason Levi even awakened his strength was because he was protecting his mom’s image from the cruel words the men were speaking against her. Levi was severely beaten to near death, all because he loved his mom essentially. Think of the tragedy of that; Levi was directly punished for loving someone. This further demonstrates that innate goodness in Levi—how he continues to love and care about others, despite the immense suffering it’s brought him over and over. To further the tragedy of all this, it is evident that Levi still views his mother with fondness, in spite of the belief that she would hate him. Levi purposely seeks out the brothel in which he grew up with her, undoubtedly filled with countless awful and traumatic memories, in order to feel closer to her presence.
After Levi’s awakening, Levi soon after finds himself in yet another fight, and it is this moment that Levi watches as Kenny walks away and abandons him forever. Levi thought Kenny wanted him to become strong. He thought his strength would earn him Kenny’s acceptance, but instead, he was met with his rejection. If Kenny still didn’t love him even after becoming strong, that once again proved to Levi that there was something deeply wrong with him. Similar to the way Levi would come to associate his strength as the thing responsible for making him a “killer” and ruining his mother’s perception of him, Levi would likely form the association that his physical strength led directly to Kenny abandoning him. Moreover, what was the purpose of his strength? Levi did not want to use it to bring suffering to others.
Levi discovered on his own that his strength could be used to help others—to protect. This is incredibly significant because Levi was literally taught the opposite his whole life: that it made him a monster, that its only purpose was for saving himself and bringing death and destruction—he was taught even that that’s something he should desire. Somehow, despite all that, Levi still found a way to use his strength for the benefit of others. Although, this highlights a further tragedy in Levi. As demonstrated earlier, Levi was taught that it was the normal state of the world, the status quo, for him to be abused; he learned that this treatment of him was, not only happening because it was something he was somehow meant for, but also happening because he was some abnormal monster. Levi desiring to use his strength for others does not negate Levi’s own negative perception of himself. All of the events in Levi’s childhood taught Levi that he had no worth, and that is indeed the way we see Levi treat himself throughout the entire series.
Levi never once defends himself against people’s cruel words against him. Think back to the way Mikasa said it was Levi’s fault that they had lost Eren in the “Female Titan” arc directly after Levi had lost his entire squad; think of the way Levi accepts Dieter’s words against him and Erwin about being “devoid of humanity” in the aftermath of the Female Titan’s attack; think of how Levi accepts the negative way the people of Trost and the merchants were speaking against him; and as mentioned earlier, think of the way Levi accepts being called a monster during “Uprising”. Levi directly refers to himself as “abnormal” as well during that same arc. There are countless more examples of this. Levi fights during the Battle of Heaven and Earth, despite being grievously injured already. It is because of this that he ultimately ends up in a wheelchair. Levi fights for other people to the complete detriment of himself. That is pure selflessness. Levi treats himself as completely devoid of worth, despite seeing so much worth in others. As such, Levi dedicates everything he has, even if it would result in severe damage to himself; he views himself as expendable. It is clear too that Levi views himself as unclean from all the blood he has on his hands and all the filth he was surrounded by growing up. It was his “dirty” hands after all that killed all those men and led to his mom’s teacup breaking at the end of "Bad Boy"; a sign of his inner badness.
can you talk about kuchel and levi pls i loved your last post abt levi
Hi, thank you so much for your question! I'm really excited because this is the first time I've received an ask like this :) Thank you as well for your kind words on my post!
Off the top of my head, I'll lay out some of my thoughts in general about Levi and Kuchel and some of the speculations I have regarding the circumstances they were in together:
Kuchel seemed to be a victim of sex trafficking. She fled to the Underground City to escape persecution, but prior to that, we can assume that she lived a relatively sheltered and privileged life, as the Ackermans served and protected the King. Because of this, it is unlikely she would have had the skills or knowledge to defend herself once reaching the Underground, so I'm assuming she was preyed upon—especially since it doesn't seem like she ever awakened her own Ackerman powers. We also know that human trafficking is common underground, given Mikasa's backstory and some of the "Bad Boy" panels that have been released.
Given that Kuchel became pregnant with Levi by one of her patrons while working as a prostitute, Levi is essentially the product of rape; Kuchel's occupation was more akin to forced labor and sexual slavery than it was willful employment. I'm certain the circumstances of his birth were never lost on Levi, as I'm sure he witnessed his mother being forced to have sex on a highly frequent basis due to their living arrangements.
To elaborate, I'm fairly certain Kuchel and Levi lived in the brothel she worked at. When Kenny went to search for Kuchel's address, the man he spoke with referred to her as "Olympia" (her prostitute name). That man was also aware of her health status in reference to her ability to see clients, so I'm assuming he was the brothel owner. Building upon Levi witnessing the sexual violence toward his mother by her clients, the reason I think this is the case is because I doubt Kuchel would have felt secure in having Levi leave the room. Given the danger of their situation and how hostile of an environment the Underground is, Kuchel would have wanted to ensure Levi's safety from kidnappers by keeping him in her presence. From what we see of the room Levi was in when Kenny found him, there was only one relatively small bed and a paltry amount of furniture. Not many places for Levi to hide, unfortunately.
The likelihood that Kuchel had postpartum depression (PPD) is quite high, as certain psychosocial circumstances increase the risk factors for developing PPD: stressful life events during the pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, food insecurity, violence against women, low socioeconomic status, low social support, single marital status, sexual abuse history, and more. All of these aforementioned factors apply to Kuchel. It is exceedingly unlikely Kuchel would have had access to treatment for any PPD she may have had as well. Furthermore, it is well-known that PPD can adversely impact the maternal-infant relationship, particularly untreated PPD. This would have affected not only Kuchel's ability to attend to her own needs, but also Levi's needs.
Levi was dying from starvation when Kenny found him. I imagine Levi was stuck with his mother's decaying corpse for around a week, and one does not reach that level of starvation from going without food for a week. Simply from those panels alone, it is evident Levi had probably gone without sufficient access to food for months at a time. This demonstrates that Kuchel was having significant difficulties providing for Levi's basic needs. Based on this fact alone, Kuchel would not have had the capabilities and resources to provide Levi with higher-level needs, like the feelings of love and belonging that children need to thrive. I think Kuchel clearly loved and wanted Levi deeply, just based on the panel of her crying tears of happiness while holding Levi as an infant; however, the reality of her situation would have precluded her from properly relaying this love to Levi.
Let's take a look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs:
Basically, human needs are arranged in this hierarchy, with lower-level needs required for survival having to be satisfied before moving on to higher-level needs. Higher-level needs cannot be met if lower-level needs are not. The more one progresses through this hierarchy, the harder it is to continue to move through the hierarchy due to the practical and interpersonal barriers that inevitably occur. Physiological needs are the most important because no other needs can be satisfied unless those are met. Practically none of Levi's physiological needs were being met during his childhood:
We've established he had no food.
Given the poverty they were in and the nature of the Underground, a lack of clean drinking water makes sense.
The barest minimum of shelter was provided, given the small room they lived in. The shelter itself was inadequate and unsafe.
Levi was dressed in rags when Kenny found him, so we can extrapolate that he did not have much clothing.
Due to the lack of sunlight and the known effects on circadian rhythm, as well as Levi's known issues with insomnia during adulthood, consistent sleep was also an issue.
Clean air quality also seems like it'd be an issue Underground, given the lack of electricity. Torches and oil lamps probably contributed significantly to air pollution, along with the proper lack of air ventilation.
On a different note, we know from Kenny's conversation with the man who I assume was the brothel owner that Kuchel got sick from one of her clients. Of course, it's possible that Kuchel may have gotten some other sort of illness from her client, but given the occupational hazards of her labor, I'm assuming this was a sexually transmitted disease (STD). We already know Levi is extremely wary and concerned about disease when he's older to the point of being seen as a "clean freak"; it seems pretty easy to trace this concern to his experiences living underground. Given how Kuchel became sick, it's not a leap to think Levi might associate sex with disease, especially if he ever learned about the concept of STDs. Levi probably internalized some very negative messages and associations regarding sex from his childhood with his mother.
Anyway, those are some of the basic thoughts I have in my head regarding Kuchel and Levi's circumstances. I do have some more, so I would definitely love to write more posts at some point on this topic. Thanks again for reaching out!
