Very good analysis. However, I would like to share what buggles me about Eren's actions in this chapter. I am totally aware that sacrifice innocents to achieve a greater goal is common in the series. However, if Eren's motivations aren't revenge, I can't help but wonder why those people in the building, including potentially falco, had to be sacrificed for ? If Eren's goal was to kill Willy and wipe out the Marleyan army executives, couldn't he come out of the building before transforming ? 1/?
But like you said, we don't know the full context of Eren's actions, maybe there really is a reason we don't know yet, but for now I just can't really approve his actions here. I really liked seeing Eren's development during this chapter, coming to understand his enemies position, but that ending was like a big middle-finger to me personally because it does seem to go against this development (even though the two can go hand in hand) and I really felt betrayed by Eren. And since I was already deceived once, I personally can't say that his action was a necessary sacrifice to achieve a bigger goal with as much certainty as I used to, no matter how much I want to believe it. So I really hope a good explanation will be given as to why he had to transform INSIDE the building and potentially kill the people in it. 'Cause even if we don't see any other bodies, I can't say with certainty that Eren wasn't trying to kill them, as I said I've already been betrayed
I’m glad you enjoyed reading my post! You bring up a valid concern, the very reason why I made the post in the first place.
I’ll reiterate that I am almost certain these actions are intentional for the reader to feel conflicted. Controversial intentions by a number of characters preceded Eren’s, so it seems like we are covering the entire spectrum of character roles when it comes to challenging their morality. Eren is meant to be portrayed as an antagonist here, even though he is the main protagonist above all else. Isayama tends to use his characters as tools, so we have to keep in mind that Eren has been created to push the story forward. He doesn’t have much emotional attachment to the characters themselves, but rather their function in the story.
Unfortunately, while this leads to great problematic characters with leaping developments, sometimes certain actions are not addressed in sequence (looking at you, flashback chapters!) or at all or so vaguely that it becomes more of a speculation until we get further confirmation. There have been moments in the story where I interpreted something entirely different than what was later answered in an interview (and sometimes I still don’t 100% understand).
So honestly, the best comfort I can give you is to wait for context and sometimes you may even have to wait for an explanation from the author himself. I’ve prided myself to knowing a lot about Eren, but recent chapters have me reanalyzing and reviewing to make sense of where this is all coming from. Granted it has been years since we’ve seen his dismayed realization at the ocean and time changes a person, but developments like that aren’t (or shouldn’t) be discarded, so I’m certain there are more nuances to his character that have yet to be revealed. Whether we like it or not is up to personal opinion. Personally, I’m excited! I adore morally ambiguous characters, even if trying to make sense of everything can be a bit of a headache.
And if you wanted another sort of rationalization- I’m positive a lot of people in the buildings died during the transformation. Why he was in position and transformed right then and there, we aren’t entirely sure, other than he needed to be placed by the stage so he, Reiner and Falco could listen to the play while still having a less disruptive place to talk. The rest could be a mixture of preventing them from interfering from a widespread plan executed by the Survey Corps outside and keeping them in a single place. Those that perished are victims rather than targeted enemies. I seriously don’t think Eren had it in for them and wanted to kill them, but figured it would inevitably happen and reacted passive to avoid being compromised by emotions. At this point, he is driven and that is what matters most to him. This doesn’t always mean it is for the “greater good” because if you were, for example, a pacifist, the “greater good” option would be compromise and no violence. Sadly, it’s simply not how this story works nor how Eren’s character functions (this doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel guilt or is coldhearted, though).
I understand the feeling of betrayal, but I implore that if you still want to like Eren, you don’t have to go so far as to justify what he does, nor even rationalize it all, but rather appreciate that the strength in his character is his array of complexities. He is not an easy character. You need to relate to him while also keeping in mind of the issues he has yet to overcome, if he does. I think when you can do both, you get a better understanding and liking to his character.
But of course this is my suggestion and personal opinion. Long story short, wait for context, for now enjoy/respect that his development isn’t linear.
