Attack on Titan 2025 - Why Eren Yeager Did ....

Hey, fellow anime fans! If you’re anything like me, you’ve been thinking about Attack on Titan long after the credits rolled on the final episode. Eren Yeager, the series' most complex and controversial character, has sparked countless debates. Why did he do everything he did? What drove him to start the Rumbling, betray his friends, and make the ultimate sacrifice? And now, with Attack on Titan 2025 in the works, it's time to revisit these questions.

Let's dive in and try to unpack Eren Yeager's motivations-because, trust me, it's a lot more complicated than just "saving humanity" or "destroying the Titans."

The Early Years: A Desire for Freedom

To understand why Eren did what he did, we have to go back to his early years. The very first time we encounter him, he seeks only freedom. He despises the walls, he's angry about the Titans, and he wants to see the outside world. It's this very burning desire to escape his cage that fuels his initial drive to join the military. He doesn't care about the risks nor the reality of fighting Titans; it's about the dream of freedom.

But as time progresses, so does Eren's perception of freedom. The losses, the betrayal, and the brutal truths of the world distort his perception. His desire for freedom doesn't just become about escaping the walls; it becomes a bigger question: Who deserves to be free, and at what cost?

The Curse of Power: The Founding Titan

Now, about Eren's power: the moment he inherits the Founding Titan, things start to get really messy. The more Eren learns about the Titans, Marley, and the truth behind his own existence, the more his worldview shifts. It is no longer about escaping the walls but ensuring his people's survival at all costs.

But here is the catch: with the power of the Founding Titan, Eren has access to his ancestors' memories. He can see the past, the future, and how the world is ultimately doomed. It is a terrible thing to bear, and it changes him. He realizes that whatever he does, it will be warped by the cycle of hate and violence. There is an element of inevitability in his choices, and this puts him on a very dark path.

This is where Eren’s character starts to shift. No longer the hopeful, rebellious teen, Eren becomes someone who’s willing to sacrifice anything—even his humanity—to break the cycle. And that’s when he decides to activate the Rumbling.

The Rumbling: A Last Resort

The Rumbling. This is where Eren's actions have divided fans the most: a justified move to unleash the power of the Titans and crush the rest of the world, or was he simply blinded by his own warped sense of freedom?

Here's my take: Eren wasn't just trying to destroy humanity-he was trying to protect his people, his home, and the last hope for his friends and family. He was of the opinion that the only way to halt this circle of violence was by letting Paradis Island live in peace, un-threatened by the outside world. The Rumbling wasn't just an act of destruction; it was one of desperation. It was a means of giving his friends and loved ones a chance to survive, even if it would involve condemning others to their tragic fate.

But in the same breath, Eren's decision was highly flawed. To be willing to sacrifice millions for the sake of his own people showed how far he'd fallen. He went from wanting freedom for everyone to believing that the only way to secure freedom was through domination and fear.

Friendship and Betrayal: The Heartbreak of Eren Yeager

One of the saddest parts of Eren's story is his relationship with Mikasa and Armin. These were his closest friends, his family, and yet he chose to betray them. It wasn't out of spite, though; it was because Eren thought they wouldn't understand his vision. He was burdened with the weight of the world, and he felt that he couldn't involve them in his plan. He had pushed them away, thinking it would be for the best, even though it was tearing him apart inside.

Eren's decision to keep everything from them was one of the most painful moments in the series. He loved his friends so much, but he was ready to break them for what he thought was the greater good. That is just the tragedy of his character: he sacrificed everything, including the closest relationships, for the belief that this was the only way to break free.