The story of this work is complex and intricately woven, with enemies and allies constantly shifting. In a twist that could be considered the essence of the series, the final enemy humanity faced was the protagonist, Eren Yeager.
This development, where the protagonist becomes the final enemy, was not simply a gimmick. The inevitability of this outcome is what makes Attack on Titan so compelling.
What did Attack on Titan depict? The author believes it portrayed “the mechanism by which humans cannot stop fighting.” To convey this, it was necessary for Eren to become the enemy at the end. This is because humans need a common enemy to unite.
A Story Where the Perspective of “Enemy” and “Ally” Reverses
In Attack on Titan, changing perspectives shows that enemies and allies can switch roles, and there is no absolute good or evil. This is symbolized clearly by the changes in the anime’s key visuals.
The key visual of the first season depicted Eren’s back as he faced the Colossal Titan. In contrast, in The Final Season, the visual shows Reiner’s back as he looks up at Eren in his Titan form. The roles have completely reversed.
In The Final Season, just before Eren launches a surprise attack on Reiner’s homeland, Marley, he says, “After all, I am just like you.” He also adds, “It’s the ‘I had no choice’ kind of thing.”
Reiner and his comrades had killed many people on Paradis Island, where Eren lived. For Reiner, who was discriminated against in Marley, it was a “necessary” choice. Similarly, Eren ended up massacring innocent people in Marley to protect his comrades.
Attack on Titan highlights the relativity of good and evil by switching perspectives. Eren and his comrades fight to protect their families and friends. Reiner and his comrades do the same. Both have reasons that compel them to fight.
There’s a famous saying: “All wars are defensive wars.” Even if it looks like an invasion, defense is often the justification. From Eren’s perspective, Reiner’s attack on Paradis Island was an invasion, but for Reiner, it was a military operation to use the power of the “Founding Titan” on Paradis Island for Marley’s defense.
Eren’s actions were ultimately to protect his comrades. The history of humanity is a series of battles fought because there was no choice but to defend, and Attack on Titan compellingly illustrates this by changing perspectives.
A Common Enemy Unites People?
In the story’s final stages, Eren releases the power of the Titans hidden within the walls of Paradis Island, triggering the “Rumbling” and beginning the genocide of humanity. Only then do the forces on Paradis Island, led by Armin, join forces with Marley’s Reiner.
The scenario where former enemies unite against a common foe is thrilling. But it raises the question: why can’t people unite and resolve things peacefully before a common enemy appears?
Humans indeed have this tendency. The formation of nations often comes from the need to defend against a common enemy. For example, the formation of England was partly in response to invasions by the Danes and other outsiders. Similarly, the Hundred Years’ War with England is said to have fostered a sense of national identity in France.
Looking at Japan’s history, the sense of belonging that was divided among various domains began to unite in the late Edo period when the arrival of the Black Ships highlighted the threat of foreign enemies, leading to the Meiji Restoration. The presence of a common enemy tends to unite people, forming the basis of various nations. This is why military defense is a crucial function for a state.
The bond that formed as Armin and his allies united against the common enemy, Eren, also included ordinary Marleyan soldiers and the discriminated Eldians avoiding mutual killing and joining hands in the final episode. Such unity was possible only because of the common threat.
But if people can’t unite without a common enemy, does that mean conflict will never disappear from the world? Peace requires unity, but unity requires an enemy, and if there’s an enemy, conflict arises.
Is this endless loop the essence of human history, as depicted in Attack on Titan?
In the end credits of the final episode, the distant future after Mikasa and others have passed away shows a humanity still engaged in conflict. Even after the tragedy of Eren trampling 80% of humanity, the cycle of conflict couldn’t be broken.
It’s a very honest ending. Eren embodies the bitter irony of human history to the fullest. The development where the protagonist becomes the enemy is so powerful because it reflects this irrationality inherent in humanity.
And despite this irrationality, Attack on Titan conveys that there is still something worth living for in this world, making it a masterpiece.
