The Tragedy of Freedom: Was Eren Yeager Right? A Deep Dive into Attack on Titan

Beyond Good and Evil

Most Shonen anime are simple. You have a hero with a dream, a clear villain, and a path to victory. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is not that story. It is a brutal mirror held up to human history, asking uncomfortable questions about war, racism, and the terrifying cost of "freedom."

Now that the dust has settled on the finale, we need to talk about the elephant—or rather, the Titan—in the room. Eren Yeager.

Is he one of the greatest villains in fiction? A tragic hero? Or simply a monster? Let’s dissect the masterpiece that Hajime Isayama left us.

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The Cage of Birth

The brilliance of Attack on Titan lies in its perspective shift. For three seasons, we are conditioned to believe that Eren is the righteous victim. He is fighting monsters to save humanity. We cheer for his rage.

But when the basement is opened and the truth of Marley is revealed, the genre shifts from "Survival Horror" to "Political War Drama."

Eren’s philosophy boils down to one radical belief: "I was born into this world." He believes that the sheer act of existing gives him the right to be free, and anyone who tries to take that freedom—whether it's a Titan or the entire world population—forfeits their right to live.

It’s a terrifyingly absolute logic. And it forces us, the audience, to ask: At what point does self-defense become genocide?

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The Cycle of Hatred (and Why It Never Ends)

The core theme of the series isn't Titans; it's the Cycle of Hatred.

• Marley oppresses Eldia because of history.
• Eren destroys Marley because of oppression.
• Gabi kills Sasha because Eren destroyed her home.

Isayama masterfully shows that there are no "good guys" in war. Gabi Braun is written specifically to be a mirror of young Eren—loud, angry, and indoctrinated. We hate her initially, only to realize she is exactly who we cheered for in Season 1.

This nuance is what elevates Attack on Titan above 99% of other anime. It refuses to give you an easy answer.

Read the Details: The anime is fantastic, but the manga contains subtle dialogue and political details that flesh out this conflict even more. The Colossal Editions are the best way to own this history. Grab Vol. 1 on Amazon.

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The Ending: A Beautiful Mess

We can't analyze this series without addressing the controversial finale. Without spoiling the exact mechanics for new viewers, the ending leaves a bitter taste. It suggests that conflict is inevitable. As long as there are two humans left alive, they will find a reason to fight.

Many fans hated this. They wanted a "happy ending" or a complete victory for Eldia. But a happy ending would have betrayed the show's thesis. Attack on Titan was never a fairy tale. It was a tragedy from the first episode.

Eren was not a god. He was, as he admitted, "a garden-variety idiot who got his hands on too much power." He became a slave to his own obsession with freedom.

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Conclusion: A Modern Classic

Whether you think Eren was right to do what he did to protect his friends, or if you think he is an irredeemable monster, one thing is undeniable: Attack on Titan is a masterpiece.

It challenges us to think about our own world. About propaganda, war, and the "Others" we are taught to hate.

If you have only watched the anime, I highly recommend reading the manga to see Isayama’s raw, scratchy art style evolve into one of the most distinctive looks in the industry.

Complete Your Collection: The Box Sets make for a stunning display on any shelf. Get the Attack on Titan Season 1 Part 1 Box Set on Amazon.

Let's settle this in the comments: Was Eren justified? Or did he go too far? Leave your analysis below!