Attack on Titan’s Timeless Themes

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Summary

  • The cycle of hatred is a key theme in Attack on Titan, shaping characters’ actions and creating conflict.
  • The rumbling presents a moral dilemma, dividing fans on whether global genocide is justified for revenge.
  • Attack on Titan’s lasting legacy lies in its exploration of real-world issues through moral dilemmas and philosophical questions.

Exploring the captivating realm of anime, Attack on Titan has emerged as a contemporary masterpiece, boasting exceptional writing that not only delights but also stimulates deep thought. The question arises: how did Hajime Isayama weave such an intelligent tapestry of manga, and what impact do its central themes exert on the discourse around it? Furthermore, how will this compelling series endure the test of time?

Let’s delve into the factors that set “Attack on Titan” apart as an extraordinary series and its enduring status as a timeless masterpiece, all due to the exceptional storytelling and plot development by its creator, Hajime Isayama.

The Cycle of Hatred

The Core Theme of Attack on Titan

In Attack on Titan’s narrative, the recurring theme could be described as the perpetuating cycle of enmity. The story explores how people learn to despise one another, and this animosity festers across generations, becoming a defining aspect of the series. Various factions are trained to resort to violence, often attacking each other, and this violent behavior is a constant thread that the characters experience throughout their lives.

A striking comparison is drawn between the hardships faced by the inhabitants of Paradis, contrasted with those of Marley. The citizens of Marley harbor hatred towards Eldians due to their past misdeeds as the Eldian Empire led by King Fritz. On the other hand, Eldians yearn for a revolution to liberate themselves from Marley’s oppression, which ultimately results in the Warrior Program and the mission to reclaim the Founding Titan on the island of Paradis. This pivotal operation sets the stage for the series, marking a significant turning point in Eren Yeager’s life, as it leads to his mother’s death.

In essence, Reiner Braun (the Armored Titan), along with the other Warriors, were brainwashed to despise their own kin and view them as heartless beasts. This animosity was reciprocated by Eren and his comrades due to the devastation wrought in Paradis. Interestingly, despite being of the same Eldian race, those at Marley and others found themselves at odds, a cruel strategy to fight fire with fire. To Marley, Eldians are not seen as people but merely as fearsome monsters, which is why they harness their power to instigate conflict among each other.

I am a warrior, I will finish what I start no matter what

As a passionate follower, I’ve come to realize that by instilling hatred towards their own kin in young warriors, they are essentially molding them into lethal instruments against their own folk. This process of brutality is further amplified when these warriors harm the citizens of Paradis, channeling their loathing for fellow Eldians on the island. Consequently, these soldiers lose any genuine loyalty and become pawns in the hands of their true adversaries, all while being shunned by their own people.

This strategy takes a heavy toll on Reiner Braun, the Armored Titan. Over time, it leads to the development of severe post-traumatic stress disorder and a fractured personality within him, as the emotional burden becomes unbearable.

Simultaneously, Eren Yeager found himself embarking on a life fueled by enmity and retribution towards the Warriors and later Marley, a path that would irrevocably shape his fate. Following the successful subjugation and imprisonment of Annie Leonhardt, the Female Titan, and the death of Berthold Hoover, the Colossal Titan, they were met with retaliation from the succeeding generation of warriors, seeking vengeance for their fallen comrades. Yet, this new enemy was also being manipulated as tools by Marley, much like themselves.

Consequently, this situation escalates into the climactic battle of the series – the titanic clash known as the Rumbling. Once they uncover their dismal past, the citizens of Paradis find themselves divided, with one faction emerging as the Yeagerists. This group decided to set off the Rumbling, a catastrophic event aimed at annihilating every person residing outside the walls who had long oppressed them. In an insane pursuit for vengeance and retribution, they unleash a global genocide unlike any other, wiping out people regardless of their alliances, gender, or age, making the Rumbling a worldwide act of destruction never before seen in history.

The Moral Dilemma of the rumbling

The Divisive Element of the Finale

The climactic event and struggle in Attack on Titan revolves around the Rumbling, a catastrophic assault on the world outside Paradis Island, initiated by setting off and commanding countless Giant Titans to stride across the globe, laying waste to everything underfoot. The darkest aspect of the Rumbling lies in its indiscriminate destruction, obliterating land, people, and creatures without mercy or pity as it marches along. The Rumbling represents a devastating retaliation against a world that has long oppressed a segment of society, yet the question remains: is it morally justified?

Someone who can’t sacrifice anything, can’t ever change anything

Is it morally correct for one to strive for liberation and tranquility against a world that has inflicted pain on your community for millennia, or is such action equally unjustified compared to the suffering they’ve endured? This ethical quandary lies at the heart of the series, causing the Attack on Titan fanbase to be deeply divided, and possibly still so today, as opinions vary greatly, much like the characters within the story.

The grim reality is that the destructive earthquake-like events called ‘the rumbling’ claim countless lives of those uninvolved in the conflict against Eldia, similar to how Eldians suffered for wrongs they were not aware of. A powerful dialogue between Gabi and Kaya illustrates this, with Gabi, brainwashed by hatred, asserting that the people of Paradis must bear the guilt for their ancestors’ transgressions. Contrarily, Kaya counters that her mother, who perished before her eyes at the hands of a titan, had no involvement in this struggle, as she was unaware of the existence of Ymir, the Goddess, or King Fritz, or the Empire of Eldia’s two-thousand-year-old oppression upon the world.

This narrative tackles contemporary concerns, showing how past oppressions can spark rebellions years later. The question arises: Are those who have suffered oppression right in seeking retribution against individuals unconnected to their past torments, or is there a more peaceful path? This dilemma was evident in the final storyline of Attack on Titan, causing a divide among fans. Those familiar with historical oppression tended to support the Yeagerists, while others backed the Alliance, rejecting genocide under any circumstances. This conflict lies at the heart of the series. This is why Attack on Titan endures as a timeless masterpiece; it poses questions rather than providing definitive answers, leaving room for viewers to engage in thoughtful debate. In an industry often focused on flashy action and humor, Attack on Titan stands apart by offering profound, unresolved questions.

Instead of focusing solely on action and character development, Attack on Titan delves into profound philosophical and ethical quandaries that transcend time, mirroring real-world situations. This is one of the reasons Hajime Isayama’s work stands out as a timeless, modern classic.

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2025-04-19 15:14