Attack on Titan: Breaking Down Eren and Levi’s Relationship

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Eren Jaeger serves as the central character within the storyline of “Attack on Titan,” evolving from an optimistic, wide-eyed youth into a hardened anti-hero consumed by his own fixations. Levi, who takes on the role of a mentor to him, ascended through the ranks to become a captain within the Survey Corps and was raised amidst the harsh realities of the underground society, where survival often meant ruthless competition.

In different ways, both of them remained devoted to the Survey Corps because their ultimate aim was the same: liberty. But interpreting what that freedom meant for each individual was quite distinct. As Eren uncovered more about his circumstances and the truth beyond our world, Levi placed faith in Eren’s ability to guide humanity towards a brighter future.

Seeing The Best in People

Levi’s Mentorship

From his childhood, Eren had admired the Survey Corps, defying his mother’s wishes to join. His admiration for Levi, their captain, was so strong that he even developed fear towards him following a simulated trial before their first expedition. Yet, despite this fear, Levi saw potential in Eren to guide humanity on the right path, and he proved to be correct, albeit partially. Levi instilled in Eren the idea that one can’t predict the outcome of a decision until it’s been made, which led Eren to take things quite literally, shaping his actions and decisions.

During their confrontation with the Female Titan, Eren is determined to transform while they flee through the woods. Levi presents him with the choice of relying on his comrades or trusting in himself. The first time he chooses to rely on them, leading to their initial capture. However, during the second encounter, every member of Levi’s squad perishes due to an unexpected ambush by Annie. This event mirrors a side story about Levi titled “A Choice With No Regrets”. It’s wiser to regret an action you performed, rather than a choice you didn’t make.

In a poignant sequence of actions, Eren opted to trust solely in himself and orchestrate The Rumbling against Marley. This decision, which he later came to regret, was one that Eren had anticipated making all along. As he mourned his error at the end, it became clear that Eren wished he had explored other options – such as Marley’s intricate connections with other nations, potentially leading to trade or alliance opportunities beyond relying on untrustworthy Azumabitos. Essentially, Eren found himself regretting not just his actions but also the paths he did not take. It is fascinating to note that Levi, after the raid on Liberio, observed a striking similarity in Eren’s eyes to those of the underground dwellers. This might suggest that Levi had an impact on Eren beyond what we initially thought, and with Eren’s inclination towards narrow-mindedness, he may have taken Levi’s advice quite literally.

Pride vs Humility

Humanity in Disappointment

As the plot unfolds, Eren transforms from a wandering half-human, half-Titan, to a follower, then an alienated apprentice. At one time, Levi felt a sense of pride towards Eren. Behind his hardened demeanor, Levi genuinely valued all his teammates, including Eren. Some viewers even refer to him and Hange as the “parents” of the Survey Corps, a title they truly deserve due to their role in shaping them into soldiers while reminding them to keep their individuality. However, Eren’s unwillingness to make concessions led him to lose sight of himself.

Hange and Levi were saddled with cleaning up after Eren, and Levi began to question his decisions in supporting Eren as much as he had. This doubt became evident during their forest fight against Zeke. In the end, it was Levi who ended up dealing with Eren’s mess, along with everyone else, which ultimately led to Eren’s death. Despite their close relationship, where Levi acted like a second father to Eren, he felt betrayed by the actions of his ‘son’.

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2025-07-21 15:33