Attack on Titan: How Mikasa Saved Ymir

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Summary

  • Mikasa’s good actions and honest intentions inspired others, like Louise, to follow in her footsteps.
  • Mikasa’s mutual love for Eren led her to make tough decisions and end the Rumbling.
  • Mikasa’s gratitude towards Ymir for the lives she gave birth to, led to Ymir finding closure.

Mikasa Ackerman is a key character in the series “Attack on Titan” and develops romantic feelings for Eren Jaeger. The dynamics between Mikasa and Eren catch the attention of Ymir, a young girl from 2,000 years ago who was once enslaved, causing her to question her own emotions towards her captor over time.

Due to this, Ymir often pondered deeply about Mikasa’s emotions and reasons behind her choices, hoping to find a solution for her own predicament. After breaking the 2,000-year-old curse by sacrificing her most cherished being, Ymir admired Mikasa as a hero in numerous other aspects as well.

Good Actions with Good Intentions

Mikasa wasn’t just self-reliant, she also cared for others deeply. In the first season, she took action against a rogue Titan threatening civilians by killing it. This act of courage left a strong impression on a young girl named Louise, who decided to join the Survey Corps in hopes of emulating Mikasa. However, her motivation was not purely admiration or love, but rather an idealistic pursuit.

The young woman enlisted in the Survey Corps and supported the Jaegerists, even though they had a distorted view and were harsh towards civilians. This behavior was so different from what Mikasa remembered about the girl she saved long ago that Mikasa no longer recognized her friend Louise. However, Louise wasn’t following Mikasa’s lead, but rather an ideal that she still believed was the same person who hadn’t fully understood their reality four years earlier.

Consequently, she distanced herself from Louise, expressing her displeasure non-verbally by returning her scarf and maintaining a solemn gaze as Louise struggled with her injuries. Mikasa wouldn’t exploit a girl under the guise of “devotion,” unlike King Fritz who manipulated Ymir. Despite being harsh, she wouldn’t offer false reassurances for personal gain – above all, she was sincere.

Love vs Obligation

In the story, there’s a moment of doubt in Eren regarding Mikasa’s genuine feelings for him, given how often he expressed self-doubt and criticized himself during their journey together. Ymir, who kept an eye on them, was there when Eren had a private talk with Zeke, where he speculated that perhaps Mikasa’s loyalty might not be sincere. However, it’s also worth noting that Ymir saw through one of Eren’s deceptions when he turned down Mikasa on one occasion.

In essence, Mikasa and Eren’s affection for each other was reciprocal. Throughout her life, Mikasa’s loyalty towards him was sincere, and ultimately, it was out of love that she delivered the decisive blow, halting the Rumbling. True love doesn’t condone misdeeds; instead, it strives to guide you away from the wrong path. Mikasa didn’t wish to harm Eren, but as she witnessed his escalating actions and his obvious pain, she chose to end his life. Similarly, Ymir yearned for freedom and the chance to love her kin, yet she couldn’t bring herself to let King Fritz perish because of her dependence on him.

In a poignant flashback, I find myself as Ymir, cradling my daughters, if only for an instant, the spear striking me instead. Yet, in that final moment before my death, I yearned to be free from my suffering, but a fragment of me remained bound. This is a heart-wrenching reality faced by countless women trapped in abusive relationships. They become entangled in a complex web of emotions and attachment, as if they’re captivated by their abuser, almost falling into what feels like love. Even after breaking free from the chains, many continue to grapple with these ambiguous feelings, often finding themselves defending their abusers long after their escape.

Second Chances and Gratitude

In their relationship, Mikasa played a dual role of savior for Ymir – as a child and later as a mother. Ymir, who died as an adult but remained mentally a child due to her unfulfilled childhood, found healing through her bond with Mikasa. As they grew together, Ymir’s inner child was soothed. However, Ymir faced another struggle – she was unable to fulfill her role as a mother for her own children. Her actions in life went unacknowledged and she yearned for gratitude.

Mikasa, in a poignant moment, acknowledged Ymir’s sacrifice directly. She thanked Yirum for the lives she brought into existence, including Mikasa herself and the love she was able to experience. This heartfelt thanks provided Yirum with closure, helping her understand that her life held purpose and meaning.

Although Mikasa played a significant part in helping her gain freedom, both Eren and Armin influenced her significantly as well. Eren’s act of holding Ymir reminded her of her personal autonomy, allowing her to express the anger she had harbored for years and understand the concept of selfishness, which led her to hurt others. On the other hand, Armin demonstrated through his talk with Zeke that life requires balance. Every life holds importance, but it’s up to each individual to decide how they want to live it. In essence, the actions of Eren, Armin, and Mikasa enabled Ymir to mature and experience life, despite the extreme circumstances.

Just as Mikasa acted independently, demonstrating both selfless and selfish actions throughout her life, Ymir did the same. This realization enabled Ymir to find peace. If we accept the theory that’s considered canon, then it can be inferred that Ymir, symbolized by the butterfly, was the one who brought Eren and Mikasa together in the afterlife in “Itterashai.

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2025-01-27 23:04