The Heartbreaking Truth Behind Grisha Yeager’s Life in Attack on Titan

Summary

Grisha’s tragic life mirrored Eren’s quest for freedom, but he faced betrayals and losses that haunted him.
Blinded by hatred for Marley, Grisha led the Restorationists with zeal, but his actions led to more betrayals.
Grisha ultimately lost his freedom and lived a life of guilt, forced to make tough decisions without seeing Eldia’s freedom.

In the gripping saga of Attack on Titan, Grisha Yeager’s life story is frequently overshadowed, but it’s a tale that deserves remembrance. Born in Marley, he endured the bitter prejudice against the Eldians directly. Much like Eren, he harbored a strong sense of justice and covertly strove to achieve it. However, his life was marred by deceitful betrayals and heart-wrenching losses, stripping him of all that mattered dearly to him.

In a similar vein to his father, Eren found that their destinies were intertwined by restriction. Both men sought personal freedom, but while Eren discovered meaning and fortitude, Grisha encountered hardship and deception. Yet, he managed to find his purpose and passed the future on to Eren. However, as the story of Attack on Titan unfolded, the sadness of Grisha’s life became more apparent.

Grisha Yeager’s Tragic Life

Yearning For Peace Had Its Price

Born and raised in Marley, Grisha had always been treated with contempt by its residents. They would often refer to him and his kin as “tainted blood,” a term that echoed through his memories. The constant ridicule and discrimination instilled within him an unyielding desire for liberation, much like Eren.

One day, I ventured into the city alongside my younger sibling, eagerly yearning to catch a glimpse of an airship. However, our actions sparked immediate repercussions as I found myself brutally assaulted. The most devastating consequence, though, was the loss of my sister. She was relentlessly pursued by dogs upon the orders of a Marleyan Sergeant, never to be found again.

Blinded by Hatred

Despite their tragic loss of their daughter, Grisha’s parents continued to follow the commands of the Marleyans, a decision that filled Grisha with contempt towards them. He led a peaceful existence until he became part of the Restorationists, an action that sparked his growing animosity towards Marley. As he rose through the ranks in this radical group, using his inspiring speeches to lead, his fierce desire for Eldia’s independence eventually clouded his judgement.

I, an outside spectator, noticed a pattern in his actions: he overlooked the authentic tale of Eldia, opting instead for a narrative that served him more favorably. Additionally, he imposed his beliefs onto his son, Zeke, unaware that he was replicating the same treatment he himself had endured as a child.

A Life of Betrayals

Grisha’s firm beliefs were not supported by his family. After his sister’s passing, they pleaded with him not to suffer the same fate as her that might affect their parents. This incident made him question his parents and feel deceived. Later, when he was raising Zeke, he pursued his goal relentlessly, using Zeke as a tool to achieve his ambitions without much regard for Zeke’s feelings or wellbeing.

In a turn of events, Zeke chose to deceive his own parents as a means of safeguarding himself and his grandparents. Consequently, this act led to the capture and exile of the Restorationists to Paradis, where they were met with their harshest possible penalty.

A Change of Heart Was Not Allowed

Following Dina and his fellow warriors’ demise, Zeke found himself bereft of hope. However, he didn’t have the luxury of giving up – instead, he received a mission to reclaim the Founding Titan at Eren Kruger’s behest. Unable to decline, he was compelled by the memory that he had inadvertently caused his sister’s death and owed it to her memory to seek vengeance.

After settling into a tranquil existence with his fresh family, Grisha found redemption from past errors and nurtured Eren with affection. However, when he crossed paths with the Royal Family, he struggled to inflict harm on innocents. Regrettably, circumstances demanded another difficult choice due to Eren’s foreseen memories. He was compelled to adhere to a destiny shrouded in mystery that couldn’t be altered.

Ever since that day you took your sister outside the walls…

We must push forward until the price of our actions is paid.

Even in death and after death.

This is a story that you began, is it not?

– Eren Kruger, Season 3, Episode 21

Grisha Lost His Freedom While Chasing It

Ultimately, Grisha was overwhelmed by the relentless grip of destiny, finding himself bound by the very freedom he sought. A fleeting taste of freedom left him ensnared in remorse for his role in his sister’s demise. This remorse served to fuel rather than quell the fiery rage within him. Betrayal and the sight of those closest to him meeting their end before his eyes were but a few of the trials he faced. Gradually, he learned from his errors and transformed into a loving father for Eren, finding temporary solace. However, Eren’s memories eventually reclaimed him once more.

In a turn of events orchestrated by Eren, he was compelled to leave his loved ones and slaughter the innocent, all in pursuit of Eldia’s liberation. Despite dedicating his life to this cause, he never witnessed the realization of this freedom. As he faced death, he pleaded with Eren to reveal what awaited him, but his request went unfulfilled. All he could do was pass on the keys to this anticipated freedom to his son. His life ended without knowing if Eldia’s freedom was ever attained.

In simpler terms, Grisha and Eren lived under a destiny they couldn’t escape. They both sought liberty deeply. However, it was in their deaths that they found this freedom. If Grisha had known what Eren eventually came to see, would he have still endorsed his son’s choice?

Attack on Titan is available to watch on Crunchyroll.

2025-03-25 19:09