Though Attack on Titan’s manga and anime series are both complete as of last year, the franchise has had a long-lasting impact with its thought-provoking messages, stellar story, and well-written characters. Hajime Isayama’s talents will certainly be appreciated for years to come. The skilled creator has spoken out about his intentions for Attack on Titan’s bold, passionately driven, and oftentimes controversial, main character, Eren Jaeger.

In an interview with the New York Times, Isayama delved into his creative process regarding the acclaimed series. More specifically, he discussed Eren’s true wishes and, shockingly, they might actually differ significantly from what most fans believe.

Ever since the beginning of Attack on Titan, a common thread woven throughout the series is Eren’s deep desire to journey beyond the walls of Paradis Island and see everything the world has to offer, beyond the relatively sheltered existence he’s known all of his life. Eren resented the Titans for trapping him and his loved ones in this literal and metaphorical cage.

Attack on Titan’s Creator, Hajime Isayama, Described Eren’s True Wishes

Eren’s choices and desires differ from many fans’ perceptions

Many Attack on Titan fans believe that what Eren was seeking was the world itself and that he wanted to experience specific places and situations outside the island. Other characters did express desires to see landmarks previously unknown to them. For example, Armin’s lifelong dream was to finally visit the ocean. Thanks to Armin’s detailed book about the world beyond the walls, a handful of the Eldians had a fairly good idea of how things were outside the walls, and Eren was one of these individuals. However, Isayama revealed, Eren’s dream went a step further than just mere exploration of the unknown.

Eren’s aspiration was never tied to seeing sights, Isayama explained. Rather, he was seeking “this world that was just empty, a clean slate.” It was not about what specifics he could experience outside the walls, it was about the freedom to create an unconstrained life not bound by the strict confines of the island. However, after embarking on this journey, Eren quickly learned that “the world is really not that different from what’s within the walls.” This is quite an intriguing statement and suggests that it was the restriction and feeling trapped that plagued Eren more than the location he was living in.

“I think that refers to the fact that Eren was dreaming of going to this world outside of the walls where there was nobody and there was nothing. There was an excitement about this world that was just empty, a clean slate. I don’t really know whether that’s a good or a bad thing, and I don’t really know why that was the ideal that I set up for Eren as a part of this story. But what I can say is that, when he does get across the wall at that point, he says he sees that the world is really not that different from what’s within the walls.” – Hajime Isayama, The New York Times

Eren Realized That His Real Problem Was Lack Of Control Over His Life

Eren understood the truth after leaving the island and seeing other people living under the Titans’ control too

Eren always had a strong and unwavering hatred of the Titans, despising their murderous and inhumane acts and vowing to put an end to their relentless tyranny at any cost. It did not take Eren long to discover that although he had become convinced living on Paradis Island was confining him and that the obvious choice was to leave, the solution wasn’t as simple as he had initially hoped. In all corners of the world, Titans were wreaking havoc, and this knowledge only reinforced Eren’s resolve to eradicate them entirely and become truly free of their senseless killings.

Isayama’s explanation certainly makes Eren’s mindset more clear and explains why he eventually turned to harsh measures like starting the Rumbling and almost wiped out everyone: humans and Titans alike. His choice was unjust and unnecessarily cruel, but he felt he had no other option to shield himself and his loved ones from danger and to achieve his one true aim in life: complete freedom. Eren’s entire life, he did nothing but fight passionately towards this end and, unfortunately, even died for his cause. He talked about freedom incessantly throughout the series, and this interview solidifies that this was Eren’s one goal.

Throughout Attack on Titan, Eren’s True Goal Was Freedom

He desired a life where he could make his own choices uninhibited by the looming threat of the Titans

Eren’s friends stepped in, killing one of their best friends to save humanity. Eren’s ideals led him to commit unspeakable acts, proving how unshakably committed he was to obtaining the freedom he was seeking. As Isayama stated in the interview, it did not matter to Eren where he lived specifically, all he wanted was the agency to go as he pleased and never have anyone else holding him back. His persistence and conviction remained present throughout Attack on Titan, as he was even willing to put his own life on the line in this relentless pursuit of freedom.

Source: New York Times

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