“A Rotten Life”: Attack on Titan’s Creator Confirmed Eren’s Grim Fate if He Hadn’t Joined the Survey Corps

The protagonist of Attack on Titan, Eren Jaeger, earned a reputation for being bold and nearly unstoppable when he set his mind on a goal. His plan to wipe out all of humanity in order to save his loved ones was incredibly controversial, but especially in the final episodes, Eren’s dedication to his cause was undeniable. However, his choices eventually led to some harsh consequences, including his unfortunate demise.

Eren’s death in Attack on Titan’s final episode begs the question, how different would the main character’s life have been if he had never chosen to join the Survey Corps? In an interview with Crunchyroll, Hajime Isayama, the series’ creator, explored this very question, suggesting a potential trajectory the iconic protagonist could have embarked on had he made different decisions in his career.

Early on in the series, both Carla Jaeger, Eren’s mother, and Mikasa Ackerman, one of his best friends, expressed disapproval and worry at his plan to enroll in the Survey Corps, fearing for his life.

Not Joining The Survey Corps Wouldn’t Have Made Eren’s Life Better

One small decision could’ve changed not just his future, but the future of everyone

Eren refused to heed anyone’s advice, as he felt his true purpose in life was to eradicate all the Titans through any means possible, no matter how dangerous. Isayama asserts that joining the Survey Corps was necessary for Eren and any other path would’ve led him to live a “rotten” and “unfulfilling life.” Although his loved ones attempted to keep him far from the risk of the Titans, Eren never let fear stand in his way and pursued his own desire to kill Titans, which was only strengthened by the moment when they breached the walls and killed his mother.

Isayama feels that there was no other suitable choice for Eren’s character, as nothing would have significantly changed for him or others had he stayed inside the walls and refused to fight. This is precisely the point Eren made time and again during Attack on Titan: if no one had stepped up to fight, nothing would ever have become different and the cycle of bloodshed and lack of freedom would have continued endlessly. Although Eren’s specific method of achieving peace was horrific and inexcusable, his general sentiment of wanting a better life for him and his friends and family is easier to feel some sympathy for.

“I think Eren would have had a rotten life. He would have an unfulfilling life, to be honest. And being inside of Paradis, he probably would have continued to be oppressed and possibly just extinct without anything he could do about it. Or he might have lived without knowing that his end was coming soon. He might have just continued to live the 13 years time limit.” – Hajime Isayama, Crunchyroll

Had Eren Not Joined The Survey Corps, His Life Would Have Been “Unfulfilling”

Isayama states that Eren would’ve experienced a truly “rotten” existence had he not chosen to fight

Eren was unaware of his Titan shifting abilities at the beginning of Attack on Titan, and Isayama explains that he would have “lived without knowing that his end was coming soon,” dying after 13 years of unknown causes. This would have come as a monumental shock. In the series, Eren discovered the Titan curse and broke it in the end, allowing other Titan shifters like himself, such as Armin Arlert and Reiner Braun, to live their full lifespans without being cut short. Although Eren died prematurely and didn’t get to experience the benefits of the broken curse, those he loved did.

A life trapped inside the walls, never fighting back, would not have suited Eren’s character or humanity as a whole and Isayama realized this would not have fit his character arc. Eren is not the type of person to allow oppression to occur without resisting, and his fierce, undeniable love for his friends and family only spurred him to push for better conditions and an unrestricted life. Although his heartless plan to eradicate the entirety of humanity to rid the world of Titans needed to be stopped, his intention was to fight for freedom for himself and the other Eldians.

The World Would Have Been Doomed To A Complacent And Fearful Existence Without Eren’s Actions

Although he committed inexcusable atrocities, Eren’s choices were the catalyst that led to greater worldwide change

Without Eren and the others, humanity would still be enslaved by the Titans, proving why joining the Survey Corps was a necessary endeavor for Eren. In a surprising twist, the Survey Corps members, along with the Marleyans, had to team up to stop Eren, breaking the horrific cycle and ushering in a new, more peaceful age of humanity. Attack on Titan portrays a realistic message and even at the end, things are not perfect or fully resolved. Even after Eren’s death, the series makes it clear that there is still much work to be done to create a better world.

The sacrifices everyone made during the war in Attack on Titan helped contribute to a brighter future and gradual widespread change throughout the world. Isayama has stated in interviews that he didn’t want a series that ended without flaw; he wanted a more realistic and human ending that still had a glimmer of hope. War is a difficult and heartbreaking reality that will take quite some time to eradicate. This is true in Attack on Titan too, but Eren and his friends’ choice to join the Surveys Corps marked the first step towards finally defeating the Titans and eventually ending the war.

Source: Crunchyroll

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