Thread by @lovelyYmir

𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻

- 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘮𝘪𝘳 -

A thread of instances of Mikasa being the antithesis of Ymir and how that plays into Ymirs conclusion. (and Happy Birthday Mikasa!) #MikasaAckerman #Mikasa

[THREAD]

Thread Structure:
🔸Terms
🔸Origin
🔸Trauma
🔸Reaction
🔸Worth
🔸Gift
🔸Change
🔸Decision

⚠️#aotspoilers #aotmangaspoilers⚠️

📌𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘀 - parts that are similar in construction.
𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 - opposing ideas are put together in a 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭 construction.

❗Antithesis is a form of parallelism, that way emphasizing the opposing ideas❗

(Just to clarify)

📌𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Mikasa is composed of both 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 (Father) and 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 (Mother) blood, the two bloodlines that opposed the kings philosophy. Combining the characteristics of both bloodlines, she becomes the most free person in Attack of Titan.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Though we don't know Ymirs origins, we know that her village becomes enslaved, making her also a slave. This mindset is extended as she continues to follow Fritzs ideology for 2000 years after creating and entering Paths.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
We can already see how Mikasa contrasts Ymir, in fact it is such a stark contrast, because, if freedom was a spectrum, Mikasa and Ymir would be placed at the utmost furthest points of that spectrum: Mikasa(most free) and Ymir (least free).

📌𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮
Both girls experience the loss of a home, murder of their parents and are treated as slaves(Mikasa only for that little moment compared to Ymir) at an early age.

: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
At first Mikasa questions the meaning of continuation of her life, if her parents are dead. Eren enters the picture, starting a fight with the kidnappers encouraging Mikasa to fight, resulting her not being sold as a sex-slave.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Ymir however doesn't have anyone to encourage to fight(at the time), so she doesn't and is subjected to slavery as she is a child and has no one to help her or tell her what is the right thing to do.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Mikasa - 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 that fought for her and encouraged her to fight.

Ymir - alone, 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲.

📌𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Once she is reminded on the pattern she had seen before, she assumes the role of the predator/attacker (cruelty - praying mantis) and Mikasa and attacks the attacker(cruelty - praying mantis) and saves Eren (beauty - butterfly).

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Her slavery continues after she gets her titan powers, as she doesn't know any better and stays where its safe as being free = being hunted / in danger. She is powerful, but her mindset remains that of a slave and a prey, so she continues to carry out that role.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Mikasa - assumes a role of the predator after witnessing the pattern as a bystander.

Ymir - stays in the role of the prey as she hasn't experienced something like this before(from the point of bystander to recognise whats happening to her).

📌𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Mikasa knows her worth. She knows exactly how strong and powerful she is.
: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Despite Ymir becoming the most powerful person due to her newly gained power, her perception of self never changes, she is a slave.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Mikasa - knows her worth.

Ymir - her perception of her worth is one that her abusers ascribed.

📌𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Mikasa received a gift of a scarf which came to represent the home she gained that night, which continued to motivate her throughout the hardest times of her life, always moving forward and to continue living.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
After proving her worth to Fritz, he "rewards" Ymir with the honour of bearing his children, which served to manipulate her due to her childish perception of love (having children, marriage) trapping her in this situation in the end dooming her to death.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Mikasa - 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 by her environment, motivated by her gift to continue 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Ymir - 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 by her environment, manipulated, used and abused to the point of accepting 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 as an escape.

📌𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Mikasas change started at the very beginning, when her kidnapping happened.

Eren and her noticing a pattern she experienced before is what pushed her to be able to stand up for herself and fight, after which she recieves a scarf and new home.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Ymirs change started, when Eren finally showed her some affection and validation for the pain and struggle she experienced, telling her that shes human and her emotions are real, her struggle was real, which let's her break out of serving Fritz.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
I think it's important to point out that both times both girls were encouraged by Eren to do what is best for them and providing them with affection and empathising with them.

📌𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Mikasa recognises the wrongdoings of Eren and proceeds to do the right thing, while still loving him as her love does not restrict her from doing the right thing. And what is more she decides it herself.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Ymir cannot stand up against Fritz as she feels her love/attachment restricts her to do anything against him, as does her perception of self as a slave and Fritz as the master (authority). Her decision to save Fritz is spontaneous and one due to her attachment.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Ymir is restricted by her love.
Mikasa isn't resrticted by her love.

Which is why Ymir understands/learns what would have been the right thing to do.

Plus:
Ymirs decision is what started this curse.
Mikasas decision is what ended this curse.

📌𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Compiling these parallels, we can derive that both experience similar journey with certain details that contrast each other and that can change the outcome of the journey drastically. Chapter 6 called "The world that the girl saw" is a direct forshadowing+

to what Mikasa says to Ymir in chapter 139. She saw a girl like her, with save circumstances, but different outcome, since then watching the world through her eyes. Both girls have 2 crucial points that parallel each other:
Kidnapping - Village attack
Killing Eren - Saving Fritz

After the first one is when Ymir started watching watching the world through her eyes, planting the seeds for a change, and the second is needed to show her that she doesn't need to stop loving Fritz to do the right thing, from which she learns and grows.

Of course she experiences guilt and regret after realising, what would have been the right choice, but what is important that she did her best at the time and was able to heal NOW. No matter how much time it takes, it's ok to start healing, when you are ready.

I do believe that Ymir didn't actually realise what was the right thing to do until she saw Mikasa experiencing something similar. To her that was her praying mantis and butterfly realisation and Erens encouragement was her final push, like Mikasa who first has Eren +

encouraging her to fight and after has the realisation about praying mantis and butterfly, again, mirroring each other.

There's definitely more about Mikasas and Ymirs characters that mirror/parallel each other in contrasting ways, but these are most important distinctions.

Thank you so much for reading!

[END]

If you want to read more of my analysis, you can find them in my pinned tweet.

After this one I do recommend reading my tread on praying mantis and butterfly symbolism as I mentioned it here:

📌𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲
I will also add an additional section I should have included initially, as its an important part about both characters, that is the theme of love and how their definition greatly contrasts each other.

Throughout the series a lot of characters actions are based on love. Examples such as how much Zeke was affected by his parents or Reiner by his. The whole cycle of hatred theme cannot be viewed without love as that is what started it(from Ymir) and continued from then on.

It probably started before Ymir and it will remain long after as it's born from the human nature and reaction to trauma.

Mikasa and Ymir are a backbone to the theme of love as they are what started and ended this specific cycle of hatred. And that stems from their view of love.

: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮
Ever since she was a child she was provided with a loving and healthy environment. After her parents die she was taken in by the Yeager family. That resulted in Mikasa also learning how love is supposed to look like(as in general children should learn).

If Mikasa were to suddenly experience love that is not healthy or is restricting, she would be able to recognise it, as she does once she becomes hurt by Erens words to her and him redefining her feelings to her as not being real.

She retracts and takes of her scarf(the symbol for their connection).

Upon learing Erens true feelings she is able to accept loving him again(wearing scarf) and regardless of that be able to do the right thing(recognising his wrongdoings and acting according to her beliefs).

Now it's ok to love someone and be biased with them, we can see that with Mikasa, Armin too, but throughout that they still recognise his wrongdoings. They don't agree, but they still want best for him as they love him. Pretty reasonable, tho most can't make that distinction.

: 𝗬𝗺𝗶𝗿
Ymirs environment was changed at a young age, she became a slave, which she most likely had no idea how to process, all a child can do is do what they are told. Closest she can get to love was watching the couple get married. All a child wants is to be loved, +

We can see that theme with Zeke and Reiner, so of course a child that is neglected of love will desire it, regardless of how much pain or suffering it brings.

Once she got it(or in this case, percieved to have gotten itn because of her childish view of love), she clung to it.

So many victims stay with their abusers "because they love them" justifying their behavior. Given that this can happen in a completely equal relationship, the fact that Fritz has the authority as King over his slaves amplifies this dynamic.

Ymirs worth to Fritz would be the "better slave" and Ymir would do anything to please her abuser to remain the "better slave" as that is what rewards her with attention, with the little affection she can affirming her belief that Fritz loves her.

This dynamic constricted her to be in a constant cycle to please her abuser, to her his affection and recognition is important, so she would strive to achieve it each time, abandoning herself.

When saving Fritz she looks to him to receive this affection and is disappointed as he does the opposite. Her whole meaning of life had become this cycle of pleasing the abuser and being defined by how pleased he is, so once she loses that, she loses the will to live.

This continues in paths, as that is all she knows how to do, to please the abuser. Proving herself to him, proving her love and devotion to him, and getting little to nothing back. This cycle defined her and she didn't know what other option was there but to please him.

: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽
Mikasas love doesn't constrict her.
Ymirs love constricts her.

Special thanks to @oldsouleunoia for suggesting including a view specifically based on their contrasting views of love.