To structure this i’ll be analysing the freedom panel and how it ties to eren’s characterisation, then look at ‘grounded’ and how the interplay between the two strengthens him both narratively and thematically. +
Despite this being a main motivator for eren, it’s that ‘sight’ after all and the concept he was ‘drunk’ on in order to keep moving forward, eren isn’t truly free in chapter 131. There are multiple pieces of evidence that point to this. +
He takes his child form which is symbolic of ignorance, something he himself stated as being the thing furthest removed from freedom. We see his real head at the end of 131, eyes closed to the horrors he’s inflicting, further emphasising this ignorance. +
It looks like he’s flying but he’s actually on top of titan smoke and below clouds (symbolically trapped), where the titan smoke blocks his view of both the sites he actually equates to freedom and of the deaths below (further ignorance). +
Furthermore, the titans of the rumbling enclose him, acting as the walls that he equated to a lack of freedom growing up, the panelling explicit. It’s the significance behind him telling armin that he is the one who will be able to go beyond the ‘walls’, as eren never could. +
His founding titan form also takes the shape of an enormous skeletal puppet held up by strings, his bones the shape of a cage (ribcage haha). However what’s important is that despite all this he still moves forward which is why it ties so well to grounded and his duality. +
The first thing to understand about grounded is that it’s taking place at the same ‘time’ as freedom as it’s in his conversation with armin. It’s quite literally the two ‘sides’ of eren yeager and the time mechanics of paths makes the interplay brilliant. +
The duality is heightened as the grounded panel is the mirror opposite of freedom in every conceivable way. Adult v child, flying v on the ground, looking down v looking up, eyes wide v half shut, alone v with armin, and most importantly smoke v clarity. +
Neither work without the other because only together does it provide the full picture. Eren moves forward due to his nature and goals, but faces the full reality of those choices as he always has. This was his choice and he must accept the weight that comes with it. +
It’s happened before and it’s what makes him moving forward so layered. He changes from ‘they will die’ to no ‘i will kill them’, because he accepts culpability in the end which thoroughly breaks him, as we see with ramzi and in 139. He can only apologise, but he still did it. +
This is just his nature, something he ‘may just have been born with’. It’s incredibly consistent as it’s always been the case. He ‘just can’t accept an end like that’, it’s because ‘i was born into this world’ and in his own words ‘i am just me, i always have been’. +
There’s also another layer that’s tied to isayama’s commentary on transcendence. Despite gaining the power of God eren is still human, still a slave to something, and that shackles him just like it does to uri and to ymir fritz. +
As Rod Reiss said, the choice is in God’s hands. Eren’s choice was the rumbling, to keep moving forward, to reach that scenery but he is still a human being who suffers the weight of those choices as shown through the interplay of grounded and freedom. +
That’s essentially why i think the two moments can only be as brilliant as they are within the context of the other, and how thats another example of eren being a fantastic character to the very end. Hope you all enjoyed reading !
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
this is going to be a collection of thoughts that build off of my previous threads so if you find an element that you’re interested in i recommend looking at the corresponding thread to get a full picture. there is no specific structure to this so just read if you enjoy. +
firstly i’ll touch on the idea of ‘god’ within the narrative because it’s something that gets stressed. ‘god’ is the governing force of the world, all knowing and all powerful, but most importantly still a slave to something.+
the humanity of satoru gojō and the importance of suguru getō
a jujutsu kaisen thread
the premise of this thread is that geto represents gojo’s humanity (the humanity within ‘god’) and their love becomes a curse which ultimately brings him down. jjk is a ‘story of love and curses’ with geto and gojo embodying this principal fully. +
gojo is characterised as the ‘strongest’, strength is inseparable from his very identity but he’s at his best when he is alone. when kenjaku says this the word is caught in a bubble showing the fragility of this concept - gojo’s humanity (geto) means he cannot be truly alone. +
people ask me why i don’t qrt to argue anymore but genuinely what on earth is the point when value systems are so completely different? i do not like attack on titan for the same reasons as 99% of people on this app and i know now that’s just how it is. +
if you value a solid, well written and explicitly laid out arc you’re gonna have gabi high whereas i find her incredibly dull and predictable. the same goes for people who have reiner super high which is whatever, again it’s just whatever you value. +
i have ymir fritz top 5 due to my values and i’ll write threads/analysis on her, but what’s the point of quoting when 90% of people on here say some utter garbage like ‘she doesn’t even have any writing’. the way ppl victim shame her is disgusting to me and i don’t care for it. +
curses are born from overflowing emotions therefore it makes sense that love and curses are two sides of the same coin, but the most interesting aspect to me is perspective. one’s love is another’s curse or perhaps it’s both - ‘love is the most twisted curse of all.’ +
it’s a theme that runs through many characters but i think it’s highlighted the best through the mc, yūji. his original motivation was a message from his grandfather (‘love’), but it ended up serving as a ‘curse’ instead (visually through black panelling). +
To understand the significance behind his bankai, it’s important to first look at his shikai and how they play off of each other. Shunsui’s shikai brings children’s games into reality, showing his dislike of responsibility and easygoing ‘facade’. +
His shikai often utilises shadows which is notable because shadows tend to represent a darker/hidden truth. This truth would be his immense trauma and pain as shown through his bankai. Barro sees an illusion because this is not the ‘real’ Shunsui symbolically. +
What is the time loop theory? It’s essentially any theory based on the idea of aot’s world existing in a loop, with eren at the centre of that loop trying to break out. I will be putting forth the idea that it does exist in a loop, but ONLY in the context of eren himself. +
Is this feasible? The theory actually became so popular that isayama and his editors themselves knew of it, and the idea is discussed in an interview after the ending released. Here its said to be open to the interpretation of the reader, so i have free reign to interpret.+