I’ll be giving my interpretation of what isayama was portraying and how that ties to the entire story. I’ll also be looking at the structure of the chapter/story itself and how that plays into characterisation so if that’s not for you then just please don’t read. +
We are first shown Halil & Ramzi. They are the realisation of most of the major themes of aot as the only two victims of the rumbling we are given a personal connection to. This serves to strengthen eren’s line in the basement to reiner: ‘we are all the same’. + 
Ramzi is a boy with a dream, his expression similar to armin when talking of his dream and this idea links to eren, erwin, willy, reiner etc. Taking it upon himself to provide a better future (parallels going ‘beyond the walls) due to the circumstances of his environment. +
However these dreams require sacrifices, the literal loss of a body part just like eren in his infiltration to marley or erwin losing his arm. It also speaks to the pain individual dreams cause to others, the grandfather can be applied to how eren makes his own ‘family’ sad. +
It also applies to the theme of sacrificing humanity to achieve change, even if they are understandable actions (armin speech in FT). Ramzi, just like eren, is done living at the mercy of his environment and those who died give him purpose. +
Ramzi is prepared to die for his cause that will leave his loved ones a fighting chance, just like eren, but again just like eren this isn’t the primary goal - he wants to reach that ‘scenery’ himself. They also hide their plans from the people that will benefit from it. +
There is also the parallel to ‘the tree on that hill’, reminiscent of the tree EMA visited as children (embodiment of hope). It’s also tied to the children of the forest theme, victims of a cycle of hatred they had no control over but informs all their actions. +
Eren’s memories blend with the present reality (emphasising his state in which past/present/future exist together). The crows are harbingers of disaster which have been present in the anime (when eren wakes up in ch1 & in the fall of shiganshina). The bird pov also symbolises +
eren’s disconnect from his actions, unable to grasp the weight of what he will do purely from his future vision and needing the visit to marley to truly understand. This also explains the language he uses towards the ppl he will kill up to the point he himself visits marley. +
After seeing people from all walks of life eren is forced to accept the weight of his choices. He accepts culpability with the dialogue change to ‘i am going to kill them’ but still falls back on the future being set in stone and being forced into it to save paradis. +
It’s the 1st instance of 131 being incomplete without 139 as ‘i wanted to do that’ is his full acceptance of his desires. It happens throughout the chapter because 131/139 are taking place at the same time (convo with armin) so neither can be complete without the other (duality)+
The structure of the story, 131 before the battle of heaven and hell & 139 taking place after, also strengthens the narrative fact that the future is set in stone in aot’s world. Both coexist as ‘time’ does not exist in eren’s state - serving as both set up and conclusion. +
Eren takes away the life of a mother, ramzi’s theme of punishment again coming full circle as eren becomes indirectly responsible for the death of his own mother. His self loathing increases the further we go through his memories, the stoic pts eren beginning to crumble. +
Eren understands his actions are unjustifiable but despite trying to take a utilitarian approach he ‘just can’t accept an end like that’. THIS IS EREN. Whether his nature or his environment informs his actions, he simply cannot overcome his desires: he will keep moving forward. +
This is strengthened again through eren’s connection to ramzi. He sees the boy who is suffering from discrimination and the consequence of his dreams (stealing money) and saves him. It also brings up the question of how far eren is moulded by his memories as he recognises ramzi.+
Despite recognising the hypocrisy of his actions he goes on to save ramzi, the future is set in stone because he cannot overcome his desires (compatibilism). He is half hearted because he recognises his atrocities but plays the ‘role’ of a hero, just like reiner did. +
He’s actually worse than reiner because he has full understanding of the situation prior to the actions he will take, his future memories giving more weight to his indomitable desire to move forward, even at the cost of his psyche. He becomes what he hated, and hates himself. +
Even in the context of the chapter eren apologises BEFORE telling ramzi why, again tying into the future being set in stone but eren accepting culpability because he wanted this. Eren can only apologise. This again ties to 139 as eren knows he doesn’t deserve to live. +
The past and present begin to fully merge, ramzi trapped (panelling) between the consequence of eren’s desires, robbing him of his own dreams (money). Eren does want to save paradis, but it’s MORE than that, he cannot come to terms with the state of the world. +
The idea that had given a form to eren’s desires, the book that provided hope and strength is now robbing others of that. Of course eren wouldn’t have rumbled purely off this desire alone, but it’s undeniably the most intimate of his reasons and he confesses that. +
He was disappointed. The belief that had driven him simply did not exist. The world outside wasn’t free to explore, it was full of ‘enemies’ who wanted to kill more, but more than that it had innocents too. His black/white perspective can no longer function. +
Halil holds on to what is left of ramzi’s dreams (tied to the lyrics of ‘my war’). A small parallel to armin making the best out of what was left of eren’s dream. The ‘confession’ (ramzi can’t speak the same language) served no purpose as they still die. +
Wish fulfilment. Like ymir who wished to have a strong body, be connected to others, and escape fear and death, eren had his own wish (so will the child). The founding ability is the power of God used by humans, and eren’s choice causes this destruction (internal+external).+
Ive already done a full analysis on the next pages and how that ties the entire story so i won’t be going over it again but feel free to check that out too. However there’s one detail i didn’t talk about so i’ll say that now. +
https://twitter.com/cactuzzshash/status/1455995585757057030
Eren is physically trapped between reality (panelling). The flower in the bottom panel symbolic of trauma/the effects of environment in aot, is still upright. Despite eren wanting to ‘wipe it all away’ the roots to his trauma remain planted, his ideal of freedom is unattainable.+
They also represent beauty in a cruel world which applies to mikasa and is therefore emphasising how he is not only bound by his selfish desires, but also his love for those he cares for. Despite everything the world will continue and there is hope. +
Eren’s change of facial expression shows how fleeting his attempt at freedom really was (falco flies effortlessly which speaks to their opposing mindsets). He looks to armin as his child self (ignorant) wants reassurance. +
We switch to a conversation where two teens act like teens, but admonish themselves for having natural emotions because the cycle of hatred that pervades their world makes this impossible (children of the forest). +
Annie and Armin both suffer from deep self loathing, with annie only believing that armin would care for someone like her because he’s ‘good’ (similar to eren thinking there must be a functional reason mikasa cares for him). +
However Armin replies and says he hates this. He views himself as a monster because of his actions and this is why he doesn’t feel like he can dehumanise eren in their final conversation despite killing him to stop him. +
Armin sacrificed his humanity to ‘achieve’ something, which he did didn’t believe he could at the start and it destroys his sense of self. However despite this he has something eren does not, the ability to see a brighter future. This ability gave eren meaning at first. +
He parallels the line ‘it wasn’t the world we dreamed of’ but has a new dream. There is still hope for happiness somewhere ‘beyond the walls’. The walls encaged them, representing barriers to human connection and oppression, but the ability to go beyond that is a MINDSTATE. +
Falco flies in reality as opposed to eren’s false flight. This is why eren says in 139 that armin can go beyond the walls, it’s a metaphor. There will always be things that limit us, but finding a way to live and find purpose beyond that is one of the key messages of the story. +
Aot’s protag was unable to do this, a cautionary tale of the effect the cycle of violence can have and the need for communication, but he leaves the possibility for someone like Armin to find a better way. Hope is important and freedom can be found within. +
Human history is riddled with violence and so too will the future. Perhaps the tiny pockets of peace (alliance for roughly 150 years) are all we can achieve, but the will to keep trying is just as important.
Thanks for reading 🤍
Thanks for reading 🤍
i used translations from mangasee btw but they’re functionally the same
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