Thread by @whofavoredfire

Erwin vs. Eren's Dreams | Levi & Mikasa's Choices [Manga Spoilers]

Thread analyzing the parallels- and subsequent diverging paths- of Erwin and Eren through the childhood dreams driving them and Levi and Mikasa's choices in response

Both Erwin & Eren had a defining moment in their childhood where they were inspired by someone important to them (Erwin's father & Armin) to basically question the status quo, think of life beyond the walls and all the limits they'd been told to accept their whole lives

But both of these childhood dreams quickly lose their innocence and childish joy as Erwin's excitement indirectly leads to his father's death and the dream Eren shares with Armin makes him realize how trapped and not truly free he truly is

As time goes on, these dreams continue to fuel Eren & Erwin's actions, but also become something tainted and wholly different from how they began.
What should have been a childhood dream, something hopeful, is eclipsed by the negativity, be it hate or guilt, that's tied up in it

Isayama has said he thinks dreams are better left unrealized & this is obvious with Erwin & Eren.

They've built up their dreams (the truth of the world for Erwin, freedom beyond the walls for Eren) so much that any realization of the dream couldn't possibly bring them happiness

The basement & outside world aren't even what they truly want. These dreams aren't attainable, they're impossible ideals of "truth" & "freedom" that disguise the real thing they're chasing: righting the wrongs of the past & escaping the gnawing feeling of being limited & unfree

For Erwin, even just knowing he has this selfish wish makes him feel like an imposter; moreover, it's a dream he shared with his father, but realizing it wouldn't undo his father's death or ease Erwin's guilt
He wondered why his whole life & the more he learns, the worse it seems

Like Erwin, as time goes on, the more painful and unsatisfying Eren's dream becomes: it's not so simple as just being beyond the walls will grant freedom. Grisha's memories, the basement reveal, exploring Marley- everything shows Eren that the outside world is not his dream

But despite the pain & seeing the flaws, they still can't bring themselves to stop the pursuit of these desires.

Playing into the "everybody's a slave" theme, Erwin & Eren are slaves to these childhood wants that hurt & disappoint them- even as they keep chasing them

Point of No Return

Erwin & Eren reach a point of no return- they see the path they're on, know what they should do, but can't bring themselves to let go of the desire for the basement & "freedom" respectively.

In those moments, they confess their vulnerabilities to Levi & Ramzi

There's a sharp contrast here though-

Erwin chose to be stopped, reached out to Levi, someone who could influence him and who he's consistently relied on

But Eren only confessed to Ramzi to ease his inner turmoil, not to someone (like Mikasa or Armin) who could intervene

Erwin wanted Levi to help him make the right choice, revealing who Erwin is at his core. He confessed so Levi would ensure he prioritized his duty over his his dream.

So Levi makes the choice for Erwin- which causes him to gratefully smile & gives him some peace from the guilt

But Eren cries to Ramzi because he knows Ramzi deserves to live-

But he also chooses Ramzi, a child incapable of understanding him, to confess to because while he wants to let out his inner turmoil, he can't let himself be stopped from enacting the Rumbling

Ackerman Parallels

Erwin & Eren's paths diverge because Erwin reaches out before the point of no return whereas Eren only reached out to Mikasa after it's too late to prevent the Rumbling

Still, the end of their lives- & the role of Levi & Mikasa in that end- mirror each other

Both Mikasa and Levi found purpose once they met Eren & Erwin; their lives changed dramatically as Eren & Erwin gave them a cause, something to fight for, and are why they even joined the Survey Corps- they changed the trajectory of their lives.

It's something of a life debt.

But despite their closeness and loyalty, both Ackermans come to realize that they'd only seen one side of Eren and Erwin- they'd been putting them on a pedestal in some ways and focusing on the kind and selfless aspects of them instead of the totality.

Levi & Mikasa are forced to reconcile this new side of the person they'd been so loyal to with their previous image of them.

This causes both Ackermans uncertainty & distress; this person they thought they knew so well, trusted so much- well, there was more to them than they saw

But realizing that they'd missed aspects of Erwin & Eren doesn't negate the rest of their experiences. Both Levi & Mikasa ultimately decide to cherish the good & accept the totality
So when pressured to accept Erwin & Eren's deaths, they insist it's not the way, they'll save them

However, both Ackermans recognize that their wants aren't without cost-

For Levi, a lot of emphasis is given to his awareness that Armin (someone he cares for and is invested in) will die

For Mikasa, it's the Rumbling, Eren's path of destruction, and her friends' lives at risk

Moreover, there's the interplay of monstrosity and agony-

Erwin's called a "devil" needed still in "hell" as the Colossal; incoherent & dying, he's still fixated on the moment that sparked his dream

Eren's called a "monster"; his expression & depiction evoke a sense of misery

That's why serumbowl & Mikasa's choice are both framed as easing Erwin/Eren's misery, with the Ackermans acting against their wants to do so.
They've taken Eren/Erwin off the pedestal and still want to save them, but ultimately must let them go- for Erwin & Eren as well as others

Ultimately, this plays into several things imo-

For Erwin & Eren, it's partially about how it's your choices that define you; everyone has a "devil" in them, the potential to be lured by selfish impulses, but you can fight to rise above- and empathy & connection can help you

For Levi & Mikasa, it furthers the Ackerman tragedy. Cursed to be the strongest, the most "free" despite the Ackermans are slaves rhetoric- unaffected by the Founder's influence & able to wield the power of the titans but not bound by the curse of Ymir

But it's also never enough

It's not enough to spare the Ackermans from persecution and poverty, and it's not enough for them to protect those they care for from harm.

So for all the Ackermans' strength, they're forced to accept losses & tragedies over and over

Which ties into the message that physical power won't solve your problems- overpowering your enemy is only a band-aid solution creating more issues.

Moreover, no matter your strength, losses in life are inevitable; power isn't everything & won't let you get everything you want