Eren Angelina
In the world of entertainment, especially anime, fictional characters often have a big impact on the emotions and views of the audience. One of the most talked-about characters in recent years is Eren Yeager from the manga, which was later adapted into an anime series and movies called Attack on Titan. At the beginning of the story, Eren is shown as an excited boy with a strong wish to fight the Titans, who are seen as a danger, and to save humanity.
However, as time goes on, his personality changes drastically. Eren becomes a controversial figure, sparking debates: is he a hero who is willing to sacrifice everything for his people, or a villain who seeks destruction under the guise of justice? Eren’s complex and layered character-like an “onion”-makes him fascinating to analyze more deeply. To answer that question, let’s explore Eren’s journey and role in the story.
Since he was a child, Eren Yeager had a big dream about freedom. He lived inside huge walls that protected humans from the Titans-giant, dangerous creatures. When he was still a child, Eren saw his mother being eaten by a Titan right in front of him. This terrible event made him very angry and filled with a strong desire for revenge. He promised to kill all the Titans and free humans from fear.
Eren’s goal was clear: he wanted to protect the people he loved and bring freedom to all humans. So, he joined the military and kept fighting on the front lines. He didn’t just want to be strong, but also to save his friends and the future of the world. At the beginning of his journey, Eren was known as a brave, passionate person who didn’t give up easily. Many people admired him for his strong spirit and great courage.
But as time went by, Eren started to change. He was no longer the hopeful boy that people remembered. After he found out that the world outside the walls was not what he imagined that his people were seen as enemies, not victims-he felt disappointed, angry, and hopeless. Eren’s view of the world changed completely.
He began to believe that freedom could not be reached by just surviving, but had to be fought for, even if it meant using violence and taking big risks. He made extreme decisions and was even willing to sacrifice many lives, including those close to him. From a young hero who wanted to save the world, Eren became someone who was ready to destroy it for the sake of his own people. This change made many people feel scared, confused, and wonder: is Eren still a savior, or has he become the enemy he once hated?.
Eren’s change made people see him in different ways. For some, Eren was a true hero. He was brave enough to make hard decisions to save his people, who had been treated unfairly for a long time. He wanted to stop the endless cycle of hate and war. Even Armin, his best friend, once said, “Eren has always been free. Since we were kids… he was different. He dared to go to the sea, dared to fight the world.”
For Armin, Eren was the only person who could do what no one else could. But on the other hand, some people saw Eren as a great villain. He caused the death of millions of people, no matter how old they were or who they were. Even Mikasa, who always protected him, had to make the most painful decision in the end. “Eren… even until the end, you stayed true to yourself.” His actions were seen as cruel and selfish, even by some of his friends. These opposite opinions made Eren a mysterious character-he was a hero to some, but a villain to others.
In my opinion, Eren Yeager is not completely a hero, but also not a full villain. He is a real example of someone who got trapped in a cruel world, then chose the path he thought was right, even if it was painful. On one hand, I can understand Eren’s reason, he wanted to protect his people, stop the chain of hate, and get the freedom that was taken away from them.
But the way he chose made many people suffer, and that makes it hard for me to call him truly good. Maybe, Eren is better called a tragic hero, someone who has good intentions but is forced to do bad things because of the situation. From his story, I learn that the world is not always black and white. Sometimes, good people do bad things because they have no other choice. Eren’s story reminds us that in life, it’s important to hold on to humanity, even when the world is unfair.
Eren Yeager is one of the most complex characters in the world of entertainment. He is not just an anime character, but also a reflection of moral dilemmas, deep pain, and hard choices that also happen in real life. Sometimes, he looks like a hero. Other times, like a villain. But more than that, Eren is someone who wanted freedom so much, that he became a slave to that freedom. He walked a painful path, giving up many things for a hope that was never certain.
Through his story, we see that good and evil are not always clearly separate-sometimes they mix inside a person who just wants to stop the pain. A show like Attack on Titan is not just for entertainment, but also a way to understand that every person has a reason behind their actions. In the end, it is not about judging right or wrong, but about trying to understand the wounds that may not be visible.
Eren’s journey also makes us question ourselves: if we were in his position, would we make different choices? Or would we also be pushed by fear, anger, and pain to do something we never imagined? His story forces us to look in the mirror and ask how far we would go to protect the people we love. It’s not an easy question, and maybe that’s why Eren’s character feels so real, because he shows us that even the strongest heart can break under the weight of the world.
By: Yasmine ‘Aalimatun Naafi’ah
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