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Is Eren Yeager a Hero or Villain in Attack on Titan? Exploring the protagonist’s complex journey as both a savior and a destroyer.
To this day, Attack on Titan stands out as one of the most popular yet divisive series in the world of animanga. Despite having brilliant storytelling, well-written character arcs, and subtle yet genius foreshadowing, the series divided the entire anime community with one simple question — Is Eren Yeager the Hero or Villain in Attack on Titan?
This isn’t an easily answered question since Eren’s character vastly deviates from that of a typical Shonen protagonist. With that in mind, let us explore Eren’s journey as the hero and the final villain of Attack on Titan.
Eren Yeager As Attack on Titan’s Hero
At the beginning of the series, Eren Yeager started out as the typical Shonen hero. After witnessing the horrific death of his mother at a young age, Eren became consumed with a singular goal — to eradicate all Titans from the surface of the Earth. His initial motivation and strong sense of justice made him relatable as a protagonist.
Fans adored his fiery passion and determination. However, what really resonated with fans was the fact that Eren was a character who, despite making mistakes at every step of the way, managed to overcome each obstacle with the help of his friends.
During the early seasons, Eren’s motivations, actions, and character aligned with those of a traditional hero. Driven by rage and hatred towards the Titans, Eren joined the Survey Corps to fight for humanity against them. However, as the story progressed, his heroic image began to crack. With the revelation of the truth behind the Titans, Marley’s discrimination against the Eldians, and the overall history of Eldia, Eren’s worldview changed from a simple battle between humans and Titans to a constant struggle for survival against the whole world.
Eren As the Final Villain of Attack on Titan
Eren’s actions in the series’ final arc — his decision to initiate the Rumbling and eliminate 80 percent of humanity in particular — are nothing short of villainous. It made fans, who previously considered him the series’ hero, reconsider their notion of his character.
In the final arcs, Eren transformed from a capable and determined hero to a symbol of destruction feared worldwide. He wielded the power of the Founding Titan and was driven by his goal of annihilating billions of lives. In a surprising twist, it was also revealed that Eren was the one who manipulated his father to end the Royal Family and was also the reason behind his mother’s death.
At this point in the story, Eren’s motivations evolved from simply protecting the people of Paradis Island. He wanted to ensure that his friends back at home had complete freedom, even if it meant eradicating those who may threaten it. As such, to both viewers and the rest of the characters, Eren may appear as a terrifying final villain willing to commit genocide to achieve his goals.
Conclusion
Many may consider Eren the villain of Attack on Titan due to his irredeemable and horrific actions. However, his actions were not born purely from malice. He initiated the Rumbling as a desperate, calculated move to secure freedom for his people despite knowing its cost. This morally grey area makes it difficult to simply categorize him as a villain.
Eren fully understood the atrocities he’d need to commit to give his people a chance at long-denied freedom. He knew his death was inevitable and that his actions were already set in motion. As such, Eren became a monster to protect those he cared about. He went against the entire world to give freedom to his people, even if it meant that he would remain a slave to destiny and never achieve the freedom he sought so desperately.
While Eren is undoubtedly the protagonist of Attack of Titan, labeling him a Hero or Villain would be a gross oversimplification. He is a character that transcends both these categories despite embodying elements of both heroism and villainy. His willingness to become the destroyer of the world for his people makes him more of a tragic hero.
Eren’s downfall wasn’t because he became evil but because of a flawed belief in doing what was necessary. Although he recognized the brutality of his actions, he saw no other way to secure a future for his people. Eren’s desire to protect his friends and free Paradis from the cycle of oppression were undoubtedly noble goals. However, the way he chose to achieve those goals made him seem like a villain.
Ultimately, Eren’s duality as a character makes him one of the most compelling protagonists in the animanga world today. He is neither a stereotypical hero nor a traditional villain. Instead, he is a young man who bears the burden of a terrible responsibility. While trying to break the cycle of oppression, he unknowingly becomes a part of it — as both a liberator and a merciless destroyer. The sheer complexity of his character arc challenges our perception and definitions of good and evil, heroes and villains, in a world where no particular side can be in the right.
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