Eren Yeager and the Problem of Freedom

Attack on Titan isn’t just an anime. It’s a story about freedom, and more specifically, one person’s obsession with it. So here’s the question I want you to sit with: What do you think about Eren Yeager’s idea of freedom? Eren repeatedly says, directly or indirectly: “I am free to do anything.” That belief never changes. Even when he changes. Yes, later on he becomes a villain. That’s obvious. But his core philosophy remains consistent throughout the entire story. From the beginning to the end, Eren wants one thing: freedom. And honestly? That instinct is natural. In the real world, most people would support that idea at least on some level. The desire to be free is probably the first instinct we develop as human beings. We want to move without restrictions. We want choices. We want control over our own lives. Eren embodied that instinct completely.

Rage, Loss, and Determination

When I first watched Attack on Titan, my emotions were simple: I was angry at the Titans. They destroyed homes. They broke the walls. They ate people alive. They killed Eren’s mother. Anyone who says they wouldn’t feel rage in that situation is lying. Eren’s determination when he kills Titans, especially in the early season, feels raw and honest. At that point, he almost looks like a protest figure. And technically, he is one. People say he “changed.” I disagree. He didn’t change what he wanted. He only changed how far he was willing to go. At the end of the day, Eren was never anyone’s slave. And that’s the part I respect about him the most.

Freedom vs Rules: A Necessary Question

Here’s something I want to ask you: Is freedom necessary, or are we better off living under rules? The answer isn’t simple. It depends entirely on the system. In Attack on Titan, people weren’t ruled well. Their freedom was taken away. They were trapped behind walls, fed lies, surrounded by secrets, and controlled by fear. They weren’t protected—they were contained. If you live under a good ruler, you don’t obsess over freedom. But when freedom is taken from you, it becomes everything. That was Eren’s reality. He hated the Titans because they represented restriction. Because of them, humanity couldn’t leave the walls. Couldn’t see the world. Couldn’t choose. That hatred wasn’t random—it was logical.

Anarchism, Violence, and Misunderstood Labels

Eren’s thinking leans toward anarchism. Wanting freedom from all rule doesn’t automatically make someone evil. Violence is where the line is drawn. If someone is violent, they’re treated as a criminal. That’s obvious. But not every desire for freedom is destructive. Some people want freedom quietly. Some systems need to be challenged. In Eren’s case, the restrictions were extreme. His reaction, while violent, didn’t come from nothing.

The Beauty of Attack on Titan

Let’s talk about something undeniable. Attack on Titan has some of the best fight scenes ever created. The Titan battles. The sound design. The music. The brutality. Everything feels heavy. Real. Impactful. Another thing I appreciated: Romantic relationships were implied, but never forced or confirmed. That choice mattered. It avoided unnecessary controversy and kept the focus where it belonged—on ideology, conflict, and freedom.

The Final Arc and Moral Reversal

The most interesting part of the story comes at the end. Eren discovers the truth. And then he becomes the very thing humanity feared. A complete reversal. He tries to destroy humanity as a Titan himself. That twist was disturbing, fascinating, and unforgettable. But even then—his philosophy didn’t break. What really stands out to me is this: Eren never forced his friends to follow him. He never stripped them of choice. He let them decide—even if it meant opposing him. That’s not dictatorship. That’s the opposite. He respected freedom—even when it was used against him. That’s why I can’t fully hate him.

Titans, Humans, and the Absence of Right or Wrong

Here’s a thought I strongly believe in: There is no clear right or wrong in Attack on Titan. Eren wanted to destroy humanity because Titans—who were once humans—were experimented on, tortured, transformed, and slaughtered mercilessly. From his perspective, it was vengeance. Now flip the scenario. If you were human, and Titans threatened your entire species, destroyed cities, and wiped out families—what would you do? Most humans would side with extermination. That’s the uncomfortable truth. Humans eliminate anything that threatens their survival. Titans would do the same. That’s not morality—it’s instinct. Which is why the extinction of the Titans feels so depressing. An entire race erased simply because it was considered a threat. Whether it’s humans or Titans, genocide always feels tragic, no matter how justified it seems in the moment.

Final Thoughts

Attack on Titan made me uncomfortable—and that’s exactly why it’s powerful. Eren Yeager isn’t perfect. He’s flawed. He’s extreme. He’s violent. But he’s also honest in his beliefs. You don’t have to agree with him. You don’t have to like him. But if you truly think about his philosophy—about freedom, choice, and consequence—you might understand him more than you expect. I wanted to share these thoughts because I watched this story deeply. Not casually. And it stayed with me. So now, I want to hear from you. Agree. Disagree. Support. Oppose. Even if you hate Eren—say it. Every opinion matters to me. Freedom, after all, only means something when different voices are allowed to exist.