Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama is considered to have one of the most controversial endings in the anime/manga world. Eren’s reckless killing drive, coupled with the absurd logic behind it, made many fans turn away from him in the finale.
Eren’s actions have been universally considered as horrible, as only 20% of humanity survived by the end of the series, all thanks to the rumbling. Yet, one of the most kind-hearted characters of the show, Armin, was seen thanking the protagonist rather than berating him. Many fans have mistaken the meaning behind this scene, until Hajime Isayama himself explained it.
Armin Wanted to Take Responsibility Along With Eren
The scene in question belongs to chapter 139 of Attack on Titan. In it, Armin and Eren are seen having a conversation inside the Paths. In this chapter, Eren explains why he had to take the steps he took, including the wipeout of 80% of human lives. By the end of his long rant, Eren exposed his vulnerability as he wanted to live with everyone else and with Mikasa. He knows he will never be forgiven for his actions.
In response, Armins spoke the following words:
Eren…thank you. For turning yourself…into a mass murderer for our sake. I swear I won’t let this transgression go to waste.
This scene has led fans to question why Armin was thankful to a mass murderer, and Hajime Isayama has perfectly explained the reason behind it in an interview with the New York Times. According to the writer, Armin never wanted to push Eren away and let him bear the responsibility for his actions alone. He did not want that kind of justice.
It was more that he wanted to, in a sense, take joint responsibility. He wanted to become an accomplice.
To become an accomplice, Armin used some strong words so that everything would get through to Eren. Since Eren would erase his memories as soon as he exited the Paths, he would not get another chance to say everything that was on his mind.
Eren is a Reflection of Hajime Isayama’s Own Mental State
In the interview, Isayama claimed that Eren’s situation overlapped with his own. When he had first begun Attack on Titan, it wasn’t too popular, and he was too afraid of the manga being canceled. He claimed that almost no one knew about the manga. However, he had begun the manga with a pre-decided ending.
As the series continued serialization, it gained popularity and was recognized by a huge number of people. This, in turn, made the author feel as if he was suddenly burdened with an incredible power, which he didn’t feel comfortable with.
It would have been nice if I could have changed the ending. Writing manga is supposed to be freeing. But if I was completely free, then I should have been able to change the ending.
The author then admitted that he could have changed the ending and said that he wanted to go in a different direction. But he was too preoccupied with the original plan, and he felt tied down to it. Thus, the manga became extremely restrictive for him, similar to how Eren’s overwhelming powers ended up restricting his moves.
You can read Attack on Titan on Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
