Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun in Attack on Titan are two opposites of the same coin. Hajime Isayama’s manga has subtly highlighted the similarities between the two as the story progressed towards the Final Chapters.
Both Eren and Reiner have pledged their allegiance to different nations. While Yeager was born in Eldia and now wants to safeguard Paradis Island, Reiner is a supporter of the old nation of Marley that was formed after the fall of the Eldian kingdom. The two Titans with similar personalities have locked horns multiple times in the past.
Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun Had A Troubled Upbringing in Attack on Titan
The focal point of Attack on Titan is Eren Yeager’s vengeance on Titans after the death of his family. Initially, he lived a peaceful life with his mother, Carla, and his father, Grisha, but that changed after the Fall of the Wall Maria. A young Eren saw his mother being eaten by a Titan while his father disappeared only to return in Season 3 and get devoured by Yeager.
Not only is the anti-hero unable to save his mother but also commits patricide. However, while Eren Yeager had some closure with his family, Reiner Braun had none. He was abandoned by his father and continuously manipulated by his mother Karina to fight and defend Liberia until the latter realized her mistake during the Rumbling.
The identical stories of Eren and Reiner converge during their time at the Survey Corps. While Eren trained to eliminate the threat of Titans beyond the wall once and for all, Reiner wanted to become a Marley Warrior in order to reunite with his Marleyan father.
Attack on Titan | Eren vs Reiner pic.twitter.com/B27sP6KHYJ
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Another big difference between Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun in Attack on Titan is that both are gullible. Braun’s mother was constantly in his ear bad-mouthing the Eldians and combined with Marely propaganda, he deemed Paradis Island to be the place of devils. Similarly, Yeager is too trusting of his comrades.
Eren was naive enough to not understand Reiner Braun’s true purpose. The latter, along with Bertholdt, almost succeded in his mission of capturing the user of the ‘Coordinate’ ability and transferring his powers to a Marley Warrior for the betterment of their nation.
Also Read: Attack on Titan Shares First Look at Background Art Ahead of Series Finale
Both Eren Yeager & Reiner Braun Are Victims In a Cycle of Violence and Hatred
The death of Bertholdt and repeated failures to obtain the Founding Titan sunk Reiner Braun into a deep sense of gloom and misery. He tried to take his life multiple times but wanted to be a role model for the Marleyan Warriors – a sense of patriotism that was ingrained in him by his mother. As such, he even begged for forgiveness for the accidental death of Eren’s mother.
Reiner became a shallow person as Attack on Titan progressed toward the final saga. A similar situation was with Eren Yeager when he understood that he wouldn’t be able to stop the Rumbling that would be brought upon by him. Instead of trying to find a solution, he let the powers of the Founding Titan consume him and is now leading manslaughter for a twisted sense of ‘greater good.’
Both Eren Yeager & Reiner Braun are pawns of fate, thrusts in the endless cycle of violence and hatred. When one side decides to call it peace, the other takes up arms and the whole situation with Paradis Island and Marley is just pitiful. The conclusion of the story of Attack on Titan leaves Eren and Reiner alive but powerless to change the world like their former selves.
