smelly goblin

And, guys...

When you actually look at Ed’s character development throughout the series, the stuff in Rush Valley with Winry was a huge important turning point for him. Moreover, his respect for the simple heroism of human beings as opposed to the power of alchemy is really very inspired by how he views Winry as a hero who does work more valuable than what he does as an alchemist. He looks up to her and realizes she has skills that alchemy can’t compare to and that’s why she’s a big factor in his final decision.

First off, we have to look at the aftermath of the Nina thing. This was the first time Ed had to accept that he can’t solve everything with alchemy.

Here he blames being an “insignificant human” as the reason he couldn’t save Nina. He still believes he should be able to solve everything with alchemy and sees his humanity as his weakness here. He feels like a failure because he believes as an alchemist, his skills should apply to any situation.

He has a similar crisis when he’s unable to use alchemy to get to the doctor when the woman in Rush Valley is giving birth. He tries to build a bridge, but it collapses under it’s own weight.

Ed has a similar line at a different point in the Brotherhood episode that adapts it, and I remember that it someone at Mark Spoils commented it came off as kinda manpain-y, like he’s suddenly making this situation about his issues. I’m always one to criticize that sort of thing and I understand with the condensed-ness of the Brotherhood episode it can come off that way, but reading the full chapter the line was there for a very specific reason- despite having all the fantastic superpowers at his disposal, Ed is helpless in this situation.He has no power to save anyone.

Which makes it a powerful statement when Winry isn’t. Winry takes the reigns and saves the day not with superpowers, but with courage and basic medical knowledge. Ed may know alchemy and fighting, but when the situation is an everyday crisis of normal human proportions like giving birth, it’s Winry who can get things done and save lives. Winry doesn’t rely on alchemy, so she has important skills that Ed doesn’t, so she can save the day where alchemy can’t.

And that’s when Ed changes his attitude. Through Winry, he sees that “insignificant humans” are amazing and capable of things alchemy cannot possibly do. He would not have had the revelation if not for Winry’s heroism.

In interviews and additional materials Arakawa has revealed that she envisioned fairly clearly the ending (and, if I recall, other major structural points of FMA) when she first conceived the series. She also conducted research interviews with war veterans, amputees and disaster survivors, showing a deep and respectful consideration of the real emotional territory she was exploring. I don’t want to claim FMA as anything like a perfect success on these counts, but this level of care and attention shines through page to page, chapter by chapter.

Ed is an easy example of Arakawa’s approach. For the whole of our time with him Ed is a person of his world who has been marked by specific formative experiences with clear consequences. 

Being abandoned by his father and losing his mother causes Ed to lose faith in humanity

Attempting to bring her back give him a taste of the terror and depth of ‘the truth’

Seeing a child mutilated into a chimera makes him question the worthiness of seeking that power

and so on. These moments recur for Ed over and over, not just in dramatic flashbacks, but – as @ladyloveandjustice shows above – in his conversations, forming his opinions both in extremis and in his everyday life. They’re the significant moments in the life of a teenager that, very plausibly, define and transform his character. 

Full Metal Alchemist fits squarely into the category of Bildungsroman, and it’s no coincidence that Ed’s formative experiences especially take on the shape of births and rebirths, from the attempted resurrection that begins his journey to his reincarnation of Pride as a tiny baby no bigger than a thumb (get it…?) Like all of us, especially like the original teen target audience, Ed is just a small person–childlike–educated for better and for worse by the trauma of his experiences, giving birth to his new self over and over. 

1. Don’t compare yourself to others. You are totally unique, and have different talents, abilities and strengths.

2. Never criticise or put yourself down. There are plenty of others who will do that for you. You need to be your biggest, and you greatest, fan. Be understanding, gentle and kind to yourself.

3. Consciously accept every compliment you get and see them as accurate and genuinely meant. Don’t brush them off as stupid, wrong, or meaningless.

4. Keep affirming yourself until it changes how you feel. It may feel false at first when you say something like “I accept myself completely– and believe I’m valuable”. But as you constantly repeat it you’ll find that, over time, you do accept and value the person that you are.

5. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people. If you hang out with people who always put you down, and never seem to like or approve of your ideas, then you’ll soon stop believing in yourself as well (and it will also crush your creativity).

6. Make a list of your successes and accomplishments – like playing an instrument, learning how to cook, passing an exam, graduating from high school, or getting into college, or receiving an award. Review this list often – and be proud of yourself!

7. Make a list of your positive qualities and traits. Are you an honest, reliable and caring friend? Do you make time for others? Do you try to do your best? Again, review this list often, and get into the habit of focusing on your positive qualities and traits.

8. Spend your time doing things that you are good at, and enjoy. We become more alive when we’re doing things we love - and that naturally increases our self-confidence (as we’re being our true selves and not just acting out a role).

9. Get involved. If you sit on the sidelines and avoid all challenges then you won’t be able to achieve much in life. But if you push through the feelings of anxiety and fear, then you’ll grow, be successful, and have higher self esteem.