mmo grind done real real real
the layer i want to toss on here. obviously its been pointed out in the post(s) above that reiner stuffs himself into this patriarchal masculine ideal box and the ties that has back to his mother/the emotional incestual dynamics that have defined his childhood. hes been placed in the position to be son, husband, and patriarch in his household all at once. Beyond being Karina's son, he is invited to step into the emotional fulfillment role of a husband, AND the patriarchal role of provider. Their household's status has depended on his ability to perform within Marley's brutal military structure. He's also been made keenly aware since early childhood the degree to which Karina emotionally depends on him. Beyond her long term intentions to turn Reiner into a tool of revenge against the world around her, he clearly feels a sense of responsibility for his mother's mental well-being, called to fill the wound left behind by his father.
Those expectations get projected outwards onto Annie. She bears the expectations of performance of a fellow soldier, and he regulates her the way he and Porco regulated each other back on Marley. Additionally, however. she bears the expectation of serving as surrogate mother, wife, and sister. He and Bertholdt lean on Annie for labor, it being presumed that she's a better fit for sneaking around despite her protests that she's not any good at it. The tacit assumption I'd argue is a young woman is going to be able to pass as much less of a threat. There's this moment I think about a lot where Annie asks if theyre going to expect her to get married to a local for the sake of their cover. Bertholdt is horrified at the idea, but Reiner never actually argues back against it
Implying, at least to me, this is a role he would expect Annie to fulfill if it were at all logistically viable for their mission. This is consistent with how they tend to proceed logistically. Reiner expects Annie to be fully available in every way to the mission, and constantly demands she reinforce that belief. Its Bertholdt he describes as unreliable, but its Annie who he's constantly emotionally testing
Its a gendered labor expectation. Reiner struggles to conceive of women outside the extremely limited roles available to them in Marley. Roles which are, in his mind, the other side of the coin from what the one he's always been expected to shoulder. Men command, women serve. Men act as a solid rock while women emote and repress depending on what's dictated to them. Men provide, women sustain
This persists into adulthood, reflected in the expectations he puts on Falco. You're the man. Step in for her.
Its present even within his more adult dynamic with Annie. Instinctively they slip into roles of commander and lieutenant here, and even if he is cutting her loose of responsibility he does quietly nudge her again in that maternal direction, asking her to care for the children they're leaving behind
Its not malevolent. I think Annie is right to receive it as kindly intended. But it speaks to the way Reiner's brain isn't quite free of that patriarchal model, and with it a tendency to categorize women into a separate sphere. On the macro and micro level, Annie is the Ur-Woman for Marley. And Reiner needs her to define what it is to be a man, whether that's the conquering warrior or the protective martyr-father.
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