Asa

Eren-Mikasa are the "anti-thesis" of king Fritz-Ymir. Love in aot is what can truly break the cycles of hatred. The capacity to love is what allows for ‘that miracle’ to happen, whether u talk about Eren-Mikasa, Ymir-Historia, Erwin-Levi etc. True understanding of "Love" is what Freed Ymir.

Eren freed Mikasa from the hell that awaited her, while Fritz was the one who condemned Ymir to live in hell and slavery.

Eren rescued Mikasa from her future abusers and gave her a home full of love and warmth, but Fritz sexually abused Ymir and continued to humiliate her. Fritz was also the one who took away Ymir's home when he enslaved her.

Eren wanted to protect Mikasa and keep her away from war and danger, while Fritz used Ymir in war and took benefits of her power for his own gain.

For Eren, Mikasa was his idea of Home, somewhere he found solace and source of motivation in his lowest moments. But for Fritz, Ymir was just a tool to used.

Eren represents beauty in Mikasa's cruel world, Eren's words motivate her to continue fighting to live, Fritz condemned Ymir to live a miserable eternity fulfilling his wishes, Fritz represents Ymir's nightmare.

Eren's Last word's to Mikasa vs King's Last words to Ymir. Eren wanted Mikasa to be Free and live a long fulfilling life. King treated and addressed Ymir as his "slave" even in death.

Eren and Mikasa puts an end to the cycle initiated by King Fritz and Ymir.

Ymir wanted to be loved. And Wrong understanding of Love was what bounded Ymir and True Understanding "Love" is what Freed her as The strength of Eren and Mikasa's love served as contrast/anti-thesis to her toxic relationship with Fritz.

The difference in "Be Free" dynamic. Eren wants Mikasa to be actually free and live a long fulfilling life.

Mikasa freed Ymir by showing her the meaning of true love. Mikasa freed Eren from His Burden which is an anti-parallel to Fritz who enslaved Ymir even in death.

Mikasa letting go of Eren to free him, this is similar to Ymir letting go of Historia for her safety, Levi letting go of Erwin for his peace. True Love doesn't bound or enslave a person, it frees one.

Mikasa letting go of Eren to free him from His Burden was a final act of Love, something King never did to Ymir. This made her realise, True "Love" doesn't bound or enslave a person, it frees one and her "attachment" to Fritz wasn't Love, it was a Nightmare.

This gave Ymir strength to Free Herself from those miserable shackles caused by King Fritz. "Love" in AOT is what can truly break the cycle of Hatred.

Yeah I do think there’s something patriarchal about the fantasy mostly bc Mikasa is framed as part of Jean’s domestic ideal rather than as a person with her own interiority. It’s not about what she wants but about Jean imagining peace, family and normalcy with Mikasa placed inside that image.

The funny part is that the page literally tells us where his mind goes. He sees the pregnant woman and thinks of Carla. If this was meant to hint at Historia or him being the father, that was the easiest moment to show her. Instead it shows his mother.

I didn’t even know ppl were using this scene as a jk foreshadowing. But this is a Mikasa moment. She is standing in the middle of the “right choice” and still grieving what it costs her. The scene is showing the cruel trade-off for her : the world gets to keep its families because she has to lose hers.

Close ups!

I don’t buy it. Eren is one of the most carefully written characters in the manga. People mistake narrative cruelty for author hatred.

Eren suffers a lot because he is the protagonist and because the story is built around the collapse of his worldview. The manga keeps putting him in situations where rage alone isn’t enough, willpower isn’t enough, wanting something badly enough isn’t enough. That can feel like the story is against him but it’s really the story interrogating him.

NOW AND THEN