gosling :
I’d say he had several motives: protecting his friends, fulfilling his own selfish desire, and—later, when he saw the entire future in the finale (after Ymir passed all her power to him)—driving Mikasa to make the choice that would free Ymir and end the Titan curse (realizing his initial goal of "wiping out all Titans"). I think his personal desire wasn't necessarily the *main* one, but it was the driving force pushing him forward. There’s a parallel with Reiner here: Reiner claimed their goal was to save the world, but he was actually driven by the desire to become a hero. Then again, the outside world didn't really leave them any other choice. I’d add that Eren wasn't a total psychopath; he felt guilt right up to the end, but that guilt still didn't outweigh his desires. He didn't jump straight to the Rumbling, either; they tried peaceful solutions and other plans that he ultimately rejected. To be honest, those other plans were truly terrible and unreliable—they always required sacrificing someone or something. It makes sense that, after everything Eren went through in the first three seasons, he’d choose to destroy the whole world rather than lead any of his friends to their deaths. Yes, he did end up putting his friends in harm's way, but it was the best option available. Finally, I lean toward the idea that Eren actually wanted to be stopped. If freedom had truly been his absolute priority, he would have gone all the way; instead, he orchestrated things so that his friends would stop him no matter what, become heroes, and ultimately cause the power of the Titans to vanish. He did, to some extent, fulfill his desire, effectively equating the populations of Paradis and the outside world. Ultimately, he prioritized his friends—ensuring they would live long lives—and succeeded in achieving that. As for his actions, they stemmed from a number of motives, the key one being a selfish desire for freedom.
2026-10-08 22:36:24