Highlights
- Levi’s choice to save Armin over Erwin highlights the importance of preserving humanity’s potential for change.
- Erwin’s significance extends beyond the battlefield, as he is driven by the pursuit of truth for humanity’s freedom.
- Armin’s future potential lies in his strategic brilliance and empathy, representing hope for a brighter tomorrow.
In Attack on Titan, many decisions are made to drive the series narrative and aid the survival of humanity in the battle against the titans. One of the most pivotal moments is the battle to retake Shiganshina District and learn about the secrets of the titan in Grisha Jaeger’s basement.
During the battle, Levi Ackerman is faced with a heart-wrenching choice: to save his long-time mentor and friend, Commander Erwin Smith, or the young, hopeful strategist, Armin Arlert. Ultimately, Levi chooses to save Armin, which has profound implications for Attack on Titan story and its characters.
Erwin’s Significance To Humanity’s Survival
Erwin Smith, the commander of the Survey Corps, is a pivotal figure in the Eldians’ fight against the titans. His primary goal was to ensure humanity’s survival within the Walls. He saw the Survey Corps as the key to uncovering the secrets beyond the Walls and breaking free from the cycle of fear and oppression. His strategic brilliance and unparalleled leadership have been instrumental in humanity’s struggles to defeat the titans that invaded Paradis Land. Erwin’s role extends far beyond the battlefield, as he is the driving force behind uncovering the truth about the titans and the corrupted government that has kept humanity in the dark for so long.
As the commander, Erwin carries an immense burden and has to make many difficult decisions, sacrificing countless lives in the pursuit of freedom. Erwin’s leadership has come at a great personal cost, and he is haunted by the guilt and the weight of his choices. Despite this, he remains steadfast in his convictions, driven by the belief that uncovering the truth is the only way to secure humanity’s freedom.
Armin’s Future Potential
Armin Arlert represents a different kind of hero in Attack on Titan. Though not physically imposing, Armin’s intelligence, strategic insight, and moral compass make him an invaluable asset to the Survey Corps. His ability to think critically and devise innovative solutions has saved the lives of his comrades on numerous occasions. During the battle to reach Grisha’s basement and learn the titans’ secrets, Armin detected Berthold’s weakness when he became a colossal titan. His strategic thinking at that moment was pivotal in the Survey Corps’ success in retrieving the province. Also, Armin’s empathetic nature allows him to see things from different perspectives. He advocates for understanding even with enemies like Reiner Braun, suggesting the possibility of co-existence beyond war.
Armin’s potential is not limited to his tactical prowess; he also embodies the hope and the promise of a better future for humanity. His thirst for knowledge fuels his interest in the world beyond the Walls, thus a representation of humanity’s long-term survival and progress. His ability to empathize with others and his relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding set him apart from his fellow soldiers. Armin’s character represents the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world consumed by the horrors of the Titans, and his survival is seen as a beacon of hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Levi’s Burden of Choice
As the Battle of Shiganshina reaches its climax, it leaves both Armin and Erwin critically injured. In this vein, Levi is faced with an impossible decision: to save either Erwin, the mentor he has followed and respected for years, or Armin, the promising young soldier whose potential is yet to be fully realized. Throughout the series, Erwin is portrayed as a man driven by an insatiable curiosity and a relentless pursuit of the truth about the Titans and the secret of the walls. This pursuit often leads him to risk his own life and make decisions that sacrifice many lives for the greater good.
Erwin’s final moments are marked by a sense of resignation and peace, as he feels he has fulfilled his duty and is ready to rest. Levi recognizes this weariness in Erwin, understanding that bringing him back to life would mean condemning him to continue the struggle he was finally ready to leave behind. However, saving Armin would also mean saving a young mind who is strategically brilliant and potentially offers a future with a leader who values both humanity and victory.
Moreover, Levi’s decision will have a far-reaching complication in the series, making it a hard decision. While Erwin’s decades of experience, strategic brilliance, and commitment to the cause make him an invaluable asset in the fight against the Titans, Erwin has an obsession with reaching the basement that holds the key to knowing more about the titan. On the other hand, Armin’s remarkable potential and the hope he represents for a better future cannot be overlooked. Levi recognizes that Armin’s survival is also crucial to unlocking the secrets of the titans; beyond that, he will ultimately lead humanity to a better future.
In the end, Levi decides to save Armin, injecting him with the titan serum and giving him a new life as a colossal titan, thereby sacrificing Erwin’s life. Levi’s choosing Armin prioritizes not just victory but also the preservation of humanity’s potential for change. This decision, while heartbreaking, shows Levi’s commitment to the future and his belief in the potential of the next generation. The consequences of Levi’s choice are far-reaching and profound. Erwin’s death is a devastating blow to the Survey Corps, leaving a void in their leadership and causing immense grief among his comrades. However, to Levi, Armin’s survival is a profound belief that the younger generation can carry the torch of freedom and continue the fight, a belief that Armin later proved in the final war against the Titans.