Exploring Erwin Smith - For Humanity? (Attack on Titan)
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
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Taking a dive into one of Attack on Titan's most interesting characters, Erwin Smith, looking at his actions, motivations and his intentions. Is Erwin Smith selfish or selfless?
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how do you feel about erwin smith?
He a goat
how do you expect me to feel? 💔😭
Savage
He devoted his heart
@@alekschilingiryan7955 Shinzou Sasengo
The man was so badass he could inspire a slug to attack a pile of salt.
Kek
He was also approved by a turtle
@@just_a_turtle_chad the turtle has great taste
I'm like 498th.
Enjoy. You earned it
That sounds like a Chuck Norris joke lol
A lot of people misinterpreted Levi telling Erwin to give up his dream and die as cruelty. You summed it up nicely. It was an act of mercy by Levi. Erwin was so guilty of sending those soldiers to death that at the final moment,Levi decided to give the orders instead so he can shoulder the burden of sending men to die.
To me, Levi choosing Armin over Erwin is a continuation of that mercy. Letting him die, so he no longer had to be that devil.
@@joyc.e.7511 true :" levi relapsed in that moment of emotional tension. He told eren and mikasa to "not bring their emotions into this" but he doesnt realise that he was also being emotional.
@@deadaf6098 And that's what I love so much about AOT. The characters act like real humans. Levi looks all cold and emotionless on the surface, but he's actually one of the most empathetic characters.
Cruelty would have been to bring him back
@@lornm1856 Cruelty to who? Erwin, maybe (but c'mon he would have been stoked to have seen the basement and get the vindication for a lifetime of struggle).
But what of ""humanity's"" needs? Floch phrases his argument in a clumsy and edgy way, but he was right. The future was incredibly uncertain and it was not a far stretch to believe they would need his skills in events to come.
Levi made a selfish (almost naive) choice to satisfy his own emotions. It also happened to satisfy the emotional desires of most of the others present.
Kenny Ackermann: "Everyone is a slave to something"
Until they give it up like Erwin did.
good point!
And what if they accomplish what they seek are they still a slave?
@@nnightkingj I think it depends, in Erwin's case, Levi says it best, he was forced to be a monster let him rest. With that in mind he is the leader of the scouts, I can only imagine him going out to Marley to see the world that his father never could. Or the person themselves becomes a husk of the person they were and doesnt do anything.
@@nnightkingj Armin saw the ocean (his dream) and now he has to face the dire reality. I think that is what Isayama said. I'm on Erwin's side. I'm happy he went out as a hero. He was the best.
@@bullymaguire2061 dont think this slave analogy works if ur getting paid for your passion
I’m still sad Erwin never got to see what was in the basement
Same, It still hits me like a brick
Yea that’s tru but I feel like it’s better for him Titans we’re already bad enough but idk if how he would react to the outside world
That’s the beauty of the story
Though in some weird way he got them to that truth. Even if he didn't get to see it. All that mattered was finding it, his life (and all of those lives around him) by comparison was meaningless.
Ditto
"Sometimes the Hero, Sometimes the Devil but always the Commander"
Never out of the fight💯
Erwin > armin, yes I said it
@@groundzero1041 Of course!! Lol and I’m pretty sure they’ve made that pretty clear in the story
@@groundzero1041
They even look alike
@Floch Forster You'll be in a blunt after a few episodes.
Still one of the most courageous and most well written characters in the whole story
This man makes me want to be a leader
(31 times seeing you)
@@ThatBlondExilus hah those are rookie numbers
(Every single video anime related i ve seen this guy and I watched a lot of anime related vids)
The best period
Ah yes you again
You mean, best written character
Erwin Smith is definitely one of the best characters in the anime. I felt he was the embodiment of what a Commander should be. He was exactly what the Survey Corp needed to have even a sliver of a chance. Although his driving reason was selfish it was that selfishness that made him the man he was. He sacrificed alot of people to get the job done and he paid that price in the end.... willingly.
MANGA SPOILERS AHEAD
believe me.....Erwin Smith is "one"of the best characters in the series. but i won't consider him as the best character in the entire series" In my opinion, Eren is the best character in the series. By following the main events in the manga, it is truly incredible of how Eren is changed. his character development is just amazing, and the big plot twist where Eren becomes the main villain is absolutely incredible. If you understood his character well, you would know that how an amazing written character he is. Erwin Smith is second tho.
edit: unfortunately after the release of chapter 139, my comment did not age well
@@nerium9762 Eren is completely neutral to me. I don't care for him. These kinds of questions are very subjective and it's pointless to argue how people feel. Erwin is #1 for me too. Also, everyone is the story is selfish in their own way. That's how people are. But only Erwin gets flak for it somehow. -_-
@@AngelDeed
For real. A lot of selfish people in the Anime, but Erwin seems to be somehow viewed as particularly selfish, despite him being honest in many instances that he knows he's not the only one that matters, and has been selfless many a time.
@@nerium9762 Read chapter 139 and tell me the same answer
@@arunkandiyil3962 💀
MY SOLDIERS, RAGE!
MY SOLDIERS, SCREAM!
MY SOLDIERS, FIGHT!
Erwin, the sole hype machine
@@wojszach4443 yes🔥
my soldiers go squish
Sounds like a Playboi Carti concert
every time i see those 3 words i keep hearing khantrast's song on aot
Honestly the relationship between Levi and Erwin is one of my favorites. The fact that Erwin was actually able to "tame" Levi into becoming a soldier and a friend is something truly amazing.
Yes! The relationship and bond between Erwin and Levi are not recognized by many but its so special and unbreakable 😔
I like that while even erwin was a host to levi's ackerman bond, levi questioned erwin's decisions when it was called for making their dynamic way healthier than eremika.
arent the ackermanns supposed to protect a king for mikasa its eren and for levi its erwin
@@coraz01 that ackermann thing about protecting a host isn't true. But the "ackerbond" is something true but it has nothing to do with their ackermann genes. It's just that the ackermanns have this significant similarity to them which is the fact that they both chose someone to protect (mikasa-eren, levi-erwin, kenny-uri)
Levi isn't selfish hypocrite like erlose
Erwin earned the right see the basement's secret and learn the truth. His desire was never selfish, but the perfect motivation to lead as the Commander and the best thing for him to get 'drunk on'.
yes, being drunk isnt bad as ling as the substance is right
i guess it was better for him not knowing the whole world is the enemy....
Pog
I would say his desire was selfish but was 100% aligned in humanity's best interests, so the distinction was moot.
@@xCwieCHRISx with his charisma and intellect, he probably would rally the whole world against Marley.
Erwin is such an interesting character. Thank you for covering him.
Imagine if Zeke and Erwin just have normal conversation about Marley.
daaamn🔥
Jotaro... Dio!!!
Seeing Zeke in S4, he seems to be doing what Erwin would've done if he lived. As always, these characters seem like 2 sides of the same coin, just like Eren and Reiner, just like Armin and Falco.
@@sivvinod3187 I see Eren and Reiner.. but how Armin and Falco?
@@DeviousHabie they both put themselves in danger to protect their people, and prefers negotiation and understanding over fighting and killing. Their main motivation for doing this is so that their friends can survive. I feel like the falco-gabi relation relates a lot more to armin-eren relation.
Isayama said in an interview that the reason Levi always operates alongside Erwin is because he interpreted Erwin’s “For Humanity’s Future” as an altruistic intention that Levi never considered himself, so Levi ends up adopting it as his own life’s mission. When he discovers that Erwin actually has a selfish goal like his “dream,” it can be said that he felt betrayed. However, he also recognizes that this person whom he cannot hope to surpass actually has “an innocent, childlike side that chases dreams.”
Isayama : When I drew that scene, what I considered was “the moment humans reveal their truest nature is when they have been pushed to the brink of death.” For Erwin, this happened when the Beast Titan drove him to the verge at Shiganshina, and his true self materialized severely.
During that moment, what he displayed to us was that wavering between fulfilling his “dream” through the basement and the “responsibility” of fighting the Beast Titan to the death. Seeing Erwin in this state, Levi felt as if he were urged on by Erwin - “I hope you tell me to ‘abandon my dream and go to hell.’” He comprehended Erwin’s desire at that time. In this sense, it’s exactly because of Levi’s statement that Erwin was finally able to abandon his dream and transform into the adult who prioritizes responsibility.
A maturing moment, even for someone as badass as Erwin
Trash hypocrite leader,levi deserves better friend
This is so much more clear when thinking about Kenny's relationship with Levi. But it also makes me sad because then it seems like Levi and Erwin were really not that close than what I assumed. Levi didn't view him as a person just like him. He viewed him as something far greater which was why Levi was probably moved to let Erwin go because of the guilt he felt at NEEDING Erwin to be something more than a human
If that is true, then that explains why Floch’s speech inspired Levi to revive Armin. Floch mentioned that Erwin was the necessary devil who made the hard choices for progress. Levi realizes that he basically pedestaled Erwin and left Erwin with no real support and felt guilty about not really supporting or understanding him, so he decides to take on his burdens as he recognizes his contributions and notes Armin’s future-focused ideals as the direction.
You're on point! Very similar to how Reiner recognized Eren's unspoken desire to be physically stopped by his dearest ones during the Rumbling.. because he knew he would never be able to find it in him to stop himself. All he knew was to keep moving forward.
“There is no future where humanity can inhabit these lands without Eren.” -Erwin Smith
This did not age well lmao
@@EVER_PRINCE one way or another, yea...
Well technically he’s right. The people within the walls anyway.....
He was right to choose Hange as commander, but not this one.
@@EVER_PRINCE he was right though, they would’ve died without Eren 1000%
Commander Erwin Smith. Absolutely my favorite character in Attack on Titan. His sheer will and determination to prove that his father was right and pushing humanity to go beyond the wall as a result, is inspiring. Almost frightening to an extent. Not to mention his ability to think at least 5 steps ahead of his enemy is rivaled only by Armin. And I would see it as an honer to go beyond the wall by the side of a such a commander as Erwin.
Thank you for doing an excellent job on covering the character
Couldn’t put it any better, also my favourite character.
Well put sir
Well put my friend. Those were the reasons for the shivers and the adrenaline I felt when Erwin looked into Reiner´s titan eyes, with his mouth shut. Confident that Reiner wouldn´t attack, just because he outsmarted him so hard, that he wouldn´t even think about hitting Erwin. So much bravery. So much confidence. As you said, inspiring and frightening in equal proportions.
Ermin, yeah I remember that guy
@@mystic1360 lol
Kenny said "Everyone had to be drunk on something to keep moving on."
Erwin is that wine that keeps moving everyone.
Don’t even mention Wine anymore after last episode :’(
@@bloopbloopwastaken Damn 😂
One of the most cruel tropes Isayama follows is killing the characters before they can accomplish their goals. I usually dont mind this as much but in the case of Erwin Smith, it was just heart shattering. Isayama did us wrong.
*I, Madara, declare Erwin the strongest of them all.* 😤
True! That part really hits different like I'd be chillin in bed and my brain will be like: "hey u happy? Well remember: Erwin Smith died before knowing the truth of their world" And ughh it still pains me 😭💖 Isayama is a genius heartbreaker
If it makes you feel any better, I think being able to give up his dream and die selflessly for humanity was probably a lot easier on him. He was desperately driven to find out the truth -- driven to the ende of madness, driven to the point that there was nothing else keeping him going. If he'd made it to the basement, he would have had a brief vindication, but afterwards he'd have been left with nothing but his own guilt and regret, with no dream to carry him on. (Not to mention the horror that they were, in fact, the Titans, facing off against an entire world of hostile nations and people.)
Dying before he could learn the truth was a cruel twist, but I think it was for him a lot less cruel than the alternative.
@@eyesofthecervino3366 oh yes, you are totally right.
i never felt that Erwin's curiosity and yearning for the truth was in conflict with his desire to protect humanity. he was just the only person with enough conviction to get his hands dirty, but his actions were never purely selfish and he did deeply respect his soldiers.
He was never selfish, even tho he said that everything was for his dream in the end he died in the most selfless act and no one can beat that.
I would disagree. His selfishness was what established his incredible determination which lead humanity to be in what I believe is, unless otherwise, the greater good. Erwin was a great commander because he was selfish, and he _wanted_ to do what he _had_ to do, as a devil and as a god. Because what he did and all that he sacrificed was not just for humanity, it was for him as well.
As the video says, Erwin is both selfish and selfless. I think so too. It would be a disservice to his character to categorize him as one or the other. Truly a great character indeed.
Man, I would die for him lol. I see why people would dedicate their hearts for a cause that only Erwin sees.
Yes I agree with you as well what I meant to say was that because of his selfishness he died in the most selfless way a solider no a human being could possibly die.
PS: I would die for him too
he himself acknowledged that he used the chosa hedan for his own gains portraying an image that is necessary for erwin to reach his goal. As for the shinganshina retrieval arc he knows once this opportunity is lost he'll never have this chance again. His actions were synonymous with a cornered animal.
he selfish but not in a bad way duh
He was selfish he said he fooled himself and his comrades. Said it was for humanity but he just wanted to get to the basement no matter what no matter how many people he has to sacrifice
I think that the way you view Erwin comes down to your opinion on his dream. He's not the only one who's fighting for a selfish dream. Levi is really the only actual selfless character in the series. Everyone fights for something they want to do. Armin fights for the ocean. Eren fights for freedom. Mikasa wants to be with Eren. Hange wants to understand the world and the titans.
And this is not a bad thing by any means. It's even good in a way. This dream they hold onto helps them move forward and keep going after everything. It helps them fight for humanity. And even though they have dreams of their own, everyone has actively fought for humanity and their dreams are in line with humanity's needs. There is no shame at all in having personal aspirations. Not everyone can be selfless in every way. The important thing here is that their actions ultimately benefited their cause regardless of the individual motivation behind it.
The curious thing with Erwin though, is that he is the only one who has been placed in a position where he can take these choices, where he must take the choices of sending people to die. The other characters with dreams rely on Erwin to take the choices so that their dreams can be realized, in a way. If Erwin leads them to victory, then they can reach their dreams. This relieves them of the burden of guilt that Erwin feels.
And since Erwin alone feels guilt it can lead to the mistaken assumption that he is the solely selfish character who would indeed give up humanity for his dreams. I think that it is important to understand that Erwin is an unreliable narrator, and his thought process is warped by self hatred and guilt. As Erwin ascended the ranks of the SC, he undertook more and more responsibility. As he began to become torn between dream and duty, he managed to fool himself into believing he was fighting for humanity and not selfishly. He was always aware of his dream of course, but rather he managed to set the thoughts aside as a dream. But after Eren's arrival his dream could become more of a reality, it was more possible than ever before.
The main shift in his character was with Zackley, where Zackley tells Erwin that they are no different. It is here that Erwin is awakened to the true nature of his struggle, that he was fighting for his own dream and not humanity as he'd believed. He saw someone like Zackley who cared nothing for anyone else, and started to doubt his every action. He was convinced that he alone had devoted himself to his dream, he felt as though he had lied to his comrades all this time. And his guilt came to the forefront of his mind and he could no longer lie to himself.
To me, what proved that he was not a devil, that he was a good man is the fact that this reveal of his own selfish intentions to himself was his undoing. He felt so guilty that he wished for death. He stood on a pile of bodies. He felt guilt, he felt hatred for himself. The moment he realized that he wasn't as selfless as he'd thought, he crumbled, because he couldn't bear to have been selfish. His dream is the one thing that has been keeping him going, the thought that he could realize it one day is what made him want to stay alive. But in the pursuit of that dream, he has become like a hollow vessel for that one thing alone. And the guilt that comes with the recognition of his true wishes eats away at him. He doubts that he has ever cared for humanity. He doubts himself and that is why he feels as though he lied to his men and sen them to their deaths. Which is not true. He had to make many ruthless and horrible decisions, but he never took them lightly. He found a formation to reduce casualties, he took responsibility for deaths, and he was always open about his intentions. He never manipulated his men. He kept secrets when needed, but he never outright lied. But his guilt makes him think he did.
In this moment, in his lowest moment, it is to Levi that he opens up, and that is important. Levi has been the other most significant relationship in Erwin's life, other than his father. Levi is someone who Erwin can trust and someone who will always follow him no matter what kind of devil he may become. Levi is there to remind him of the sacrifices of his soldiers, Levi is the safeguard of his humanity. Levi is the one with whom Erwin is most open, with whom he displays the most vulnerability. In this moment, he bares his heart to Levi, and reveals the weight that has been placed on him. And Levi correctly comprehends Erwin's desire, to fight for humanity. Erwin may be burdened by guilt, but Levi understands his true feelings, that in his heart Erwin truly does care about humanity. And he is able to help Erwin make the choice to give up his dreams and charge to his death. Here, Levi takes the burden of the decision from Erwin and restores his faith in himself, and restores his agency by freeing him from his dream. It is a relief to Erwin to realize again that he truly does care about humanity, and he thanks Levi for setting him back on the right path. Thus he speaks from his heart for the final time, and rides to his death as a man free from his burdens and sacrifices himself for humanity as the commander he always wanted to be.
Erwin Smith is not fully selfish and not fully selfless either. But when it came down to it, he was a good man who gave his life for humanity. He had to do devilish things, but his guilt after the fact is enough proof of his deep humanity.
"Erwin is not the type to prioritize his dream. In order to carry out his responsibility, Erwin is one who will abandon his ambitions at the crucial moment and make the most ideal choice."
-Isayama
You describe erwin so wonderfully in this comment, props to you🙌
why the HELL does this comment only have 31 likes?? this is such an underrated, gorgeous take of erwin's character and it deserves all the attention in the world.
And which is why we love Erwin
The man deserved better
Levi’s respect for him easily the best representation how great he is…
Yea seriously. Levi could easily kill anyone in the series but CHOOSES to follow Erwin's lead. That speaks volumes.
7:35 The way I see it, the meaning of Levi making that decision for him is that it gives Erwin the final push that he's too afraid to make. Realistically, Levi is his subordinate: his orders don't mean anything to his commander. But taking on that burden makes things a little easier for Erwin.
Isayama said that they were equals, despite their rank. And nobody seems to care that much about rank in this story. Characters seem to talk to each other freely for the most part.
They are equal in rank according to Isayama, levi is better than selfish erwin
@@AngelDeed So the ranks does matter and suddenly becomes important when it comes to the mentioning of the relationship between Levi and his second squad (Eren,Mikasa,Armin,Sasha,Connie and Jean) but it (the rank) doesn't matter and is not that important when it comes to the mentioning of the relationship between Levi and his first squad (Oluo,Gunther,Petra and Eld) what was that ?
I think Erwin's guilt finally caught up to him during the battle of shiganshina. He had to make so many difficult choices through the years, choices which eventually lead to the near annihilation of all survey corp soldiers. He saw himself as a con artist who tricked brave soldiers into dying for his selfish dream, but the truth was his dream aligned with Paradis Island's survival. That's why it was so important for Levi to make the decision to suicide charge the beast titan. Levi assumed the role of "the devil", freeing Erwin of his guilt and allowing him to die bravely with the last soldiers he had left. Another great video on a great character, Sage Rain you are awesome!
Erwin Smith would go on my top 10 personal favorite anime characters of all time. One aspect I always enjoyed the most was he never asked his soldiers to do something he wouldn't do himself.
Literally the reason I would respect him as a scout. He's always the first in line for the charge.
Erwin was essentially what Griffith could've been if he didn't let his ambitions and unresolved impulses push him into sacrificing everything
Griffith was selfish and A Narcissist. I believe the outcome would've been the same either way
@@maleahj308 Erwin had a dream as his motivation, just like Griffith. And just like him he allowed hundreds to die in order to achieve it, collecting a pile of corpses to climb. Both suffered for those deaths, and yet they pushed forward for their dreams: if not for his final sacrifice, Erwin could be seen exactly as Griffith, just in a different world.
Well Erwin was never tortured to the point of "wanting to die"
@@syamantakdutta He would have done the same things even without the torture. Remember what he said to Guts when he joined the band of the hawk "You're mine, I'll choose the moment and place in which you'll die".
no way, Erwin had a dream that was unrelated to himself. He had no grandeur delusions of supremacy, Griffiths dream was inherently self focused and tied to his narcisism.
Yes, both had a big dream that they were not shy to sacrifice thousands for, but Griffiths dream was inherently selfish while Erwins dream was not and in fact was shared in part or whole by other people.
Really, if Griffiths goal was Peace on earth (unrelated to if he was the one to rule this new peaceful earth) or sth and the band of the hawk WILLINGLY sacrificed themselves, there would be no problem. But well, its not and they didnt, so..
"Each is motivated by their own ideas, whether that be freedom, family, revenge or a personal dream". What about food like there wasn't a character motivated by food.
Sasha brauss
@@jishnusuresh4007 Rip
Rip Sasha braus 😭
Sasha motivated by potatoes and meat. She may look shallow but food is a need for humanity to survive lol so that's why she make sense.
I've never clicked on a video so fast. Erwin is, hands down, one of my favorite characters of all time and I think you captured his complex nature perfectly.
Erwin, like any good character, wasn't perfect and was motivated by personal feelings and dreams. But I think he was more selfless than he (and others) gives himself credit for. Because, while his motivation and the inspiration for his dream came from his father and his death (which, side note, imagine just how much that made an impact on him...to lose his father at such a young age AND feeling that he was responsible for it probably would've been a source of major trauma for Erwin and something he probably relived whenever his close comrades died), I believe he also wanted to discover the truth for humanity as well. Because there was no way they were going to survive without knowing the truth.
I really appreciate you bringing up Levi's commitment to Erwin as part of his character study because I agree with you, Levi wouldn't have been so unflinchingly loyal to someone who was only driven by personal ambition. Sometimes people who know us best have a better grasp on who we really are and I think that's true of Erwin. Levi was able to see through the suffocating guilt Erwin bore and was able to see his true motivations.
Thank you again for this video and for all the time it took to put it together.
Very well said!!!
I still haven't watched the video but his true motivation was the basement his true need was to die with his soilders and take the guilt off his shoulders. The selfish dream and the duty for humanity were in keeping all this time so it wasn't unbeneficial but when the story/humanity needed to move beyond that that's when it started showing
He does what he feels needs to be done.
But his conviction is so dangerous because he rarely stops to consider if he is right or wrong. He has no time for that.
No hesitation.
There was an onscreen commander of the scouts before Erwin, I realized this after rewatching the other day, The dude couldn't handle the pressure of being CO because in his defense it takes a tough spirit to watch all your comrads die while gaining nothing. Just goes to show how tough Erwins mental fortitude was.
That was Keith Shadis
Because KEith did not have that will that Ewin had. Sure, he wanted humanity to be able to go beyond the walls and be free, but Erwin wanted to prove his father right after getting him killed. There was nobody who could match that kind of determination at the time.
"Everybody is drunk on something" Kenny Ackerman.
I think that line reflect everybody in attack on titan. Each of them has selfish goal but to succeded they have to fight for the humanity.
-Jean wants to fight to have a peacefull life but titans and later Marh are threats to that.
-Armin wanted to see the Ocean but he had to go beyond the walls for that and Titans are threat,
-Hange wanted to know the secret behind the Titans.
Fight for humanity was the best way to make each of their dream come true.
When Erwin says "for humanity" he screams "for our dreams".
Omg this!!! 👏💯
Beautiful deduction a shame it's not on top
Except levi ultimate selfless soldier
I'm getting chills watching this. I love erwin and his ideas
Finally after manifesting to sage's rain for a long time, it's attack on titan time baby!
When the panel of Erwin thanking Levi showed on screen, tears instantly flowed from my eyes. Such a beautiful smile, paired with a simple "thank you" that basically encapsulates a thousand words...I am so happy that he was able to smile like that in his final moments, and I am so thankful to Levi for giving him a sense of peace before death...❤️
Thank you for making this video 🥺
His speech to motivate the soldiers at the end of season 3 was one of my favorite dialogue scenes in the whole series.
I feel Levi's true final act of good faith was when he let Erwin rest in peace rather than turn him into the Collossal titan, knowing the weight he would take on again if he chose to save him.
Erwin was my favorite character in the show and quite possibly my favorite character in all of storytelling. His character arc was the first time that I realized just how much depth the characters in this show have, with their own motivations capable of conflicting with each other because of the layers in their thoughts and desires. I won't lie; I relate a lot to his struggle in wondering whether or not his dream is worth pursuing and also to his fears that he puts himself above others. I find it incredibly selfless and inspirational that he ultimately put more faith in humanity than in his dream. I've seen characters sacrifice themselves before but I never felt nearly as much weight behind the decision as I did when Erwin had to contemplate the execution of his plan. I'll miss his intelligent thinking and charismatic leadership.
Just because Erwin said his goals are more important than humanity doesn't mean he's selfish, at every moment erwin could've abandoned humanity he never gave up and kept pushing and even gave his life for it
Erwin is Biggest fraud in AoT . Completely selfish but puts on the facade of selflessness,he pretend to fight for humanity but his true goal is selfish he was screaming (shizou sasageyo) to fool and deceive soldiers,He really only redeemed himself at the end of his life by listening to levi (give up and di
@@williamxxc ahah bcz you thinks eren is not selfish, armin is not selfish, jean is not selfish and mikasa not selfish, man everyone in this show have his personal selfish dream if you don't at least understand this go watch fairy tail
I think the Code Geass quote speaks volumes to his character..
“The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed!”
If Erwin wasnt the one always in the front line.. putting himself in harm's way.. I would say he was a hypocrite. But he sees the greater good even more important than his own life.
Exactly. The guy was the first in line to fight during those charges. Gotta respect that
He was a character that is the lynchpin of this series he is the one that enabled the transition from the island to the bigger world. As a leader he is unparalleled he is what a leader of men should be. He is competent, confident, and he understands and spends time knowing his subordinates and how to use them and as you said even a rebel would respect his decision. He said he was the ultimate con artist ( biggest heartbreak moment for me ) but aren’t we all con artists lying to ourselves?
The reveal of his selfish desire is honestly where he became my favorite character. Sure before that he was badass, but seeing such a human side to a fictional character and their inner conflict is what makes for great characterization and storytelling. Not only did he become relatable, but it became impossible to not like the guy after that, considering he gave up on his selfish desire for the sake of humanity.
My personal thoughts on Erwin's dream are that for the longest time, Erwin's dream was unattainable. He wanted to know the truth of the world, but the expeditions were unlikely to ever really satisfy that dream. Reclaiming Wall Maria wouldn't realize Erwin's dream, but titans were the mystery of the world. So fighting them aligns with Erwin's dream. Then, Erwin learns about Eren's basement, and how it hold the truths of the world. Then, after learning that titans can be controlled with the Coordinate and the military coup, it becomes increasingly likely that Grisha's basement holds the exact validation that Erwin requires. Suddenly, Erwin's dream is within arm's reach when only months previously, it was a pipe dream. Now that his dream is so close, Erwin's motivation doesn't align as well with Humanity's benefit anymore. His dream used to be so far away, but now it is close and has branched off. When the Survey Corps is decimated by the Beast Titan, Erwin's dream becomes opposed to fighting for humanity. Erwin could fly off with his maneuver gear to Eren's home or at least try to, but if he does so, the Survey Corps will surely lose and humanity will perish. Erwin's dream was so far away that he could simply pretend it was aligned perfectly with the Survey Corps' mission, but his struggle is when his dream is now opposed to it. If he indulged in his dream, Erwin would have invalidated everything the Survey Corps had sacrificed for humanity as it would have simply been for Erwin's dream. But Erwin gave up his dream, so it wasn't all in vain.
Erwin is the best thing that ever came from Attack on Titan.
I agree completely
One thing I'll mention here that I feel is important to know about Erwin's character, whenever he would talk about fighting for humanity, he always meant the people of Paradis and not the outside world beyond the island, even if he learned the truth from the basement I doubt that he would start caring for these people who weren't his own, because protecting humanity too him always meant the people of Paradis
Erwin Smith
: A good guy whose evil side we want to understand
Eren Yeager
: An evil guy whose good side we want to understand
Watching him hang out of the mouth of a titan by one arm while still yelling at the scouts to charge convinced me that this man was more than he even believed himself to be. In that moment he proved he cared more about the dream than his own life, and that he was willing to do what was necessary to fulfill it even if he'd never see it happen.
I love Erwin honestly. I was in the military and this story spoke volumes to me from the military POV he's an amazing commander. That position requires something that not many have which is the skill to inspire others. when Erwin had to accept the fact that life isn't fair and he's not going to see the basement it killed me. I'd follow him into hell no question. Dedicate your heart!
"My Soldiers, Rage! My Soldiers, Scream! My Soldiers, Fight!"~ Commander Erwin Smith
Erwin was Levi’s eldian king 😭
No
SHINZOU WO SASAGEYO ✊🏻
I think he and Levi are my favourite characters by farrrr
*edit not just separately but together as well, they work brilliantly combined
Levi giving Erwin his strength, which in turn enables Erwin to pursue his goal, which in turn provides Levi with meaning
It's really refreshing to see an adult relationship of complete trust and devotion, I like the older characters in general hah
Levi doesn't even trust himself -- he says he just makes whatever choice he thinks he'll regret the least -- but I don't even know how many times he says he trusts Erwin's judgment. Not that Erwin is the boss, not that he'll go along with him to avoid trouble. Specifically that he trusts his judgment.
I miss those two working together :(
Literally the dynamic duo of Seasons 1-3
@@eyesofthecervino3366 shut up,levi felt betrayed when erwin told him about selfish dream
@@williamxxc
Well of course he did. He'd trusted Erwin to the point of idolizing him. I don't think he stopped caring about him, though.
@@eyesofthecervino3366 it's Isayama interview ,levi was disgusted by erwin smile after titans truth being human, saying ( what the hell you smiling at),
Erwin was a man who was not only determined but fierce in his pursuit of the dream he sought for so long, to prove humanity existed beyond the world Paradis was held captive in...he was similar to Eren as he was unwilling to be held back by titans and their strength in pursuit of his dreams.
Erwin’s father imparting that knowledge drove him to damn near madness which caused the soldiers that dedicated their lives who served under him to death and telling everyone to be onboard with humanity’s victory.
Erwin to me is a prime example of how the past can affect your future no matter how it good or bad it had been, the words of his father clung and bound him like a ball and chain. Not even personal happiness would satiate the man as finding the truth made him tunnel vision past the guilt and death that befell him each day.
I get so emotional every time I think about commander Erwin and his death, oh man. Thank you, this analysis is very courteous of you to Erwin.
Whether Erwin kept pushing forward for his own dreams or for the greater good of humanity, he was and is still one of the most unforgettable and impactful characters that I have seen in all of anime.
Everything that you thought had meaning, every hope, dream, or moment of happiness. None of it matters as you lie bleeding out on the battlefield. None of it changes what a speeding rock does to a body. We all die. But does that mean our lives are meaningless. Does that mean that there was no point in our being born. Would you say that of our slain comrades. What about their lives, were they meaningless. They were not, their memory serves as an example to us all! The courageous fallen, the anguished fallen, their lives have meaning because we, the living refuse to forget them and as we ride to certain death, we trust our successors to do the same for us! Because my soldiers do not buckle or yield when faced with the cruelty of this world! MY SOLDIERS PUSH FORWARD! MY SOLDIERS SCREAM OUT! MY SOLDIERS RAGE!
His speech in Dub was even better
It makes me so sad to know that Erwin died at the battle that allowed the Scouts to discover the secret of the walls and reach the ocean. His life's goal, the reason he ordered so many soldiers to charge into their deaths and he died days before his dream was realized. It really makes his sacrifice more heroic, he was willing to lose everything if it meant even a single person might survive, might win, might find out the truth of the world. He didn't accomplish his goal but the people he helped save did it for him
there needs to be a statue of Erwin right in the middle of shiganshina. If they do that that is peak nationalism lol.
Do more Attack on Titan. Would love to see more characters explored in detail!
in the future i definitely will
@@SagesRain I would love a big Eren video once they finish the anime
@@ugo49396 omg yess please do erenn😭
@@SagesRain Videos talking about Eren,Levi and Reiner are going to be awesome!!!(Floch and Kenny videos will be fine also!)
Just realised the quote at the beginning by armin suits eren perfectly well too! "Throw away everything dear to them" (Eren's friends, Mikasa and Armin) "Forced to face down monsters" (Marley and the rest of the world against Paradis) and lastly "Leave behind even their humanity" (Current eren now and what he's about to do or plan to do)
Yep. That last part. It's really powerful and heart breaking. The correct choice for the serum was clearly Erwin. Erwin alone had made more progress than anyone else for "humanity's salvation" (you know, before they didn't know the truth and the series was basically a zombie apocalypse only) so it would only make sense to revive humanity's best asset, and give him super powers in the process. And Levi came to the same conclusion as well. But after Erwin muttered in his coma, Levi just couldn't bring himself to do it because it would be just cruel to bring his friend back. It was time to let him rest. RIP Erwin, you glorious bastard.
Erwin was always my fav character but I never understood him same with levi thank you
Possible Spoilers, please tread lightly
Erwin passing the role of leader to Hange shows the burden Hange must now carry after Erwin set the bar so high, living up to the expectations of the people and having to make difficult choices she hadn't intended to make
Eventually hange ends up having so many mental breakdown because of it
It's not just the expectation of living up to Erwin, but also the burden of carrying everyone's deaths. Erwin had shouldered the deaths of his comrades alone, now Hange has come to realize that the weight had been thrust upon her. Hange's old comrades are watching... and Hange cannot bear to think that they're watching every mistake that brings Paradis closer and closer to collapse, all because Hange couldn't reign in Eren.
I feel so bad for Hange. She's not built to lead people, she's mainly just a scientist.
“the one mistake you made was making me commander”
I love how they show Hange struggling as a Commander. Maybe Erwin haters could gain some perspective from it.
such a well written character
i have never been able to explain why erwin is a really well-written character, thats literally how complex of a character he is- he isnt one of my favourites in the series but like UGH wtf hes literally such a good character
Erwin is and always will be a true legend and a great commander. Maybe the greatest commander I’ve ever seen in a show.
such a good character for you to cover, great video. Erwin is one of the best out of aot.
glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
YES he's covering AOT
Erwin Smith is the only character that we don’t much about outside of his military life. The only things we know is that his childhood nickname is “Eyebrow”, he and Nile had the same crush and he was a curious boy like Eren when he was a kid.
I think it's actually Hanji.
There is no background story of her.
@@konanxhidan3202 true, true
Thank you so much for this amazing analysis of one of my favourite characters of all time. I genuinely teared up and cried when you started describing this strong, flawed man and his pure, deep relationship with Levi. It’s immensely painful to remember Erwin sometimes.... R.I.P ‘Survey Corps salute’
I feel like Erwin Smith embodies how it feels to be a true leader. Most leaders are able to lead, command respect, rally their followers, and stand with them in the mud. But they also have their own demons. To tell the truth, all a leader is is someone who feels strongly about something and has the drive to make some noise about it. Erwin is just that, that person who has a goal and can get others to act on his words. However there isn't a single leader worthy of the word that hasn't sacrificed or made a hard call. Erwin, I believe, rallied those who wanted the same thing as him, but was destined to climb the bodies of those he rallied in order to find atonement for the death of his father. I feel like that guilt, every time he said his fathers theory was the thing stopping him from choosing death, was really what he meant from the very beginning and he knew this but couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept the blood that was on his hands until he heard it from someone he trusted, someone that he knew wasn't just telling him those words to try to make him feel better.
I think you have downplayed the role of the scene where Erwin is attacked by a titan in Season 2 and commands everyone to push forward. Erwin was ready to die a lot of times, actual death was more tragic, since he had time to carefully consider the situation, but he already made instant decision to die in past.
He and Levi where the only characters that really interested me in the manga, after his passing the story just didn't attract me anymore as it became too predictable :(. Great video as always though!
Isayama focus on cringe romance in last chapters to please eremika
Erwin is a selfless man doing selfish things
Shut up,he is just facade, selfish leader
This is why I think Hajime Isayama is one of the best storytellers of this time. The events of his story are perfectly timed, and mix that with a scary but interesting situation, and amazing characters.
"Like a bonfire of dreams.
To ensure those weaker flames dont go out each man cast his own into the strongest fire of them all: A raging fire that is called Eren Jaeger"
Ayyyy Berserk reference
@@Gio90210. I finishes berserk recently and saw to many parallels. Especially between eren and Griffith ironic as it is.
I would say Levi's final act of letting Erwin go was not merely friendship but devotion - love even.
Disgusting shippers
100%
@@sc5586 I would give it 50 to 70% you know because to me it's more about friendship and camaraderie alongside devotion but about love hmmmm i think it's not that much about love.
Thank you for this Erwin is my favorite character on AOT... I have so much respect for him, and when he died I almost cried. Watching the video right now, can't wait to see what you think about him 🥰
I’ve never clicked on a video so fast in my life
Sage you should really collaborate with Meti not the bad guy. You guys make similar stuff and have a nice vibe
Thank you for covering one of my favorite characters! Would love to see deep dives for other characters in Attack on Titan ❤️
of course! glad you enjoyed it :)
I love these videos, I think you explore the depth of the characters very well !
AoT has a lot of moments that definitely imply that Erwin is selfish, but we see him put his life on the line multiple times and ultimately sacrifices himself for humanity. All the people in the story who called him a hypocrite really had to eat their words.
Who called him hypocrite?
Im so hyped for this video thank you!
I love your channel not enough people talk about the heart and soul of shows or the humanity in these shows we all loved for years but sometimes couldnt always tell exactly why, but your show shows me the parts i couldnt articulate and i absolutely love that
Thank you sages rain 😊
Dub erwin's VA did his character perfectly imo his last speech solidified his spot as one of my favorite characters from aot
let's be honest. Everything is messed up after his death.
Give your heart and soul to the cause!!!!
I hope there is like a bonus season, that explores the alternate version of the story, where Erwin lives and Armin doesn't.
I can’t wait for Sage’s take on Eren. It’s going to be therapeutic 🤯 lol
yeah our beloved radical freedom fighter
Omg yes! I'm ready to be virtually sucker punched in the gut and brain for this haha
That’s tuff, the leaks are insane💀😭 poor eren mane
@@actavisspecialist1849 leaks? story is over
@@wojszach4443 these is leaks going around that ********spoiler*********
Mikasa gets together with Jean
Paradis gets destroyed
Titans are still a thing
So this all means that eren died fo nothing and his past development was thrown like it was in the fumbling but just even worst.
Sage doing an aot vid!!! Yes, I clicked so fast ❤️
Thank you for covering my favorite anime and my favorite character, this was class! Keep it up
Hes one of my fav characters! Thank you for giving him the attention he deserves. I find him so underrated sadly
To sum it up Erwin was selfish for selfless reasons
Erwin never cared about humanity, his true motivation was selfish dream about the Truth. In his convo with levi , he admitted that his dream more important than humanity and his legs. who sacrificed dozens and hundred of lives for an ultimately selfish desire for curiosity. He really only redeemed himself at the end of his life by finally abandoning his dreams and putting his words into action and dying himself for the cause he used to only pretend to fight for.
Awesome video, so glad your channel exists.
These videos always help me take a closer look at some of my favorite characters and gives me more reason to like them. Thank you for giving me insight to the personalities and meanings to these great characters.
He’s the Zeke of paradise
More the Reiner of paradise zeke betrayed Marley
Zeke is better than erlose
Thanks for talking about one of the goats bro, this show is something else. You should do eren one day when the manga ends.
That’s the best erwin analysis on UA-cam! God bless man!
Man everything you drop a video I just like it because you don't miss. Great content