Read on Twitter
Why the Warriors are victims of their environment; a long thread.
First off, prepare for a lot of manga spoilers because these are indispensable in order to understand everything about their backgrounds. Advance at your own risk.
I will be covering most, but not all, of the warrior's background stories/sentiments to prove my point.
I will be covering most, but not all, of the warrior's background stories/sentiments to prove my point.
Who are the warriors?
Generally speaking, and to my belief, the warriors are a product of nationalism. Beware that nationalism, in a sense, is not the same thing as national identity, nor the same thing as respect for national sovereignty.
Generally speaking, and to my belief, the warriors are a product of nationalism. Beware that nationalism, in a sense, is not the same thing as national identity, nor the same thing as respect for national sovereignty.
Rather, and in Marley's case, it's a means of superiority, hatred, control, and violence.
Eldians were raised to believe that their race was responsible for all the wrongdoings in the history of the world, and their race came to be stigmatized as "devils" by Marley.
Eldians were raised to believe that their race was responsible for all the wrongdoings in the history of the world, and their race came to be stigmatized as "devils" by Marley.
This "history", be it real or false, was what kept the Eldians submissive, by a government that did nothing but blame them, spreading hatred and violence. Children were indoctrinated and fed with fascist propaganda from an early age, sculpting their values according to that.
In a sense, the Eldians lived in a reality that was not theirs, but completely fabricated. Whether they wanted to believe in it or not was not of their choice, and in order to lead a peaceful life, they could not protest. This was their new "reality".
The Warriors, kids weaponized by the Marleyan government, were nothing but a way of controlling the people. They were no longer human, they were tools that Marley could dispose of at any given moment if not obedient. They were a means to conquer.
Clear example from the 1st ep:
Clear example from the 1st ep:
Children were constantly burdened with a mission and were given a purpose to live that wasn't their own, and if they refused, chaos would befall upon them. Their lives were never their own property. They fought for a nation that did nothing for them because they NEEDED peace.
In addition to this, the Warriors were never free to think for themselves, and Marley, as an imperialistic country, used systematic racism, propaganda, and historical manipulation create a false sense of nationalism in kids that were used as mere tools.
I would also like to add these panels because they pretty much sum up how reality can discern from what they were each taught of each other.
When the Warriors finally see that the truth is further from what they were told, the shock gets to them, regret, realization, torment.
When the Warriors finally see that the truth is further from what they were told, the shock gets to them, regret, realization, torment.
Reiner's case is an excellent example I'd like to add to the thread.
When he reached the other side of the wall, he was able to understand the revolting truth, that the others were nothing but people like him, human beings. He had been fed lies his entire life.
When he reached the other side of the wall, he was able to understand the revolting truth, that the others were nothing but people like him, human beings. He had been fed lies his entire life.
The Warriors tell a story filled with remorse and are just kids that were constantly demoralized, taught to hate themselves and serve in order to have freedom. The world stole everything from them, their identity, and their lives. They were enslaved, weaponized, and brainwashed.
In conclusion, they're human beings that never had a choice, human beings like Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, who were told a different side of the story and who just happened to be born in an environment that didn't allow them to be free.
This is why the Warriors are victims.
This is why the Warriors are victims.
End of thread.
