Cycle of Hatred in Attack on Titan: Examining Its Origins and the Possibility of Breaking Free
A deep conflict grows as characters deal with a painful past and tough questions about their world.
The Cycle of Hatred in Attack on Titan: Examining Its Origins and the Possibility of Breaking Free
Attack on Titan is not only a story about big giants and fights. It also shows big feelings like hate and revenge. These feelings keep coming back over time. The fight between Marley and Eldia is not only about power. It is also about pain and things that happened long ago.
This hatred didn’t begin overnight. It started long before the first Titan appeared on screen. The show reveals that Marleyans saw the Eldians as a threat because of their power to turn into Titans. In return, Eldians faced years of cruelty and punishment. One side saw itself as the victim. The other saw itself as justified. And so the cycle began.
Attack on Titan: Hurt Creates More Hurt
Characters in the show often become part of this cycle without even realizing it. Eren, for example, starts out wanting freedom. But as he learns the truth, his desire for peace turns into something darker. He believes the only way to protect his people is to destroy those who might harm them.
The same is true for others. Reiner was trained to hate the people inside the walls. Gabi, too, was taught that they were devils. But when they meet those people, they begin to question everything. They start to see the human side of the enemy and how hate was passed down, not earned.
The show asks a big question: Can the cycle be broken? It doesn’t give an easy answer. Some characters try. Armin, for instance, believes in talking before fighting. He sees hope in understanding each other. Others, like Eren, lose faith in peace and choose violence instead.
The series shows that breaking the cycle takes courage. It means letting go of revenge. It means choosing forgiveness, even when it hurts. It also means facing the past and admitting when your side causes pain, too.
Also Read: Freedom vs. Fate: Exploring the Characters' Agency and the Overarching Narrative of Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan gives no clean ending. It shows how hate spreads and how hard it is to stop once it begins. But it also reminds viewers that change is possible. Even small acts of kindness can break walls built over generations.
As the dust settles in the final episodes, we’re left with a powerful message: Hate may be inherited, but so can hope.
Written By “Sujoy Bhowmik - India Today Gaming”
