EPTSo this manga has been the rage for a while, and I decided to read through it to the latest chapter (55 I think?). Here's just a fun analysis I decided to do after reading it up. There are a lot of points that I believe are open to analysis, but I'd like to just focus on this one for now. My reason for doing this? I'm an attorney on a vacation and this is what I like to do for fun. Also I do apologize for any grammatical errors. I did this in a single sitting.
Some music to set the mood.
And now, what's the focus and my theory?
The Titans and Humanity have an agreement for their mutual survival.
Analysis
1. The survival of the human race is mainly by will of the titans.
Evidence: The titan in the wall
It is clear that the humans of the era are ill-equip to take the titans in a head to head battle. They lose quite significantly in most battles against the titans as can be evidence by their poor average human:titan ratio to gain a kill. Additionally, this can be evidenced by the near decimation of the human population and the resort to staying in the tall walls for survival. The only way to ensure the survival of humanity is essentially a “turtling” strategy, except this strategy is aiming for an indefinite stalemate as opposed to a delayed but conclusive victory.
Now let us talk about the walls. It can be assumed that the walls were only constructed after the threat of the titans. There is no reason to build walls on such a massive scale when the only outside threat is an invading human army. These are sufficiently defended against by the smaller castles that we see in flashbacks or even those dotted around the inside of the larger walls. Additionally, it would be an extremely costly and wasteful endeavor to build up the walls for these reasons. So it can only be presumed that the walls were constructed after the threat of the titans surfaced.
So given the grave superiority of the titans, how was the human race ever in a position to build these walls? The threat of the titans spread fairly quickly and wreaked wide devastation upon the Earth. Additionally, it is known that titans gravitate towards a high density human population (evidenced by the gravitation of the titans to the storehouse at the beginning of the manga as well as the construction of the condensed cities on the outer portions of the wall). Creating the walls in the midst of the titan threat would have assuredly have been an insurmountable risk as well as a commitment of resources, both human and capital. Also, we must not forget the logistical difficulties of transporting the raw material itself to this one isolated location. It is clear that even the presence of a few titans would have ended this endeavor very quickly. And one can only imagine the destruction by an assault of an innumerable amount of titans. It is highly improbable that they would not have been able to construct such walls of great magnitude without being hampered by at least one or more titans during the given period.
So the only real conclusion is that the walls could not have been created solely by the humans themselves. They needed some form of help to do so. And the origin of this help?
And this is where the titan in the wall comes in. The titans aided the humans in the creation of the wall. Once again, given humanity’s rather impotence at being able to overpower and use the titans, one can only deduce that the titans created the walls under their own volition. We can only imagine that there exist colossal titans all along the length of the wall. Humanity sure wasn’t in a position to forcefully place them there, so the titans did it under their own construct.
But why and for what purpose?
2. The titan race is born from the human race.
Evidence: No reproductive organs of the titans and the growth of titans within the inner wall
Titans have no known mode of reproduction. They have no sex organs nor do they exhibit any kind of asexual reproductive ability. One can always speculate that there is some colony of titans out in the world where all titans originate, but that is, as stated, purely speculative.
One method of determining the origin of the titans is to look towards known methods of how titans are created. We can examine how titans are “born” so to speak. And currently we see that the origin of most, if not all titans, is from human beings. There was a growth of titans within the inner wall that matched the number of residence at the village and a titan grew from Connie’s home that looked like his mom. And we can even mention the additional points of the shape-shifting titans all originating as humans prior to their ability to turn to titans.
The most direct conclusion from these events points to the fact that at least one mode of creating a titan is through a human being.
But now we will go to point 3 to show that this is the ONLY mode.
3. The only way the titans can survive is through humans. In other words, the survival of titans is inextricably tied to the survival of the human race.
Evidence: Existence of the walled settlement, sacred royalty line, 100 years of peace, structure of military, and 3d gear.
a) Existence of the walled settlement
So let’s begin with the existence of the walled settlement. We see from the first point that these settlements were done by agreement of the titans. It would make perfect sense that the titans would aid the survival of humanity if their own survival was essentially tied with the survival of humanity itself. Unlike a farm for food, this is a titan farm for reproduction. Allow the human race to multiply for the longevity of the titan race.
Now a natural corollary to this point is that there must have been some humans and some titans who were able to communicate and come to this agreement. The beast titan demonstrates that there is a possible communication link between the two species. Most likely, humanity was cornered and was given the choice to survive in a restricted state or be decimated. They likely chose to survive as a farm.
And this is likely the secret that is heavily guarded by the royalty line.
But even if this were the case, wouldn’t more people know about this?
b) 100 years of peace
This then goes to the 100 years of peace. It was not a lucky 100 years of peace but rather an allowance by the titans for 100 years of peace to allow the royalty line to purge any prior knowledge of this agreement between the people and the titans. 100 years is the equivalent to cover at least one full generation. During this period the royalty will be able to control the dissemination of this knowledge through a measure of strict control on school curriculum as well as the print in circulation. Additionally any attempt by humans to spread this notion was met with a swift death.
This is evidenced by the many “false histories” that have been alluded to throughout the series, from the books that show the outside world to Erwin’s father’s story to the son and so on. And we also see, anyone who reveals any notion of the prior truth is killed, (e.g., Erwin’s father and the priest). Only the royal line is privy and has the authority to let this secret be known. This is why the manga places such importance on Historia.
Additionally, this 100 years also allows the main motivation for the walled existence in the first place, for humans to reproduce and grow.
b) Structure of the Military and 3d Gear
Everything that is aimed towards the ability of the human race to beat the titans was almost constructed to achieve the exact opposite.
i) Structure of the military
First off, we see that of the incoming new recruits only the top 10 of the group is allowed into the inner city. In other words, the best of the best are allowed the privilege to peacefully live in the inner wall until death. The rationale given by the government is that only the most able are granted the opportunity to protect the royalty. But a closer examination of this rationale demonstrates that it is not the true rationale.
The main determinant in gauging how highly a participant scores is based on the ability to eradicate titans in combat with the emphasis being upon the ability to utilize the 3d maneuver gear effectively. This may be an effective gauge to determine the quality of a soldier’s ability outside the walls, but not so much within the inner city. It would seem that there would be a poor correlation between the skills tested for the top recruits and those that would be required in the inner city. There is the least likely threat of titans in the inner city, and even if the titans were to breach both outer walls then the entire military would be concentrated in the inner city anyway. The rationale the royalty government gives is almost entirely a moot point.
The real rationale is likely linked to the main goal of the royal line, to keep the status quo stalemate. By keeping the most able troops away from the outer walls and the titans, the chance for humanity to somehow figure a capacity to leave the walls and face the titans is reduced. If you allow the more incompetent soldiers to face the titans, not only will humanity have a reduced chance of prevailing but also the fear of the titans will be perpetuated by the more prevalent stories of loss.
ii) 3d Gear
This piece of equipment makes little to no sense. In an age where there exist projectile weapons such as cannons and guns, why was there a movement back to hand-to-hand combat? When there exists an avenue to face the titans from a distance, why create an alternative that requires you to essentially move within the attacking range of the titan? Again, this was designed to fail and any progress towards defeating the titans was halted. Note how there are statements in the manga about Hanji being killed but was spared given their expectation of her dying in a scouting retreat. Clear movement against progressive science.
I can only guess a couple of motivations other than my main point that this was designed for failure. One, the writer wanted to create some flashy animation fight sequences so this was one way to have it accomplished. Two, there are insufficient resources to further projectile weaponry.
Conclusion + Speculation:
The royalty line secret is the agreement between humanity and titans to live in a state of continued mutual existence. The royalty government's benefit is survival of the human race with the cost of needing to prevent humanity's capacity and will to leave this state. The titans' benefit is also survival with the reduced risk of losing against the human race.
Here's the speculative part. This is not the only walled civilization in existence to come to this agreement. There are likely many walled cities much like the one in the manga coming into existence and having a similar purpose as this walled city. If this were true, the story can take quite a number of fun twist and turns.
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I have my own additional theories as to some other points in the manga (i.e., origin of Titans), but this will do for now. That was fun and I hope the read was enjoyable.
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