The final chapter of Attack on Titan has left fans with a puzzling mystery: what is THAT bird, and how does it connect to Eren?
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chapter #139 of Attack on Titan, “Toward the Tree on That Hill,” by Hajime Isayama, Dezy Sienty and Alex Ko Ransom, available in English now from Kodansha.
Of all the more puzzling aspects of Attack on Titans manga ending, the fate of Eren Jeager has been interpreted as simultaneously one of the most clear-cut and undefined. While Erens life, as we know it, certainly comes to an end by Mikasas hand in the penultimate chapter, the last pages of the series give some readers pause as to its true finality. And its all thanks to one mysterious bird.
Towards the very end of Chapter #139, three years after the end of the Battle of Heaven and Earth that stopped Erens Rumbling, claimed his life and wiped out the Titan curse, we discover Mikasa has buried what was left of him under the tree he often napped under on Paradis Island. (In fact, that exact setting opened Attack on Titans first chapter, bringing the story back to its roots by the end.) Out at sea, a boat carries Armin, Reiner, Annie, Jean, Connie and Pieck towards the Island to begin peace talks with Queen Historia, and visit Erens grave. As Armin looks out over the bow, he notes a bird passing him by, headed in the same direction.
On the Island, as a fresh wave of grief hits Mikasa over Erens loss, that same bird (we can assume) suddenly arrives in front of her, wraps her scarf around her neck, as Eren did when they first met, and continues on its way. Tearfully, Mikasa smiles up it and thanks Eren for doing so.
The interaction obviously reminds her of this memory, which is probably why she acknowledges it, but some may take it as a verbal admission that theres a real piece of Eren present in the scene. Fans have even speculated that the type of bird it could be is confirmation: the Parasitic jaeger, an arctic seabird. Its certainly unusual that an animal, especially a bird, would randomly get this close to a human if it werent in search of food or wanted to attack them, let alone perform that specific gesture. Then again, were not talking about a real bird — Attack on Titan is a work of high fiction, so we shouldnt expect everything to adhere to natural law. As such, there are two ways to interpret this odd ending detail: either Eren is the bird, or the bird merely represents Eren, and the series wider themes.
If we were to entertain the first option, that Eren really did become a bird after he died, the only plausible explanation we can draw from the series lore is that Ymir Fritz, the Founder, remade him as one before she was wiped from existence, perhaps grateful for the life-ending part he played in her liberation. We know that she had the power to prolong the lives of her subjects, in a supernatural sense, and fashioned Titans out of sand and earth at the Coordinate point — the place where (the other) Ymir, Zeke and Eren awoke once theyd been killed. Many Titans also took on animalistic forms, from Zekes Beast Titan to Falcos Jaw Titan, and others long before them.
The problem with this theory is that Ymir never demonstrated the ability to reshape her fallen descents into anything other than their original, humanoid bodies, or seemed capable of resurrecting them back in the physical world as they once were. The closest she came was returning Eren (in a sense) back to Shiganshina following Gabi shooting his head off, but that return was dependant on him existing in the Founding Titans body, while his consciousness remained locked in the Titans collapsed mindscape of space and time.
Even the strongest evidence we have to support the idea — Ymirs original resurrection after gaining the power of the Titans for the first time — is undermined when applying it to Erens potential reincarnation because it relies on Ymirs continued existence. As we saw when the Titan curse was lifted, “curing” those affected by it for good, that power ceases to be once Ymir is gone.
That leaves us with the second and more likely option, that the bird embodies Eren, but isnt his actual body. A bird is an obvious metaphor for freedom, which Eren sought above all for himself and those he loved, so much so that he martyred himself as the most horrific villain the world had ever seen in order to achieve it. To make the link even simpler, the Survey Corps logo also used wings, representing the Islanders desire to escape the confines of the walls. In fact, birds frequently appeared throughout the series whenever Eren, or other characters, yearned to travel beyond the edges of their known world or escape a cruel fate.
More generally, the concept of flight itself played a huge part in the struggle for liberation — first, the ODM gear, then the airships and eventually, Falcos flying Jaw Titan. All of these elements repeatedly played a key role in the heroes getting closer to the truth, resolving the Titan threat and the war with Marley. Most tellingly of all, in Chapter #131, Eren, in his minds eye, soars above the clouds to escape from the horrors his Rumbling is causing on Earth, defining the feeling, purely, as “freedom.”
In that vein, birds also have specific significance in Norse mythology, from which Attack on Titan draws plenty of inspiration. Odins ravens, Hugin and Munin, were his eyes throughout Midgard, mirroring the literal birds-eye view Hajime Isayama provides at multiple, important points throughout the series. Hugin means “thought” while Munin means “memory,” two concepts that became Erens only ties to reality as the Attack and Founding Titan powers separated him further and further from land, body, time and space. In The Poetic Eddas “Grímnismál,” Odin frets that his ravens may one day not come back from their daily migration, particularly Munin: “For Hugin I fear, lest he come not home, But for Munin my care is more.” Allegorically, this could resonate deeply with Attack on Titans perpetual themes of thought and memory being caged — by the Eldian Kings bloodline, the nation of Marley and the false King in Paradis — only to eventually be liberated, allowing more people to make choices for themselves.
As for the way the bird at the end of Chapter #139 acts towards Mikasa, its not hard to point to a little creative license on Isayamas part. People often see loved ones that have passed away in the world around them. The manga could simply be providing some grain of closure for both its characters and readers by suggesting that while Erens life may be over, his sacrifices, ideas and, most importantly for his friends, his love, remains.
What Does Birds Symbolize In Attack On Titan?
The idea of freedom is the most significant symbol connected to birds in Attack on Titan. Birds are frequently observed soaring through the skies without restriction by structures or boundaries. The humans in the series, on the other hand, live behind walls because they are afraid of the Titans. Characters such as Eren Yeager often express their desire for the freedom that birds symbolize. In the show, Eren’s quest for freedom is so intense that he will stop at nothing to fulfill it, much like a bird’s unrestricted flight.
Notably, some fans think the bird might be a representation of the arctic seabird known as the Parasitic jaeger, which is a lot like Eren. First, the name Jaeger appears, which is intriguing since Eren, our main character, has that last name. Jaeger, which means “hunter” in German, perfectly expresses Eren’s unwavering pursuit of freedom. The Parasitic Jaeger obtains its food in a peculiar way. Instead of hunting, it steals from other birds. It will pursue other birds until they are too exhausted to hold onto their food because it is so determined to get its meal.
This reflects Eren’s unwavering pursuit of freedom and his readiness to battle for it when it’s in jeopardy. Eren even appears to emulate the bird’s callous disregard for other people in its quest for food throughout the entire series. He’s prepared to use his country of origin and his friends as stepping stones toward freedom. In summary, the bird in Attack on Titan is more than just a bird. It represents Eren’s unwavering spirit, his quest for freedom, and the lengths he will go to in order to get it.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chapter #139 of Attack on Titan, “Toward the Tree on That Hill,” by Hajime Isayama, Dezy Sienty and Alex Ko Ransom, available in English now from Kodansha.
The concluding section of Attack on Titan has left viewers perplexed: what exactly is THAT bird, and how is it related to Eren?
As for the way the bird at the end of Chapter #139 acts towards Mikasa, its not hard to point to a little creative license on Isayamas part. Individuals frequently notice deceased loved ones in their surroundings. The manga may be merely offering a small amount of closure to its readers and characters by implying that even though Eren’s life is gone, his ideas, sacrifices, andabove allhis love endure.
The second and more plausible possibility that the bird represents Eren but isn’t his real body remains. A bird is a clear symbol for freedom, which Eren yearned for above all for himself and the people he loved. In order to obtain freedom, he martyred himself by becoming the most horrifying villain the world had ever seen. The Survey Corps logo included wings to further simplify the connection by symbolizing the Islanders’ wish to break free from the walls. Actually, throughout the entire series, birds would often appear whenever Eren or any of the other characters felt the need to leave the confines of their current reality or flee an unjust fate.
More broadly, the idea of flight itself was crucial to the liberation struggle; this was the case with the ODM gear, airships, and ultimately Falcos flying the Jaw Titan. Each time, these components were crucial to the heroes’ pursuit of the truth, their ability to neutralize the Titan threat, and their victory over Marley. Most tellingly of all, in Chapter #131, Eren, in his minds eye, soars above the clouds to escape from the horrors his Rumbling is causing on Earth, defining the feeling, purely, as “freedom. “.
Why Fans Think Eren Has Reincarnated?
With so many plot twists in Attack on Titan, viewers have been kept guessing, and one of the most fascinating theories to surface is that Eren might reincarnate. This theory is closely related to the series’ recurrent bird motif. From the beginning, birds are frequently seen, usually during important times. For example, in the first scene of the last season, Falco, lying on the ground, encourages a bird to fly off, signifying a desire for freedom. However, it’s clever to note that this scene is seen from the perspective of the birds.
The series creator Hajime Isayama offers this birds-eye view, which appears to have a deeper meaning. As the story continues, there’s a moment where Eren sees himself flying far above the clouds in his imagination, seemingly escaping the terrible devastation his Rumbling is causing on Earth. He identifies this sensation as freedom. In the series finale, Eren’s remains are laid to rest beneath a tree in the same spot on Paradis Island where he frequently found comfort. Mikasa
It’s interesting to note that the opening scene of the series maintained a sense of continuity. While Mikasa is reminded of the past by this moment, some fans believe Eren’s presence is being felt in some way. At approximately the same time, Armin and the others are seen sailing toward the island to negotiate peace with Queen Historia. To further the mystery, Armin spots a bird flying in the same direction. Fans speculate that Eren might have taken on a bird reincarnation based on these hints.
FAQ
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