Would Erwin support Eren's turbulent plan?

Key points

• Erwin's calculated ruthlessness may have supported Eren's Rumbling plan as a strategic deterrent against Marley.
• Erwin's pragmatism and strategic mind could have led to diplomatic solutions rather than Eren's outright destruction.
• Erwin's legacy as a leader suggests that he would support a temperate Rumble, using it as a deterrent, not an apocalyptic measure.

In Attack on Titanleadership and morality are deeply intertwined themes in which characters must make impossible choices to survive. After the discovery of Marley and the outside world, the story tests the characters' resolve by wondering how far they would go to protect humanity. Although the method is different, leaders like Eren and Erwin have ideals that are opposed to each other; they have one thing in common: giving up everything for an idea. The search for what moves these characters reveals a turning point in the personal and moral impasse in which they find themselves.

One of the most intriguing “what ifs” in the world Attack on Titan has to be: if Erwin Smith had survived, whether or not he would have supported Eren's controversial Rumbling plan. Much of his calculated ruthlessness was integral to many of the victories within the walls. The question is: does this pragmatism extend to a catastrophic move like the Rumbling? Nobody knows. Speculation, of course, will push us to examine Erwin's character, his motivations and what kind of reactions there might be regarding the threat posed by Marley.

Erwin's ideal and ruthlessness

A dream illuminated by the death of his father

His journey began with the death of his father, who put forward the theory that beyond the walls was a place where humanity existed. This vision has been rejected by both society and government. The desire to know if this was true, even if it would cost him his life, instilled a deeply held belief in Erwin. Unlike most people within the walls, he knew that somewhere in this world there might be life beyond, shaping his worldview to reveal secrets kept hidden from the public eye. The mysterious circumstances of his father's death only further solidified his determination to defy the odds and, ultimately, prove his father right.

He often found himself in a moral gray area because of this drive to find the truth. He is known for his sacrifices, and Erwin has always valued the greater good with his personal ambitions, just like Eren. In Erwin's case, any risk worth taking was fair game, even if the price was putting his comrades in danger. This bestial ambition, which cuts across ethics, would later draw parallels to Eren's mentality against the Marleyan threat.

Erwin and Eren's mentality

Know that sacrifice is necessary for success

Both Erwin and Eren express a certain level of single-minded determination that makes them relentless in the pursuit of their respective visions. For Erwin, this meant getting the answers he believed were beyond the walls, while for Eren it was about ensuring the safety and freedom of the Eldians at all costs. In pursuing their agendas, each took morally complex actions to which they were susceptible, appearing extreme to others.

In many ways, Erwin's mindset parallels the determination Eren has had in the later arcs of the series. Erwin never did anything as drastic as mass murder, but many of his plans consisted of sacrifices that were considered forbidden by most people's moral code. Bearing Erwin's pragmatic nature in mind, he would probably see the Rumble as the lesser of two evils, but no one knows how far he would go in forgiving him.

Would Erwin take the rumble?

The calculations of a leader in the face of total war

Had Erwin lived to discover Marley's involvement and oppression of the Eldians, he might have adopted a more strategic solution to this new threat. His curiosity finally subsided when he discovered Marley's existence; Erwin's ambitions would perhaps shift towards the safety of the Eldians without the need for total destruction. Instead of Rumbling, he had the ability to create some sort of diplomacy or other method, as he had a great ability to observe situations carelessly.

At the same time, however, Erwin was a realist and knew that the Marleyans had nurtured and passed on hatred against the Eldians for generations. As such, he may have accepted the Rumbling as a deterrent against further attacks, but not Eren's proposed course of action to wipe out most of mankind. So, Erwin probably presented a balancing argument, where Rumbling would be used more as leverage rather than an actual plan.

Erwin's reaction to Eren's actions

Driving or confronting an ex-partner

Eren's actions in the Rumble, an extreme measure based on his desire to defend Paradis, may have earned some empathy from Erwin. He might have appreciated the usefulness of Eren's powers in forcing Marley and the rest of the world to negotiate their positions. Conversely, as a tactician, he would have been decidedly against the scope of Eren's plan and would therefore instead have aligned himself with its controlled use for the purpose of balance rather than genocide.

If Erwin deeply opposed Eren's methods, then he could have tried to stop him by proposing another solution, since we already know how desperate Eren was when he tried to force Hanji to know a better way, knowing what moral repercussions and at what cost. total destruction may have led to Paradis. Alternatively, he could have negotiated with Eren, offering a vision that would protect the Eldians without destroying the entire world. Such guidance could have altered the course of Eren's plans and perhaps softened the blows of the conflict.

How the outcome could have been changed

Paradis and Eldia take a different path.

If Erwin had influenced Eren, the course of events would have happened Attack on Titan it would have been different. While Eren decided to enter into a full-scale war, Erwin would steer the story towards a negotiation approach, appealing to the interests of both Paradis and the outside world. Perhaps with his strategic mind, Erwin could have solved the problem and saved Eldia without involving the world in chaos, thus charting a new path to peace.

Another example of this parallel universe would be if Paradis needs to coexist in a tense condition where neither Marley nor the world ends up completely devastated. With Erwin at the helm, leading Paradis, the defenses could prepare just as well with limited shows of force to dissuade them from their diplomatic positions to make room for further alliances or understandings.

The potential impact on the Rumbling plan

A leader divided between ideals and reality

Erwin's legacy as a calculated but idealistic leader speaks to his different approach than Eren's towards the Marleyan threat. While he shared Eren's willingness to do whatever was necessary, Erwin's strategic nature and pursuit of knowledge may have led him to a less-than-destructive solution. If Erwin had supported Eren, it would probably have been a moderate support aimed at using the Rumbling more as a deterrent than an apocalyptic finale.

The question of whether Erwin hypothetically participates in the Rumble is a complex one: would his belief in realistic approaches be willing to embrace the course of Eren's plan, or would his ideal push him towards a more balanced approach? On which fans can only speculate, one thing remains clear: Erwin's presence would have left an indelible mark on the plot of Attack on Titan and perhaps it led him towards a destiny far from the one he actually faced.