Would Erwin have supported Eren's rumbling plan?

Key insights

• Erwin's calculated ruthlessness may have aided 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 utter destruction.
• Erwin's legacy as a leader suggests that he would favor moderate rumbling and use it as a deterrent rather than an apocalyptic measure.

In Attack on TitanLeadership and morality are intertwined themes in which characters must make impossible decisions in order to survive. Following 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 opposing ideals; They have one thing in common: giving up everything for an idea. The search for what motivates these characters reveals a series of personal and moral dead ends in which they find themselves.

One of the most fascinating “what ifs” ever Attack on Titan must be: Had Erwin Smith survived, whether or not he would have supported Eren's controversial rumbling plan. Much of his calculated ruthlessness was crucial to many victories within the walls. The question is, does this pragmatism extend to a catastrophic action like rumbling? That's anyone's guess. Speculation will naturally lead one to examine the character of Erwin, his motivations, and possible reactions to the threat posed by Marley.

Erwin's ideal and ruthlessness

A dream illuminated by his father's death

His journey began with the death of his father, who theorized that beyond the walls was a place where humanity existed. This view was rejected by both society and the government. It gave Erwin a deep conviction to know if this was true, even if it would cost him his life. Unlike most people within the walls, he knew there could be a life beyond somewhere in this world, and shaped his worldview to uncover the secrets hidden from the public. The mysterious circumstances of his father's death only strengthened his determination to defy all odds and ultimately prove his father right.

Because of his pursuit of the truth, he often found himself in a morally gray area. He is known for his willingness to sacrifice, and Erwin weighed the common good against his personal ambitions at every step, 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 vile ambition clashing with ethics would later bring forth parallels to Eren's mindset towards the Marley threat.

Erwin and Eren's mindset

Knowing that sacrifices are necessary to succeed

Both Erwin and Eren express a level of single-minded determination that makes them tireless in the pursuit of their respective visions. For Erwin, it was about finding the answers he believed lay outside the walls, while for Eren, it was about ensuring the safety and freedom of the Eldians at all costs. To further their goals, each took morally complex actions to which they were amenable and which seemed extreme to others.

In many ways, Erwin's mentality is similar to the determination Eren displayed in the final storylines of the series. Erwin never committed anything as drastic as mass murder, but many of his plans involved sacrifices that were considered taboo in most people's moral code. Given Erwin's pragmatic nature, he would likely view rumbling as the lesser of two evils, but how far he would go to condone it remains unclear.

Would Erwin have supported the rumbling?

A leader's calculations in the face of total war

If Erwin had still learned of Marley's involvement and the oppression of the Eldians, he may have found a more strategic solution to this new threat. His curiosity was finally satisfied when he discovered the existence of Marley. Erwin's ambitions would perhaps be directed towards the safety of the Eldians without the need for complete destruction. Instead of rumbling, he had a chance to develop some kind of diplomacy or some other method, since he had a great ability to observe situations in an indefinite way.

At the same time, however, Erwin was a realist, and he knew that the Marleyans had nurtured and passed on hatred against the Eldians for generations. Therefore, he may have agreed to rumbling as a deterrent against further attacks, but not to Eren's proposed course of action to wipe out most of humanity. Therefore, Erwin was probably making a balancing argument about using the rumbling as a bargaining chip rather than an actual plan.

Erwin's reaction to Eren's actions

Instruct or confront a former comrade

Eren's actions in the Rumbling, an extreme measure based on his desire to defend Paradis, may have evoked Erwin's sympathy. He could 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 definitely have been against the extent of Eren's plan and would have instead joined in its controlled use for the purpose of compensation rather than genocide.

If Erwin had deeply disliked Eren's methods, he could have tried to stop him by suggesting a different solution, since we already know how desperate Eren was when he tried to force Hange if she knew a better way and knew which one moral implications and at what cost total destruction may have brought Paradis. Alternatively, he could have negotiated with Eren and offered a vision that would protect the Eldians without destroying the entire world. Such leadership could potentially have changed the course of Eren's plans and perhaps mitigated the effects of the conflict.

How the outcome could have been changed

Paradis and Eldia take a different path.

Once Erwin influenced Eren, the course of things changed Attack on Titan would have been different. While Eren decided to go to all-out war, Erwin would have focused the story on a negotiation approach, addressing both Paradis' and the outside world's interests. Perhaps Erwin could have used his strategic mind to solve the problem at hand and save Eldia without plunging the world into chaos, thus charting a new path to peace.

Another example of this parallel universe would be whether Paradis must coexist in a state of tension where neither Marley nor the world is completely destroyed. With Erwin at the helm leading Paradis, the Defense Forces might as well have been prepared by making limited shows of force to break them from their diplomatic stalemate and create space for further alliances or understandings.

The possible impact on the Rumbling Plan

A leader torn between ideals and reality

Erwin's legacy as a calculated but idealistic leader shows that he takes a different approach to the Marleyan threat than Eren. 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 solution that was not nearly as destructive. If Erwin had supported Eren, it probably would have been a moderate support aimed at using the Rumbling as a deterrent rather than an apocalyptic endgame.

The question of whether Erwin hypothetically participates in Rumbling is a complex one: would his belief in realistic approaches be willing to accept the course of Eren's plan, or would his ideal push him toward a more balanced approach? In something fans can only speculate about, one thing is still clear: Erwin's presence would have left an indelible mark on the plot of Attack on Titan and perhaps brought it to a fate far removed from what it actually experienced.