Would Erwin have supported Eren's rumbling plan?

Important takeaways

• 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 total destruction.
• Erwin's legacy as a leader suggests he would support a tempered rumble, using it as a deterrent, not an apocalyptic measure.

IN Attack on Titanleadership and morality are deeply intertwined themes where characters must make impossible choices in order to survive. Following the discovery of Marley and the outside world, the story tests the characters' resolve by questioning how far they would go to protect humanity. Although the method is different, leaders like Eren and Erwin have ideals pitted against each other; they share one aspect in common: giving up everything for an idea. The search for what concerns these characters reveals a reversal of personal and moral impasses where they find themselves.

One of the most exciting “what ifs” in Attack on Titan must be: if Erwin Smith had survived, if he would have supported Eren's controversial Rumbling plan or not. Much of his calculated ruthlessness was integral to many of the victories within the walls. The question is, does that pragmatism extend to a catastrophic move like the rumble? It's anyone's guess. Speculation will naturally drive one to examine the character of Erwin, his motivations, and what kind of reactions might come considering the threat from Marley.

Erwin's ideals and ruthlessness

A dream illuminated by his father's death

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

He often found himself in a gray moral area because of this quest to find the truth. Known for his sacrifices, Erwin weighed the greater good against his personal ambitions at every turn, just like Eren. In Erwin's case, any risk was worth taking fair play, even if it was the price of putting his comrades in danger. This wild ambition, crossing ethics, would later provide parallels to Eren's mindset towards the Marleyan threat.

Erwin and Eren's mindset

Knowing that sacrifice is necessary for success

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

In many ways, Erwin's mentality is similar to the determination Eren had in the later arcs of the series. Erwin never did anything as drastic as mass murder, but many of his plans involved sacrifices that were considered a no-go by most people's moral code. With Erwin's pragmatic nature in mind, he would probably see the Rumbling as the lesser of two evils, but how far he would go to accept that is still anyone's guess.

Would Erwin have supported the rumble?

A leader's calculations before total war

If Erwin had lived to find out about Marley's involvement and oppression of the Eldians, he may have adopted a more strategic approach to this new threat. His curiosity was finally quenched when he revealed Marley's existence; Perhaps Erwin's ambitions would have moved towards the safety of the Eldians without the need for total destruction. Instead of the rumble, he had a chance to create some kind of diplomacy or other method, as he had a great ability to observe situations in an overlooked way.

But at the same time, Erwin was a realist, and he knew that the Marleyans had nurtured and harbored hatred against the Eldians for generations. As such, he may have agreed to the rumble as a deterrent against further attacks, but not to Eren's proposed course of action to wipe out most of humanity. Therefore, Erwin probably presented a balancing argument, using the rumble more as leverage instead of an actual plan.

Erwin's reaction to Eren's actions

Guiding or confronting a former comrade

Eren's actions in the Rumbling, an extreme measure based on his desire to defend Paradise, may have garnered some empathy from Erwin. He may 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 opposed to the scope of Eren's plan and thus would have instead accommodated in its controlled use for purposes of balance rather than genocide.

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

How the result could have changed

Paradis and Eldia take a different path.

Had Erwin influenced Eren, the course of events i Attack on Titan would have been different. While Eren decided to go to full-scale war, Erwin would have steered the story towards a negotiation strategy that appealed to both Paradis and the outside world's interests. Perhaps with his strategic mind, Erwin could have solved the problem and saved Eldia without involving the world in chaos, thus tracing a new path towards peace.

Another example of this parallel universe would be whether or not Paradise needs to coexist in a state of tension where neither Marley nor the world ends up being completely destroyed. With Erwin at the helm, who would have led Paradis, there could have been as much preparation for the defense by making limited shows of force to shake them out of their diplomatic standstill to leave room for further alliances or agreements.

The potential impact on the rumbling plan

A leader torn between ideals and realities

Erwin's legacy as a calculated yet idealistic leader suggests that his approach is different than Eren's towards the Marley threat. Although he shared Eren's willingness to do whatever was necessary, Erwin's strategic nature and pursuit of knowledge may have led him toward a solution nowhere near as destructive. If Erwin had supported Eren, it would likely have been a hardened support aimed at using the rumbling as more of a deterrent than an apocalyptic endgame.

The question of Erwin's hypothetical participation in the Rumble is complex: would his belief in realistic approaches be willing to embrace Eren's plan, or would his ideals push him toward a more balanced approach? One thing fans can only speculate about, one thing remains clear: the presence of Erwin would have left an indelible mark on the story of Attack on Titan and perhaps led it to a fate far from what it actually faced.