Eren Yeager is the main protagonist of the popular anime and manga series Attack on Titan. He is known for his passionate hatred of the titans that have terrorized humanity and his fierce determination to defeat them. However, one of the most puzzling aspects of Eren’s character is his claim that he hates Mikasa Ackerman, who is one of his closest childhood friends. At various points in the story, Eren declares his hatred of Mikasa, which seems very much at odds with their close bond. In this article, we will analyze the possible reasons behind Eren’s declarations of hatred toward Mikasa.
Mikasa’s Overprotectiveness
One of the main reasons why Eren claims to hate Mikasa is her overprotectiveness toward him. After Eren and Mikasa’s parents were killed by human traffickers, Mikasa came to live with Eren’s family. She became extremely protective of Eren, to the point of wrapping a scarf around him and vowing to never leave his side.
While Mikasa’s protectiveness stems from a place of love and caring, Eren often finds it stifling. He wants to take risks and charge into danger, whereas Mikasa is constantly trying to hold him back and keep him out of harm’s way. Eren’s declaration that he hates Mikasa is often a response to her attempts to stop him from taking action.
Key Moments of Conflict
Some key moments when Eren lashed out at Mikasa due to her overprotectiveness include:
| Scene | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Battle of Trost | Mikasa tries to persuade Eren not to use his Titan powers as it’s too dangerous. |
| Expedition outside the walls | Mikasa argues against Eren joining the Survey Corps expedition. |
| Fight with War Hammer Titan | Mikasa pleads with Eren not to engage the War Hammer Titan alone. |
In all these instances, Eren angrily shrugs off Mikasa’s concern and declares his hatred for her coddling behavior. He sees it as a lack of faith in his skills and an affront to his dignity.
Clashing Temperaments
Another source of conflict between Eren and Mikasa is their radically different temperaments. Eren is hot-headed, reckless, and quick to action. Mikasa is calm, cautious, and calculated. These opposing personality traits often lead to arguments and resentment.
Eren finds Mikasa’s composure and restraint frustrating, especially when he feels the situation calls for immediate action. Her patience and insistence on thinking things through clash with his fiery, impulsive nature.
When Eren hurls insults like “I’ve always hated you” at Mikasa, it’s often when she is trying to curb his recklessimpulses. He lashes out due to their clashing outlooks.
Key Personality Differences
| Eren | Mikasa |
|---|---|
| Hot-headed | Calm |
| Reckless | Cautious |
| Impulsive | Calculated |
These core temperamental differences are a major source of friction that drives Eren’s harsh statements toward Mikasa.
Jealousy Toward Mikasa’s Strength
Mikasa is widely considered to be the strongest soldier among the Survey Corps, despite being an Omega and the only Oriental. She consistently outperforms Eren, who is an Alpha. Some fans speculate that Eren’s claims of hatred are rooted in jealousy of Mikasa’s superior abilities.
As a headstrong youth, Eren wants to be the bold hero who saves everyone. But often Mikasa is the one protecting Eren and others with her phenomenal skills. Furthermore, she does so with a cool detachment, whereas Eren tends to fight with reckless abandon.
This envy of Mikasa’s effortless strength may deal a blow to Eren’s pride. His putdowns could be an expression of insecurity and bitterness at being overshadowed. Declaring his hatred is a way to downplay Mikasa’s importance and assuage his own wounded ego.
Mikasa’s Key Strengths
| Strength | Description |
|---|---|
| Combat skill | Master of ODM gear maneuvers and blade work |
| Composure | Calm and focused in the heat of battle |
| Protectiveness | Fiercely protective of Eren despite her Omega status |
Mikasa’s prodigious skills outshine Eren, fueling his resentment.
Masking Deeper Feelings
There is also a theory that Eren’s professed hatred actually masks deeper feelings he has for Mikasa. Some fans speculate Eren harbors romantic feelings for Mikasa but is in denial about them.
As an immature and temperamental youth, Eren deals poorly with the softer emotions like love and affection. Hostility and rejection are defense mechanisms when he feels vulnerable. Declaring his hatred could be a means of burying and avoiding confronting his true emotions.
There are hints of Eren’s repressed feelings, like when he falsely claims the scarf Mikasa always wears is useless to hide the fact he treasures it. Over time, he potentially comes to recognize the motivation behind his cruelty was just fear of acknowledging his love.
Possible Hints at Hidden Feelings
| Scene | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Giving Mikasa the scarf | Young Eren wraps the scarf around Mikasa in a protective gesture |
| Battle of Trost | Eren screams when he thinks Mikasa has died |
| Saving Mikasa | Eren loses control and unleashes Titan powers when Mikasa is in peril |
These moments indicate Eren may care for Mikasa deeply but struggles to process those feelings.
Conclusion
Eren Yeager’s declarations of hatred toward his devoted friend Mikasa seem oddly contradictory. However, analyzing the context of those statements hints at the possible motivations behind them. Mikasa’s overprotectiveness, contrasting personalities, jealousy of her skills, and concealed feelings are all likely factors. Still immature and temperamental, Eren deals poorly with vulnerability and deflects confronting his true emotions. But there are subtle signs that his harsh words may ultimately stem from a place of care, even if Eren himself does not recognize it yet. Their complex bond and Eren’s inner tumult will continue to drive the drama of this riveting series.