From his first appearance, Jean Kirschtein’s intentions for joining the military were always quite clear. Initially pitted as a quasi-rival for Eren, whose traits directly contradicted those ofAttack on Titan’sprotagonist, Jean’s character saw considerable development throughout the series, transforming from a pragmatist to a strong-willed man of action and a capable leader. Emerging as acentral figure among the Scouts, whose ability to read situations objectively has saved lives on multiple occasions, the more brash aspects of Jean’s personailty were refined with time and experience, as he grew into his role as one of the division’s authoritative figures.
While he was not always the most aggressive combatant or the most adept at using ODM gear when compared to the likes of Levi or Mikasa — even if his abilities were far above average — Jean more than made up for it with quick thinking, wits, and his innate leadership capabilities. His initial hot-headedness and burgeoning rivalry with Eren took a back seat to his development as a soldier, and his initial resistance to the more idealistic viewpoints shared by certain members of the Scouts was tempered by his growing self-confidence, as well as the intense belief and trust he developed in his closest comrades. All in all, Jean has come a long way sincethe 104th Training Corps arcwhere he was first introduced, going on to become a favorite among fans ofAttack on Titan.
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Yearning For A Comfortable Life
From the outset, Jean openly declared his disdain for those who were ready to join the Survey Corps. His reasoning behind enlisting in the military was clear, where his sole desire was to join the Military Police Regiment on graduating, so he could lead a safe life in the interior, far away from the threat of the Titans. Always opposed to putting himself in life-threatening situations, Jean prioritized his own safety along with that of his comrades, rejecting any notion of heroism, and plainly stating that he had little interest in being a martyr for thecause of humanity inside the Walls.
Naturally, this caused him to butt heads withEren and his more optimistic outlookon dealing with the Titans, where the two even came to blows at one point. Conversely, on witnessing the horrors of facing Titans in real life or death scenarios, particularly during the Battle of Trost, Jean grew to see the importance of venturing outside the Walls to gain more ground and learn about the Titans. After graduating 6th in his class, Jean also enlisted in the Survey Corps, much like the rest of the 104th Training Corps, who would all go on to become major players in Paradis' struggle for survival.
A Calculating Cynic
Even during his days as a cadet, Jean’s pragmatism and aversion to danger were noted by many of his comrades, most notably by the late Marco Bott. According to him, Jean’s pessimistic outlook allowed him to assess situations, prepare for the worst, and chart out ways to navigate tricky challenges with minimum risk, even against themost formidable of foes. Jean’s awareness of his own flaws made him look at circumstances without prejudice or excessive optimism. He was always able to account for the strengths and weaknesses of his comrades and make quick, informed decisions in clutch moments.
Jean was also ready to exploit the deaths of some of his comrades during the Battle of Trost, an act that even horrified him, leading him to question his own allegiances and moral principles. Despite this, he is loyal to his friends and comrades to an absolute fault, and readily prioritizes their safety over all else. Additionally, Jean also subconsciously hesitated while attempting to shoot Falco during the raid on Liberio, proving that his strong moral code persists even after the time skip. Ever cautious and perpetually inquisitive, Jean is not one toback down from voicing his opinionsor using his smarts to gain more insight into a situation. Although not as much of a gambler as the likes of Erwin or Armin, Jean does take calculated risks when necessary, and has been a voice of reason to both his former Commander and Armin.
A Natural Leader
An aspect of Jean’s personality that often flies under the radar is his ability to inspire everyone around him and lift their spirits when necessary, even in the most dire circumstances. He is readily able to put his own fear away as his will to survive and endure is extremely strong. Jean has been able to rally his fellow soldiers and spur them on in completing their objectives, first seen in the Battle of Trost, where many among the 104th Training Corps came of age. A strong voice, constantly demanding to be kept in the loop during operations, so he can plan and make adjustments to his strategies, Jean is often looking at the bigger picture and thinking one step ahead.
His willingness to put the greater good above his own life also begins to flourish in due time. This extends to a point where is willing to perform roles such as that of Eren’s body double during the Uprising arc, hisoffer to inherit the Attack Titanduring the time skip, his concerns about civilian casualties during the raid on Liberio, and finally, his readiness to charge into battle against Eren. When considering that the latter now possesses thefull power of the Founding Titan, and is also at the head of avast army of Wall Titanstrampling everything in their path, Jean’s trajectory as a character is nothing short of astounding. If not for Armin, there is little doubt that Jean would have been next in line to become Commander of the Scouts, for he is now a figure whose stature amongAttack on Titan’smain cast belongs to the highest order.
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