Reiner Braun started out as a brotherly figure to many in the 104th Training Corps ofAttack on Titan, including Eren. However, when revealed to be the holder of the Armored Titan responsible for the breach of Wall Maria, he grew to be universally reviled among the Scouts. Driven nigh on insane by the guilt he held on to for his actions in the Marleyan operation to retake theFounding Titan from Paradis, Reiner was unable to reconcile his sense of duty with his ideals. His defeat at Shiganshina cemented this, where the sacrifices he made all proved to be in vain. The intense mental strain of this caused him to develop Dissociative Identity Disorder, where one part of him was a Marleyan Warrior, and the other was a soldier staunchly devoted to Paradis and its cause.
In the early stages ofAttack on Titan’sstory, Reiner was never given as much importance as the main trio. This changed completely after the time skip, when he was cast as the main protagonistfrom the Marleyan perspective. On learning more about his early struggles, especially his troubled relationship with his mother and absent father, he was cast in a whole new light. Reiner was a victim of the unfortunate circumstances he grew up in, and this is a recurring theme for a large part of the main cast. But, the choices he made were also of his own volition, and his resolve become a hero at any cost was responsible for a large part of the suffering he went through.
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Longing To Be A Hero
Born to an Eldian mother and a Marleyan father, Reiner grew up in the Liberio Internment Zone on the Marleyan mainland. He had no relationship with his father due to restrictions that prevented the two ethnic groups from interacting. Goaded by his mother to enlist in the army and become a Warrior, Reiner set his sights oninheriting the Power of the Titans, which would them Honorary Marleyan status. In the intense training that followed, Reiner toiled hard yet still remained far from his goals. After learning from Zeke Yeager, the holder of the Beast Titan, that there would be six new Warrior candidates who would inherit the Power of the Titans in preparation for an operation to retake the Founding Titan from inside the Walls of Paradis island, Reiner doubled up his efforts, spurred on by his desire to be the hero that would save his mother, Marley, and the world from Paradis.
Sadly, he still struggled more than the rest, and it was only the intervention of Marcel Galliard, who influenced the army to protect his brother Porco from inheriting the Armored Titan, that permitted him to realize his dream. Shortly afterward, Reiner attempted to make contact with his father, only to be turned away and called a “devil” once again. Now, to save his family and the world from thethreat posed by Paradis, Reiner readily took on the mission to retake the Founding Titan, and infiltrated the island’s civilization with Annie, Bertholdt, and Marcel in tow. Hence, Reiner’s savior complex was already quite strongly ingrained into his youthful persona from the very beginning.
The Cost Of His Misdeeds
When Marcel was eaten by Ymir’s pure Titan while trying to save Reiner, the latter resolved to become the leader of the group, and forced Annie and Bertholdt to continue their mission. After blending into the populace of the Walls, Reiner enlisted in the military. His time in the 104th Training Corps saw him form strong bonds with many among the group. Reiner and Bertholdt were almost caught by Marco Bott during the Battle of Trost, when they were overheard speaking about Eren’s transformation, and he commandedAnnie to disable Marco’s ODM gear, leaving him to be devoured by a pure Titan. Here, Reiner’s dissociative identity kicked in, leaving him perplexed about why Marco was being eaten.
After blowing his cover as the Armored Titan, Reiner attempted to capture Eren on two occasions, but fell short both times. The bond shared between the two was completely eroded by his betrayal, and Eren professed his vehement hatred for Reiner and Bertholdt. Even though Reiner initially dismissed this, Eren’s words exerted a massive burden on his mind, where his dissociation occurred at even more frequent intervals. By the time of the Battle of Shiganshina, Reiner has somewhat recovered from these episodes. Sadly, the loss ofBertholdt, the Colossal Titan, and any remaining hope of retrieving the Founding Titan at Shiganshina, led Reiner to become a desolate, beaten figure on returning to his family.
Atoning For His Sins
Where Reiner on Paradis was strong, reliable, amiable, and commanded respect, the Reiner encountered after the time skip is a broken figure. The only thing forcing him to endure is the sense of duty and love he feels towards his family and fellow soldiers. His closest family members even noted that he seemed like a completely different person on returning from the Marley Mid-East War.Haunted by his sins, Reiner sufferedfrom constant nightmares about his brushes with death, mixed with memories from his childhood, enhancing his negative self-image. Much like Eren, he charged into battle with a reckless abandon, desiring an honorable death. Reiner no longer resents his former comrades on Paradis, and almost sarcastically terms them “devils” while humanizing their way of life in front of anyone who asks him. He began to see Paradis' plight and even admitted his wrongdoings to Eren in Liberio. Over time, even his will to fight begins to erode.
Despite all this, he joins the Scouts and his other Marleyan comrades in mounting a counter-offensive against Eren to save the world, as it is his only option to ensure a future for his mother and remainder of his family in Liberio. Through the narrative, Reiner has been to hell and back, both proverbially and quite literally, but still retains his moral core,sense of reason, leadership qualities, and strategic acumen, even with all the heinous crimes and acts he has committed. While the prospect of redemption for such an individual is slim, he may yet find the closure and sense of peace he has so craved, proving that there is still hope for a happy end to the tragedy of Reiner inAttack on Titan.
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