Why Did Reiner And Bertholdt Attack The Wall

Okay, friends, settle in, grab a snack, because we're diving deep into the burning question that's probably kept you up at night more than that questionable dating app profile: Why. Did. Reiner. And. Bertholdt. Attack. The. Wall?!

It’s like trying to figure out why your cat suddenly decided your favorite houseplant was Public Enemy Number One. There's a reason, even if it seems totally bonkers at first glance. And trust me, figuring out Reiner and Bertholdt's motivations is a bit like untangling a ball of yarn after a kitten got ahold of it.

The Simplest (But Not Entirely Satisfying) Answer

Let’s start with the super basic, surface-level answer: They were on a mission. A mission from their homeland, Marley, to retrieve the Founding Titan. Think of it like going to the grocery store for milk, but the milk is a powerful, reality-bending Titan that could save (or doom) your entire civilization. High stakes, right?

Marley wanted the Founding Titan back because, well, possessing a Titan with that kind of power is like having the ultimate cheat code in a video game. It gives you leverage, control, and the ability to potentially squash your enemies like bugs. And Marley definitely had some bug-squashing in mind. They were gearing up for war, you see.

But Wait, There's More! (The Complicated Stuff)

Now, if that was all there was to it, we could all go home and binge-watch cat videos. But things are never that simple, are they? Enter the warrior candidates. Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie (and later, Zeke) were children brainwashed... sorry, trained... from a young age to become warriors. They were essentially child soldiers, told that Eldians within the walls were devils who needed to be punished.

Imagine being told your whole life that everyone on the other side of the street is secretly plotting against you and that the only way to protect yourself is to strike first. That's kind of the situation these kids were in. Marley used propaganda to demonize the people within the walls, making it easier for these young recruits to justify their actions. It's not an excuse, mind you, but it provides some context.

The Psychological Damage (And Reiner's Messed Up Head)

Here's where it gets really interesting (and by interesting, I mean incredibly tragic). Reiner, in particular, started to crack under the pressure. Living among the people he was supposed to despise, he began to develop a sort of split personality. He started identifying with his "soldier" persona, genuinely caring for his comrades in the Survey Corps. This created a massive internal conflict, like trying to decide between pizza and tacos…except the stakes were way, WAY higher.

His actions can be seen as an attempt to reconcile these conflicting identities. On one hand, he had his mission from Marley, ingrained in him since childhood. On the other, he had formed genuine bonds with people he was supposed to see as enemies. It was a recipe for a serious mental breakdown, and let's be honest, the dude was already operating on fumes.

Bertholdt: The Reluctant Participant?

Bertholdt, on the other hand, seemed to be more of a follower. He was deeply loyal to Reiner, and while he clearly struggled with the morality of their actions, he mostly went along with the plan. Think of him as the friend who always agrees to your crazy ideas, even though he secretly knows they're going to end badly. He just wants to support his buddy! Bless his heart. He was probably thinking, "Okay, Reiner wants to break down a wall... sure, why not? What could possibly go wrong?" (Spoiler alert: EVERYTHING went wrong).

In Conclusion: A Confusing Mix of Circumstances

So, why did they attack the wall? In a nutshell:

a combination of Marleyan propaganda, childhood indoctrination, a desperate mission to retrieve the Founding Titan, and one dude's serious identity crisis.

It's a messy, complicated, and tragic story, but it's what makes Attack on Titan so compelling. It's not just about good guys versus bad guys; it's about the gray areas of morality, the consequences of war, and the devastating impact of propaganda on young minds.

And hey, at least we finally have some answers! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hug my cat and thank her for not trying to destroy any walls today.