Historia vs. Humanity

No, the title is not a commentary on her current popularity.

I really dig 65 for Historia’s development. You can argue that I have a soft spot for anything she does that involves bringing out her angry eyes, but–actually, that’s entirely true. Though thankfully irrelevant in this case.

What I loved about the unholy mess is that Historia takes a stand for herself.

She doesn’t let her father make his excuses to Kenny for setting her up to eat her pal; she claims the mission he’s landed in her lap for her own.

“What’s so sad… about becoming a Titan and saving all of humanity? […] Yes… I’m going to eat Eren! And I’m bringing my sister back! Then I’ll inherit this world’s history, and–I’m going to wipe this world clean of the Titans!! That is my mission!!”

It’s quite the statement, and the most assertive language Historia’s used since making her oath to Ymir to live for themselves.

Better yet, she isn’t regarding it as a role. It would be incredibly simple to look at it through that lens; indeed, Krista Lenz would jump at the opportunity to play the savior of all mankind.

This is Historia speaking, though. People don’t get parts to play, they take actions. And for better or worse (does anyone see this ending remotely well?), this is what she’s picked.

How did that happen?

“We both live in this absurd world! …Where if we don’t do something, we’ll lose everything! We don’t have time to feel conflicted. Right now, Armin’s taking on a dangerous mission as your body double. Shouldn’t you be more worried about him?”

“…Sorry. But to be honest, I don’t see why.”–Eren and Historia, 54

Considering that the world has been overtaken by giant cannibals, it seems like a fairly natural conclusion that anyone with the power to eliminate them would have some interest in getting rid of them. It seems even more natural that a person who joined the Survey Corps would have that interest up to eleven.

Jean has clear reasons for joining up. Sasha and Connie also take the plunge and go back to facing the threat that plagues humanity. Ymir is following Kristoria.

Kristoria considers joining the Survey Corps to be Historia’s decision–a decision which conveniently serves for Krista Lenz to die a noble death.

I like Historia, but her interest in humanity as a whole has this tendency to come up in self-serving situations.

“My father… has always been, and will always be… an ally to all of humanity left behind inside these walls. We had misunderstood him. Yes, he may have gotten in the way of the Survey Corps… and he may have had Minister Nick and the Reeves men killed. But he didn’t have any other choice. It was all… what he had to do for humanity’s sake.” –Historia, 62



“Please, you have to believe me! I’m telling the truth! Ymir revealed who she is in order to fight the Titans and save us! She set aside her own life! She showed loyalty to us as her comrades! It’s true that she was wrong… She’s guilty of hiding information of the utmost importance to humanity.“ –Kristoria, 42

She needs to talk Eren into going with Rod’s plans? Humanity. Ymir’s safety is at risk? Humanity.

And then there’s her with Kenny, in 65.

”Ah… Historia… you poor thing… You have to understand now, right? After what he told you. This old man is trying to turn you into a monster… and make you eat Eren.“

[…]

”What’s so sad… about becoming a Titan and saving all of humanity?“

In other words: Kenny expressing pity for her and calling her chosen mission into question? Humanity.

It’s become a pattern in Historia’s behavior that she’ll bring up humanity as a way to win over other people, and it’s one that I’ve noticed and enjoyed–

–and I think I’ve possibly been giving it a little too much credit.

Without a doubt, it will always amuse me that Historia’s reaction to defending her father, Ymir, and herself is to play the humanity card. She very literally doesn’t bring it up often, so having all of the instances she uses the word except one being about excusing someone’s behavior is amusing.

That, put together with her complete indifference during the undercover operation, not to mention the definite priority Ymir’s life has over mankind, left me with the impression that Historia doesn’t care all that much about humanity in the grand scheme of things.

Except, there’s that one time that she brings up humanity without trying to provide someone with an excuse.

”‘Which’? Are you trying to say that Ymir might be an enemy of humanity?“–Krista, 41

It comes during Utgard, in response to Connie wondering about Ymir’s motivations.

This could be jammed into the pattern without much difficulty–Connie is coming close to accusing Ymir of treason, and asking directly if that’s what he means could be read as a defense. I think I’ve actually done that.

It isn’t a hard sell, really. It’s by far the weakest way she’s used humanity as a shield, if that’s to be the case, but Ymir’s reveal does shake her faith in their bond quite a bit. A subpar start of a defense could be considered the best she has to offer.

Or she’s a soldier asking a question.

”Ymir saw the real me… the me that chose the Survey Corps. The me that even I didn’t know about.“–Historia, 54

With all the recent chaos of Historia as an empty shell being guided along by her father, I haven’t really been questioning how Historia the Scout came to be. However, with her declaration this chapter, I’m coming back round to thoughts I had early last year.

Back then, I wanted to believe that taking on the role of queen was Historia’s choice, and considering that the part of a soldier felt like the only shred of an identity that she could lay claim to, it made sense that maybe that shred was real enough that she could play a queen out of her obligation as a soldier.

With all of the dread Rod brought to Historia’s development, I forgot the core of the idea.

This chapter makes me think I should have held on to it a bit more.

The Survey Corps calls to Historia Reiss, not Krista Lenz.

She joins up at the height of Krista’s presentation. Krista has her own reason to go with them.

Yet Historia Reiss gets the credit for it.

As a soldier, Historia’s declaration this chapter doesn’t need any kind of explanation. She’s a member of the Survey Corps; it’s her duty to serve humanity.

One of the perils of writing about a series as it comes out is that each new installment feels like the be-all/end-all. New developments can override existing characteristics, and before you know it, you’re ignoring some of the material that came earlier.

Historia makes it easy to fall into that trap because of her identity fun, and one exchange managed to completely slip my mind.

”Ymir… I want to stay here and do everything I can. I mean… I decided to join the Survey Corps on my own.“–Kristoria, 37

Because this line (as well as subsequent ones regarding the state of the walls during Utgard) comes from when Krista was the dominant personality, I largely wrote it off; Krista the good girl should naturally be a good soldier.

But Historia sincerely valuing her status as a soldier actually makes sense. Approval is gained objectively through following orders, and those orders are for the betterment of the world (in theory).

Krista and Historia have their differences, but Krista is still Historia’s creation. She’s formed so that no one can argue that Historia’s existence is a blight on the world. From there, it isn’t too much of a stretch to think that Historia would find great value in improving the world.

Granted, I still think that she throws the humanity card around because she knows it works, but knowing how to take advantage of a value doesn’t mean you can’t have it.

Hell, being intimately familiar with something makes it easier to manipulate it.

Running with the idea that being a soldier actually means something to Historia, not only does the force behind the desire to eliminate the Titans make sense–her terming it as a mission also falls in line with a soldier’s behavior.

Back when Historia was facing the task of being queen, she called it a role. Now, she’s looking at taking Eren’s place as humanity’s hope, and it’s a mission.

What changed?

”All I have now… are some vague facts about my birth, and a huge role that I don’t see myself remotely cut out for.“–Historia, 54

Those are the identifying factors of Historia the empty shell–the Historia who’s lost Ymir.

Now, though?

She’s met her father properly. She knows more than vague facts about her birth. She knows more than vague facts about her family.

She knows her sister.

She still has a huge role.

But this isn’t one that her blood cages her in; this, her blood promises some measure of success in.

Historia’s never had any kind of security in herself as a person. She’s lacked the foundation for it. But now, she’s looking at her family, and looking at its history, and finding a place for herself in it.

This isn’t a role; this is who she is, and she can make something of it.

There are all kinds of negative implications in her, once again, forming an identity based around other people, but I think there’s a definite difference between being who people want you to be and discovering that you can thrive in the world you’ve tripped into.

Historia’s chosen to eat Eren and save the world. Because she’s a Reiss, because she’s a soldier, and because the two of those together mean that this is her mission.

Eren thinks he didn’t need to happen. Historia’s been stuck in that hell for most of her life, and here’s something that unquestionably validates her existence.

(Depending on how much of a terrible person Rod actually is… well. I don’t think he’d like his bastard daughter when she’s angry and he’s bite-sized.)

If I had to guess how she thinks of the decision, I would imagine that all of that is beneath the surface, though.

I think her decision started with knowing that she could have her sister back.

I mean. Her speech is badass and all, but the first thing to do after eating Eren is bringing back Frieda.

Historia is a very self-interested character. As a soldier, she might care and fight for humanity, but, you know, the second Ymir asks for her to come along with traitors to humanity, she’s siding with Ymir.

I think she needs the personal interest to boost the rest of her into fighting shape.

”No matter how hard it gets… you always know what you want. It’s not just you. Everyone’s that way… they all have something important enough to them that they’d risk their lives for it.“–Historia, 54

Historia wants something, now.

She wants her sister back, and once that flame gets started… It wasn’t going to be a contained blaze. Historia has never been as empty as she thinks, and now that one desire has set her will on fire, bringing back the soldier–and adding the new Reiss familiarity to it.