Also, Eren is still just a kid he hasn't finished developing mentally yet. But, from a young age he was forced to endure hardships and trauma. From watching so many people including his loved ones be killed. Being a child soldier. Killing titans only to find out they are Eldians and the "enemy" was someone unknown to him. Having to eat his own dad. Being subjected to memories of both his predecessors and successors. The boys been through it and I can't help but sympathize with him
Same. IMO nothing can justify genocide but it’s important to understand why he is doing it.
As for Mikasa and Armin wanting Eren to come back to them, it’s more in the sense of wanting Eren to remind himself of his humanity and that he is just human. He doesn’t have to do this. Just like Ymir- she believed she was a slave, that she wasn’t human (like how Eren believes himself to be a monster). They both abandoned their humanity, and both are the biggest sinners of this story but also the biggest victims.
Eren’s “what am I to you”, was essentially him searching for a reason to stay human. Which is why Mikasa says that a different answer could’ve changed everything. Eren reminded Ymir that she was just a human being, freeing her, someone enslaved for 2000 yrs. And Mikasa/Armin need to do that to Eren now.
Even though Armin, Mikasa and them are holding out hope that Eren will come back to them he really can't anymore. In his decision to kill the rest of the world it like he's protecting his people. If he stops what he's doing there will be even more hate and animosity directed towards them. Which would lead the people of Paradis to either be wiped out completely like the outside world wanted or something else equally as bad. So his decision is an all or nothing one and he chose to go the all route.
We could see people regretting their treatment of Eldians but at the same time is the regret because they truly feel bad or because it's kind of karma? Don't get me wrong the ancient Eldians did do some messed up things. But for hundreds of years the outside world subjected them to a lot of pain and torment when majority of Paradis had no clue about the truth or why.
Does this mean a mass genocide is warranted? Honestly I'm conflicted. On one hand killing so many people "innocent" or not is messed up and people can't choose to play God. On another hand it's been hundreds of years but, they never once thought about stopping until it was too late for them. Also, he wants freedom for himself/Paradis but also kills other Eldians from outside the walls. How does he discern who does and does not deserve to die. The same thing goes for the people who wanted and did kill Eldians in the first place because how can regular people decide that an entire race of people should be wiped out and be okay with it.
We are aware that one sided history and boiling something down to something less than human and using fear is a powerful thing. People pitted against each other defined by their differences can hate because they refuse to look eye to eye. We can see this internal conflict in people like Reiner or Gabi. I makes people feel better not knowing the enemy because it won't make you feel as guilty and is used to comfort a person. Do I know where this point is going no I don't. moving on...
Of course the main reason for me being conflicted is this, in the end, is fiction. The concept of gaining freedom and revenge for people in theory is very enticing to read about. But, the morality of the method used is wrong. I cheer for the character that I know most about because I understand them and their suffering/inner turmoil better than I would a character with a few lines or one that appears in a couple panels.
And no matter what the ending we are aware most of our main characters will die soon. Either due to the fatal injuries they have received or the fact that having titan powers comes with a time limit that for most of these characters will soon run out.