Irene's Hatred vs. Thorfinn's Forgiveness: The Choice of Freedom

Key takeaways

• Eren's journey in Attack on Titan reflects the value of freedom in darkness.
• Thorfinn in the Vinland Saga transitions from revenge to forgiveness to a peaceful resolution.
• Fans are divided on Irene's methods versus Thorfinn's rise, which reflects contrasting views on freedom and justice.

Attack on Titan and The Vinland Saga Two stand out as staples in anime, each telling a story of survival, freedom and transformation. Set in a dystopian world overrun with titans, Attack on Titan Asking questions about the value of sacrifice, loyalty, and freedom, it immerses the audience in an evil society struggling to survive. Through Eren Yeager's journey, viewers are drawn into a story of despair—what happens when one person's drive for redemption becomes an all-consuming force. The Vinland SagaOn the other hand, takes its inspiration from Norse history as it follows the story of a young Viking warrior, Thorfin Karlsefni, whose path is shaped by the nefarious world of revenge and Viking raids.

These series are as deep and reflective as the epic, considering the cycle of violence and redemption in Thorfinn's search for peace and meaning. Both series excel at showing how extreme environments and struggles for self-determination shape their protagonists in ways that place them on different moral journeys. Eren and Thorfinn initially seem like two sides of the same coin, but as their stories progress they develop in opposite ways. Irene's obsession with freedom becomes a path to eternal destruction, while Thorfinn's path, born of a desire for revenge, gradually turns to forgiveness and personal peace. However, they both speak powerfully about the reflection of choices that define human resilience, morality, and the sense of freedom.

Opponent start

The seeds of hatred and forgiveness

Where their stories begin, Irene and Thorfinn are driven by feelings of loss and a longing for freedom. Eren's story begins with the trauma associated with her family and friends falling prey to monstrous titans, a rage that fuels her desire to destroy these creatures. This is why he hates the Titans and wants to eradicate them: only by destroying their enemies will mankind finally be safe and free. In these early moments, Eren's rage and his determination to free the Aldians from their oppressors leave little room for anything else.

Thorfinn, on the other hand, basically embarks on a deeply personal vendetta: after his father's murder, he seeks revenge against the man who killed him, Escalade. Despite all the anger and thirst for revenge, Thorfinn's journey is always linked to the hope of finding meaning beyond violence. His father planted the seeds in him for a peaceful life, which slowly develops in Thorfinn as he begins to see the futility of his revenge. Aside from Eren, Thorfinn's story begins with anger but is balanced by moments of introspection that eventually form the basis for his change of heart.

A huge role reversal

The destruction of Irene and the salvation of Thorfinn

As both characters develop, they undergo significant changes, taking them to opposite poles. Eren, once a symbol of humanity struggling for freedom, gradually set into a dark ideology where he thought the true salvation would be a world that did not oppose him. His struggle for freedom becomes more radical, which ultimately leads him to ruin and destruction. Bent on the destruction of his enemies, Eren's transformation reflects his conviction that survival depends on absolute mastery—to the point of becoming the monster he once feared.

If someone is willing to take my freedom, I will not hesitate to take theirs. – Eren Yeager

Thorfinn, on the other hand, transitions from hate to forgiveness. The results of years of bloodshed and personal suffering have disillusioned him with the circle of revenge. Finally, Thorfinn realizes that peace and freedom cannot be achieved through revenge. He adopts his father's philosophy: he forgives his enemies and tries to find a non-violent way. Essentially, at this point, Thorfinn's philosophy is the exact opposite of Irene's, as he discovers that true power lies not in destruction but in creating a world free of hate.

What the fans feel

Divided perspectives on development and ideology

Eren and Thorfinn's character developments have been highly debated in the anime community recently. Irene's supporters cite the fact that she dared to pursue her idea of ​​freedom, which is admirable, and that her fall to becoming the monster she swore to destroy was merely a thematic expression of how cruel the world is. Many fans believe that the realism in her character adds a layer to the show; His actions, as questionable as they may be, really emphasize how complex the setting is. Others, however, are appalled at how far Irene will go and cannot wholeheartedly support her methods. Irene's path has been one of controversial morality, testing viewers to see how much they should take in the name of freedom.

Thorfinn's transformation has been largely praised. How he came to a peaceful resolution earned him respect from fans for such an inspiring arc of personal redemption, though some felt they wished they had gotten their revenge and season 2. The Vinland Saga fell Thorfinn's journey of forgiveness speaks volumes to fans who appreciate those themes of growth and emotional healing. However, some have criticized his rejection of violence in the world as somewhat naive The Vinland SagaMost fans hail her change as hope in a world filled with violence. The two fan reactions contrast the different messages that each character's journey ultimately sends about the nature of freedom and justice.

An imaginary meeting

Eren and Thorfinn face to face

If Irene and Thorfinn were to meet, their reactions would depend on their starkly contrasting ideologies. In this case, Irene is a firm believer in eliminating threats to ensure freedom. Thus, he would have viewed Thorfinn's pacifist beliefs as weak or perhaps worthless. Irene's relentless efforts to eradicate her enemies will make Thorfinn's philosophy of forgiveness impractical for a world as cruel as theirs. For Eren, Thorfinn's ideals can be seen as naive and in direct contrast to the way he understands power and existence.

Hear me, Thorfinn. You have no enemies. No one has an enemy. There is no one to hurt you. — Thor's Snorreson

Thorfinn will likely respond with an empathetic ear to her pain and trauma, which only increases the hatred within Irene. Knowing full well the value of vengeance, Thorfinn certainly wants to approach Irene and ask her to reconsider her actions towards the path of peace. This meeting will bring together their two opposing philosophies: Irene's relentless pursuit of freedom through destruction and Thorfinn's quest to break the cycle of violence. Presumably, Thorfinn feels pity for Irene rather than anger, because in her he sees his own reflection when he finds no peace.

Freedom to choose

Irene and Thorfinn's journey actually details an important stage in the journey to freedom: the 'choice'. Both characters begin their stories in a world that takes away their autonomy and react to it like personal values ​​and each of them finds themselves within. Eren chose the path of destruction—the only way he could ever be free—and that was by destroying all his enemies. Thorfinn, on the other hand, realizes that freedom embraces hatred and forgiveness even in a world filled with violence.

Ultimately, it turns out that Irene and Thorfinn's stories will prove to be powerful explorations in the name of freedom, revenge and personal growth. In their divergent paths, fans are reminded that freedom is not only a matter of choice, but also of bravery—to confront and redefine beliefs. For fans of Attack on Titan and The Vinland SagaRespectively, the two titles depict a personality across a broad spectrum of human emotions and resilience, offering a fascinating look at how the desire for freedom can lead individuals down very different paths.