Armin is one of the main characters in the popular anime and manga series Attack on Titan. He is known for being highly intelligent and strategic, but also emotionally sensitive at times. Throughout the series, there are several notable instances where Armin is seen crying in response to difficult or emotional situations. Looking at the context around these moments can help shed light on why this character is prone to such emotional displays.
Armin’s Personality
To understand why Armin cries so readily, it’s important to first understand his overall personality and character traits. Some key facts about Armin include:
- He is very kind, gentle, and empathetic – he deeply cares about his friends.
- He tends to avoid fighting and violence when possible, preferring to take a more strategic approach.
- He is extremely intelligent and analytical, able to quickly size up situations and develop plans.
- However, he often lacks self-confidence and can be insecure at times.
- He is loyal to his friends and dedicated to their shared cause, but also deeply values life.
So in summary, Armin is a compassionate and intellectual character who dislikes violence. But he also has an emotional side and can lack confidence in himself. This combination of traits makes him more prone to strong emotional reactions, including tears, when faced with difficult situations.
Moments When Armin Cries
Throughout Attack on Titan, there are several pivotal moments when Armin is seen crying. Looking at the context around these scenes provides more insights into the triggers for his tears. Some of the most notable examples include:
When He Was Bullied as a Child
Early in the series, there are flashbacks showing Armin being bullied as a child. In one scene, a group of bullies is beating him up and accusing him of wasting their taxes on useless books. A young Armin starts crying from the pain and insult. This shows that even from a young age, he was very sensitive and disliked violence or cruelty directed at him. The bullying likely added to his insecurities.
When He Was Almost Abandoned During the Battle of Trost
During the fierce Battle of Trost, Armin and the other cadets are in danger of being killed by Titans. The group becomes overwhelmed and some suggest leaving Armin behind since he’s physically weak. This frightens and upsets Armin to the point of tears. He does not want to die and realizes his weaknesses may threaten his dream of seeing the outside world. It’s a traumatic moment that reveals his fears and vulnerabilities.
When He Was Forced to Fight Annie
Later in the battle, Armin realizes their foe Annie is really the Female Titan in disguise. Even though Annie is threatening his friends, Armin is very reluctant to fight her. When forced to confront her, he pleads for Annie to stop while crying heavily. Despite everything, he hates having to use violence against a former friend. But he must get involved to protect others. It’s an agonizing moral dilemma for the peace-loving Armin.
When He Was Nearly Killed by Bertholdt
During a pivotal battle, Armin is grabbed and severely burned by the traitor Bertholdt, leaving Armin charred and on the brink of death. As he lays dying from his wounds, Armin breaks down sobbing from the intense pain and fear of death. It is an incredibly traumatic moment of helplessness that understandably overwhelms him.
When He Had to Let Erwin Die
Later, Armin is chosen over Commander Erwin to be revived by the Titan serum. While grateful, he sobs bitterly over the sacrifice of Erwin for his sake. He feels guilty that his friend and mentor had to die so he could live. This choice weighed heavily on the sensitive Armin, even though it was necessary for the greater good.
When He Was Forced to Kill to Save Falco
In the Marley arc, Armin disguises himself as a wounded soldier. When confronted by suspicious soldiers, he is forced to kill them to protect his cover and his friend Falco. Taking lives traumatized the peaceful Armin, reducing him to tears even though it was unavoidable. It went against his nature.
When He Learned About Sasha’s Death
Upon learning of Sasha’s death, Armin can be seen crying with the rest of his Survey Corps teammates. Despite his intelligence, he never gets used to losing friends and comrades in their fight for freedom. Each death still hits him hard emotionally.
Why Armin Cries: Analysis
Looking at all these key moments, some clear explanations emerge for why Armin cries so often when under duress:
- He is extremely empathetic – he feels things very deeply, especially any suffering by his friends or innocents. Cruelty affects him strongly.
- He is often faced with no-win situations – where there is no choice but to sacrifice lives or principles he values deeply.
- He often feels helpless or powerless – unable to change terrible outcomes or save lives due to his physical weakness.
- He suffers from anxiety and insecurity – he lacks confidence and fears death, letting people down, or failing to achieve his dreams.
- He experiences trauma and pain – he is faced with violence, death, moral dilemmas that overwhelm his sensitive spirit.
In short, Armin cries frequently because he is an emotionally vulnerable character facing an endless string of traumatic and heart-wrenching scenarios. He is psychologically distressed from the nightmarish situation of having to fight human-eating monsters and former friends to the death. Beneath his genius intellect, he has the fragile heart of a gentle boy who was never meant to withstand such horrors.
His Crying Shows His Humanity
While some may see Armin’s propensity to cry as a weakness, in many ways it represents his humanity and compassion. He serves as the moral compass of his group of friends. His tears demonstrate that even in impossibly cruel situations, he has held onto his empathy and care for human life.
Other characters like Eren and Mikasa have hardened themselves more to the violence and losses around them. But Armin refuses to abandon his principles, hoping for a future of understanding between enemies. He stands for maintaining one’s morality even in difficult times. In that sense, his emotional sincerity and tears are a strength, not a weakness.
His Crying Rallies Others to Keep Fighting
Armin’s visible pain also serves to remind others of what they are fighting for. His honest emotions motivate Eren and Mikasa to keep striving for their shared dream of freedom and discovery outside the walls. They fight on so they can live in a world where Armin and others will never have to cry again.
So while heartbreaking to see, Armin’s tears also renew the commitment of his comrades to end the cycle of violence plaguing their world. They inspire others to fight on his behalf, making his sensitivity a driving force for change. Armin’s empathy and humanity fuel the efforts of the Survey Corps.
His Tears Show He is Still Holding On to Hope
The fact that after all the trauma he has experienced Armin still cries demonstrates that he has not given up hope or lost his humanity like so many other characters in the brutal world of Attack on Titan. He still visualizes a better future.
If Armin had become cold and desensitized, he would have lost what makes him indispensable to his friends. The fact his spirit is shaken but not broken means he can still lead them forward with his strategic mind and moral guidance. His tears water the seeds of optimism needed to sustain them.
Conclusion
Armin’s crying may seem like a weakness, but it represents his greatest strengths – his humanity, empathy, and hope. His tears highlight the emotional cost of the ongoing fight for survival and freedom. They show the pain of confronting heartbreaking choices and trauma again and again.
Yet he cries because he still believes deep down that one day, there will be a world without walls, Titans, or need for tears. He represents the resilience of the human spirit clinging to good in the face of overwhelming darkness. And his friends draw strength from that bright flame within him, motivating them to build a better future.
So while sad to see, Armin’s tears are a crucial reminder of why the characters and humanity itself must keep moving forward, no matter the pain and heartache. They are still searching for meaning in a world of trauma. And Armin’s emotive sincerity helps light the way.