September 23, 2024
Attack on Titan | What Happened to Ymir Fritz | Ending Explained
In this article, we’re explaining exactly what happened to Ymir Fritz in Attack on Titan and how she achieved her freedom after two thousand years.
>Buy: Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
Buy: Attack On Titan Merchandise & Gifts
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After being a slave for two thousand years, Ymir Fritz found her savior and got her freedom at the end of Attack on Titan. She finally let go of King Fritz, choosing to love herself before loving anyone else - something Mikasa Ackerman showed her how to do.
Ymir Fritz’s History
From a young age, Ymir lived as a slave serving King Fritz, the mad ruler of Eldia, who treated her harshly and later pursued her for a mistake she had made. Ymir was never regarded as a human being but an expendable tool, existing merely to serve the Eldian Empire. In other words, Ymir was considered entirely worthless.
However, her worth increased exponentially the day she came in touch with the alien entity that turned her into the first Titan ever - the Founding Titan. Following this transformation, King Fritz's treatment of Ymir changed, and he even displayed a hint of affection by granting her the gift of three children.
This didn't change things dramatically as the king's behavior remained ignorant, focused solely on harnessing and preserving Ymir's Titan powers. While his madness didn't know any limits, Ymir held an unexplainable love for him, remaining devoted and ultimately sacrificing herself to save the king's life.
To remain close to the people she cared for, Ymir created the paths - Attack on Titan’s “afterlife” where all Eldians were connected. Within this space, she dutifully continued serving the king, preserving the Titans' abilities for over two thousand years.
Ymir's Involvement in the Rumbling
Being a slave for that long, Ymir had always obeyed others and hadn’t even tried to change the world she lived in. Fortunately, Eren Yeager - a boy who yearned for change - gained the powers of the Founder. By activating these powers, with the help of Zeke Yeager, Eren started the Rumbling, commanding countless Colossal Titans on a mission to wipe out his and Ymir’s enemies.
While Ymir didn't control the Rumbling, she still played a big role by doing things that indirectly led Eren to start this gruesome act. However, in the final battle of Attack on Titan, Armin and Mikasa defeated Eren, halting the Rumbling and liberating Ymir Fritz.
How Did Mikasa Liberate Ymir Fritz?
Ymir recognized a parallel between her own and Mikasa's circumstances, selecting Mikasa to be her savior. In comparison, both Mikasa and Ymir were women who loved individuals perceived as threats to the world. Their bonds were so strong that even if their affection caused them pain, they still chose these people, no matter what.
In the final chapter of this story by Hajime Isayama, Mikasa made an incredibly hard decision. She set aside her love and committed the most difficult act—she killed Eren. Ymir, on the other hand, made the opposite decision, prioritizing the king’s life over hers. Mikasa's act of freeing herself from Eren's influence served as a liberation from those "shackles," demonstrating to Ymir that making the morally correct choice is possible.
Shortly after Mikasa killed Eren, Ymir acknowledged her actions and smiled, as she was finally free. It was a moment where both women experienced freedom, a moment that gave Ymir the much-needed motivation to release herself from the king’s chains. Furthermore, she displayed signs of regret, imagining a different past where instead of saving Karl Fritz, she stayed with her three daughters.
As Ymir liberated herself from the two thousand-year-long slavery, the paths ceased to exist, freeing every Eldian from the Titan’s curse. Everyone who was previously transformed into a Pure Titan was restored to their human state, and all inheritors lost the power of the Titans - a moment where the long global conflict finally ended and a new, peaceful world was born.
Final Thoughts on Ymir Fritz
Ymir's affection for Karl Fritz might seem irrational, but, considering her traumatic past, it’s clear that she lacked any understanding of affection or the feeling of being valued. While the king's desire to have children with her wasn't rooted in genuine love, it was the first time someone showed affection to Ymir. The first time she felt close to another person.
Despite being aware of the king's evil nature, Ymir couldn't simply stop loving him, so she chose to obey and serve his wishes forever. For her, forever lasted for two thousand years until she finally found her savior - the person who would eventually show her how to break free of that love. She found Mikasa.
While many aspects of Attack on Titan’s ending are open to interpretation, this is one of the most logical ways of understanding Ymir and Mikasa’s stories. They both loved a bad person and suffered because of it, but only one dared to take the right step to freedom. Only one was strong enough to put aside their personal feelings and finally free themselves, Paradis Island, and the whole world.
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