When Levi rejected the chance to kill the Titans instead of risking himself to save Armin and not Erwin during the Battle of Shiganshina — this is the skeleton of Attack on Titan.
It happened at a time when the presence of one of those two legends would be crucial for mankind’s survival. While choosing Erwin as a strategic commander, Levi knew exactly what humanity was lacking; she also understood Erwin’s torments and injected him with the serum.
Erwin Smith was a virtue-ethic leader aspiring to acquire knowledge that is factual on Titans and the society outside the Walls. This obsession that rose from his father’s death was at the same time his power and weakness. Erwin too sacrificed a lot and not just his humanity but throughout the series, he was portrayed to be a great smoker by all means.
Levi, who was on good terms with Erwin, knows the effect this fight has had on everyone. Awakening Erwin would force him to live through his life, thus forcing him to continue making those unfulfilled sacrifices.
Levi shows great empathy for Erwin’s future mental condition showing that even though she knows he can be an asset to her in the war, she decides to let him rest.
Armin’s revival: A symbol of hope and humanity’s dream for peace
For most characters, being resurrected represented the possibility of a post-war existence. Armin, on the other hand, was closer to the concept of creativity, idealism, and dreams of the bright future – the opposite of Erwin’s skepticism and tormented by the past. His love for the sea, his dream of some kind of exploration, was synonymous with life not consumed by war.
This is why Levi’s decision to save Armin was actually, one made in the spirit of faith, in the capacity for this vision. Levi sealed humanity’s future with a person who appreciated curiosity and whom Levi firmly believed could bring about the possibility of attaining peace. This choice corresponded to his perception of the fact that humanity required not only certain fascinating victories but also some new idea — as well as the unity of people.
Levi’s selfless choice: Prioritizing humanity’s future over personal loss
Levi’s choice was also personal here; personal because she decided to give up on her studies with an aim of fulfilling her dreams. The loss connected to the release of Erwin, a friend, and someone the protagonist had talked to in the previous books, was significant.
However, successful action performed by Levi proved his firm intentions on humanity’s benefit. He untangled his self-interest and sorrow to make a choice that supported the show’s concept of the self-sacrifice.
Levi’s actions are not only redeeming but are also the sign of Levi as a character, a protagonist who necessarily carries the sins of command. That alongside him having so much self-sacrifice where he prioritizes the betterment of mankind’s future over personal gains and needs is why he is one of the more honorable characters in Attack on Titan.
