His titan powers have come a long way, but Eren used to not be able to transform when he needed to the most. Things were so out of control that he transformed into a titan while picking up a spoon off the ground. But why did Eren transform when he touched the spoon?
Eren was able to transform when he touched the spoon because he had a clear objective in mind. He can only transform into a titan when his motivation for doing so is specific and goal-orientated.
As the story goes on, Eren is able to transform with less difficulty and resistance.
Plot Behind How Eren Could Transform When He Touched The Spoon
In chapter #26, Eren’s arm has a titan transformation after he tries to pick up a spoon. Levi’s squad, the group held responsible for monitoring Eren under orders from Premier Zackary, unsheathe their swords out of fear.
The group begs Eren to somehow prove he’s on their side. A lot of emotions are going around, but the tension is broken by an excited Hange. She jumps at the opportunity to analyze Eren’s titan arm. Eren is able to remove himself from the transformation.
He then sits on a step and listens to Captain Levi. Eren thanks Levi for allowing him to live, admitting that he understands why the squad does not trust him yet. The captain explains the group was selected for the sole purpose of the titan-fighting abilities, so it is natural for them to be stand-offish to Eren’s transformation.
Hange Explains Her Idea to Eren
The group presents Eren with the spoon he gripped while his arm transformed into its titan form. Hange says that he held it between his thumb and index finger, and it would be hard to believe that the spoon was stuck there by coincidence. The spoon retained its shape, despite the heat Eren gave off and the pressure of the titan grip.
Eren admits that he remembers bending over to pick it up, before being immediately transformed into a titan. Hange thinks for a moment, deducing that the spoon likely has something to do with Eren not being able to transform earlier. Clear objectives such as “kill other titans,” “protect against cannon fire,” and “ lift a rock,” were all situations in which Eren’s motivation was simple.
“Maybe harming yourself alone isn’t what triggers it,” Hange says, “Maybe it won’t work unless you have some sort of goal.”
Eren agrees with Hange’s idea, remembering when he transformed in order to shield against the cannon fire. He is amazed, however, that he lacks so much control in his transformation that it occurred while completing a task as innocuous as picking up a spoon.
Hange thinks to herself:
I can’t think how this could be a natural phenomenon. It looks to me more like there’s some kind of purpose at work, a tool-like quality. But if that’s the case, then what about the titans who exist only to eat humans? Who benefits from them?
Hange to Herself | Chapter #26
So that’s the answer. Eren was able to transform when he touched the spoon because he had a clear goal in mind. Transforming is a goal-oriented thing.