Toward the climax of the story, Hohenheim plays a pivotal role in the battle against the Father while fighting alongside his sons. After a long and hard struggle, Hohenheim offered to use his one remaining soul—his own—as a sacrifice in order to restore Al's soul to his body, but Ed rejects his offer and gives up his own ability to use alchemy instead.
In the end, Hohenheim returns to Risembool to visit his wife's grave one last time. Kneeling before it, he finally dies with a serene smile on his face. He is buried alongside Trisha.
Personality: In his younger years, Hohenheim was very much like his son, Edward: a brash youth who often acts without thinking, but who possesses a kind heart and puts the needs of others before himself. One would think that witnessing so much pain and suffering over the centuries would cause him to become jaded, but Hohenheim retains an unshakable faith in the inherent goodness of mankind. Experience has taught him patience, but despite his overflowing wisdom pertaining to alchemy, he still has some trouble learning to relate to others, especially his own flesh and blood...
Hohenheim never expected to father children. In fact, he was afraid of letting them come close to him, lest they should come to learn that their Father was a monster, undeserving of their love. Even so, he loved his children dearly, even if he wasn't capable of expressing it properly...
Due to his guilt at being the product of a cruel alchemical ritual, Hohenheim led a lonely existence, distancing himself from others for fear that they would learn his secret, and perhaps as a form of punishment for his indelible sin. He spent those centuries in service to others, spreading the teachings of alchemy, and basically helping others whenever possible. But he often finds himself relying on the kindness of strangers during his journey, which he often feels completely undeserving. For an alchemist who espouses the Law of Equivalent Exchange, Hohenheim must feel that he is forever receiving more than he gives... and which he spends his life trying to balance.
If “sacrifice” is a prevalent theme in the series, then Hohenheim is the embodiment of self-sacrifice. He willingly leaves his home and family behind in order to ensure the survival of the people of Amestris, denying himself the one small piece of happiness he has ever known in his 400 year existence. He claims that Trisha Elric was his “first and only love,” and he is devastated by news of her death. But his desire for atonement allows him to solider onward and to not be dragged down by despair. Though the weight of his sins is heavy, he still tries to live as best he can.
But Hohenheim is not a completely melancholy character. Before he met Trisha and fell in love, he didn't mind so much that he was granted an immortal body. He could still continue to learn and study alchemy, and he enjoyed traveling the world and helping others. He never let himself grow overly attached to people, though, since the only disadvantage to eternal youth is watching those you care about wither away and die. His demeanor is rather mild, having mellowed out over the years, and he's rather soft-spoken. A bit self-deprecating, he's prone to making an idiot of himself, and is apparently immune to embarrassment. He has a bad habit of talking out loud and often gets caught up in his own thoughts to the point of obliviousness to those around him. He can be a bit of a flirt, but it's all very innocent. Trisha was his one true love, but that doesn't mean he can't freely compliment a pretty girl, can he?
Van Hohenheim | Fullmetal Alchemist (re-app)
In the end, Hohenheim returns to Risembool to visit his wife's grave one last time. Kneeling before it, he finally dies with a serene smile on his face. He is buried alongside Trisha.
Personality: In his younger years, Hohenheim was very much like his son, Edward: a brash youth who often acts without thinking, but who possesses a kind heart and puts the needs of others before himself. One would think that witnessing so much pain and suffering over the centuries would cause him to become jaded, but Hohenheim retains an unshakable faith in the inherent goodness of mankind. Experience has taught him patience, but despite his overflowing wisdom pertaining to alchemy, he still has some trouble learning to relate to others, especially his own flesh and blood...
Hohenheim never expected to father children. In fact, he was afraid of letting them come close to him, lest they should come to learn that their Father was a monster, undeserving of their love. Even so, he loved his children dearly, even if he wasn't capable of expressing it properly...
Due to his guilt at being the product of a cruel alchemical ritual, Hohenheim led a lonely existence, distancing himself from others for fear that they would learn his secret, and perhaps as a form of punishment for his indelible sin. He spent those centuries in service to others, spreading the teachings of alchemy, and basically helping others whenever possible. But he often finds himself relying on the kindness of strangers during his journey, which he often feels completely undeserving. For an alchemist who espouses the Law of Equivalent Exchange, Hohenheim must feel that he is forever receiving more than he gives... and which he spends his life trying to balance.
If “sacrifice” is a prevalent theme in the series, then Hohenheim is the embodiment of self-sacrifice. He willingly leaves his home and family behind in order to ensure the survival of the people of Amestris, denying himself the one small piece of happiness he has ever known in his 400 year existence. He claims that Trisha Elric was his “first and only love,” and he is devastated by news of her death. But his desire for atonement allows him to solider onward and to not be dragged down by despair. Though the weight of his sins is heavy, he still tries to live as best he can.
But Hohenheim is not a completely melancholy character. Before he met Trisha and fell in love, he didn't mind so much that he was granted an immortal body. He could still continue to learn and study alchemy, and he enjoyed traveling the world and helping others. He never let himself grow overly attached to people, though, since the only disadvantage to eternal youth is watching those you care about wither away and die. His demeanor is rather mild, having mellowed out over the years, and he's rather soft-spoken. A bit self-deprecating, he's prone to making an idiot of himself, and is apparently immune to embarrassment. He has a bad habit of talking out loud and often gets caught up in his own thoughts to the point of obliviousness to those around him. He can be a bit of a flirt, but it's all very innocent. Trisha was his one true love, but that doesn't mean he can't freely compliment a pretty girl, can he?