Friday, November 20, 2009

Hiroshima Essay

Hiroshima Essay

Hiroshima was written by John Hersey , the book tells about the destruction of Hiroshima and the survival of six main survivors. Hiroshima was destroyed by the atomic bomb named “Little Boy” on August 6,1945.Over a hundred thousand people were killed, but there were many survivors, among them they were six that showed fate and courage who struggled to survive the A-bomb. The six survivors were , Miss Toshiko Sasaki is a personnel clerk with a child who works in the East Asia Tin Works factory. Dr. Masakazi Fujii is a middle-age physician who owns his own private hospital . Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura is a tailor’s widow with three children , her husband died in the war. Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge is a thirty -eight year old German missionary priest with the Society of Jesuits (Jesus). Dr. Terfumi Sasaki is an idealistic , young surgeon working at the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital. Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto is a hard working and thoughtful pastor. They show us the survival during the aftermath of the war, effects of war on civilians and cities, and how life has frailties and full of unpredictability’s.

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Hersey’s purpose was to inform and educate people about the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He shows that the six characters represents protagonist of the book, as they struggle to survive after the atomic bomb when and after the bombs was dropped. The antagonist is the bomb itself in the book, since it cause so much destruction , pain, and loss for the main characters as well as for the entire city of Hiroshima. Hersey informs us of survivral of individuals and of the city .Survivral is described how life slowly return to normalcy ever after severe trauma. The effect of war on civilians and the city it shows that everyone was effected by the A-bomb and the war. He also tells how life is frailty and unpredictability’s shows how survivors still suffer, have misfortune, difficulties , and death after surviving the bomb.

Survival was shown throughout individual and in the city . It is the portrayal of the human spirit and the will to keep on living even in the face of death and destruction . Survival was how life slowly returns to normalcy for most people. It shows how each person chooses to rebuild their lives and also how the city of Hiroshima rebuilds itself after the disaster it show each person priorities and the city as a whole. Hiroshima as a city are examples of the human characters in the book. Reconstruction of building begins almost immediately, this shows the indelible energy of the people , even after most of their homes and numerous family and friends are destroyed. For example, Mrs.Nakamura struggles greatly for basic needs for survival, working odd jobs to feed her children . Yet after four decades, she has raised three happy children , achieved some material comfort, and fells at peace with herself.

The effects of the war on civilians and the city were in numerous ways. It was as it seem that everyone was effected by the A-bomb and the war. Even though, the bomb was dropped on the Japanese , even non-Japanese (the German Jesuits) were affected by it. Family homes and business were destroyed, the civilians lives is completely altered and the survivors lives were still altered for decades and must undergo great challenge just to survive. For example, people couldn’t live in peaceful or normal lives as they are forced to be in constant stat of alert of air raids. After the bomb was dropped , a city of everyday business and the living is turned into crowds of wounded and thousands of destitute refugees.

In this book, it shows how life have weakness and it is unpredictable. Te characters believe that it was small, unconscious, and coincidental actions that spared their lives. For instance, Dr.Sasaki was a step away from a window when the bomb flashed , so therefore he avoided cuts or burns. They began to see their suffering and hardships from the bomb the bomb’s destruction as nobody’s fault, and their fate. Life’s unpredictability is reflected how the character continue to suffer , have misfortune, difficulties, and death even after surviving the bomb. For example, Dr,Fujii escapes being pinned down in his house, but his clinic is destroyed by the A-bomb. That example shows that surviving the horrible atomic bomb , it didn’t entitle the characters to have an easy life for the rest of their lives. Dr. Fujii , who seeks out pleasure to avoid trauma of his experience, and can’t escape his own mortality, and dies in a freak gas leak accident.

Hersey sort of interviews each main character, and in a journalistic fashion. He combines their stories together without adding his moral judgment. This informs and allows the reader to hear their stories as if from their own mouths. This makes you more informative without the interference of a third party. In this writing style, it informs a person with facts and does not have a form of writing with emotions.

This book was very shocking and troubling. It has literal and uncensored graphic details of human suffering. Some outcomes are uplifting, inspirational, and hopeful as the character overcome trauma to make a meaningful life. I believe John Hersey did a wonderful job on educating me about the suffering and hardships the city of Hiroshima faced on August 6 ,1945 after the atomic bomb was dropped. Overall , Hersey was successful informing or educating , people about the time of war.

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essay on hiroshima