Human Consequences Of The Hiroshima Atomic Bombing - Book Report/Review Example

Human Consequences Of The Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Introduction Hiroshima is a book written by John Hersey1, and published in Canada by the Ryerson Press. John Hersey did the first copywriting in 1946. The first edition contained 156 pages. It is a historical book providing a detailed coverage of the devastating bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. The main subject matter of the book is the human suffering and devastating experience, following the dropping of the bomb in Hiroshima from a survivor’s point of view. Purpose of the Book The main purpose of this book is to provide a description of the human suffering and experience in the aftermath of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. The book provides an objective and true story of the human consequences of the bomb, without criticizing the factors that led to the bombing, from a survivor’s2 perspective. The author deviates from early stories and accounts documenting the statistics, science and factors leading to the dropping of the nuclear bomb, and provide information about the social impact and human consequences of the bomb. The book is therefore not a fiction novel, but rather reportage coverage of the actual events that took place at that point in time. The goal of writing this book was to acknowledge the facts surrounding the bombing, while at the same time documenting the negative consequences of the bomb. By focusing on the six survivors of the initial bombing attack, the author provides a vivid description of the daily lives of the victims, the resulting illness following the effects of the radiation, their worries and fears and ultimately sheds some light on the outcomes of their lives. This description conveys the message that the victims are also human and they are not only concerned about the direct effect of the bomb on themselves, but rather the global implications of nuclear and atomic bombs. Hersey narrates, “…the soldiers were coming out of the hole, where they should have been safe, and blood was running out of their heads, chests and backs.”3 The description of the survivors digging themselves out of the debris and helping their injured neighbors indicates the solidarity and communal spirit that emerged in the days that followed the bombing. Hersey employs a factual style in narrating the horrors and tensions in the aftermath of the bombing. A factual presentation of the flash in the sky as observed by the survivors, the resulting fires and radiations following the bombing, highlights the extent of the damages caused by the bomb. In addition, Hersey employs a straightforward description of the mysteries surrounding the nature of the bomb, the effects of the rains that followed the attack and ultimately the scale of damage caused by the bomb. Dominating Themes in the Book Two major themes are dominant in Hersey’s novel, namely, the community’s struggle for survival in the face of mass destruction, and the Japanese stoicism and personal submission culture. The main theme of this book was to highlight the togetherness and communal spirit of the Japanese in the face of mass destruction. Although Hersey suggests the lack of a unified political and national response to the bombing in Hiroshima, he successfully brings out the image of a community united in the face of the tragedy, as the affected people came out strongly to support each other. Hersey narrates, “One feeling they did seem to share, however, was a curious kind of elated community spirit . . . a pride in the way they and their fellow-survivors had stood up to a dreadful ordeal.”4 This description of the people coming together, as a community, in the wake of the devastation, runs throughout the novel. For instance, Hersey narrates about the affected victims helping each other along the riverbanks of Asano Park and the East Parade Ground, although they did not have close family ties. Furthermore, Father Kleinsorge demonstrates communal spirit when he helps Miss Sasaki, the Nakamura and the Kataoka children, in dealing with the consequences of the bombing. Hersey also explores the stoicism and individualistic culture of the Japanese society. Although the affected people came out strongly as a community in rescuing the victims, the image of families and victims suffering alone from the effects of the bomb are evident throughout the novel. Hersey points to the Japanese culture, which lays emphasis on individual attention and discourages disturbance of the larger community in regards to personal injuries or problems. Father Kleinsorge observes that, “. . . the silence in the grove by the river, where hundreds of gruesomely wounded suffered together, was one of the most dreadful and awesome phenomena of his whole existence.”5 The Japanese are very proud of the stoicism culture, which enables them to come out strongly in support for each other, following a major tragedy, while at the same time, facing the consequences of the tragedy in utter silence. Personal Reaction and Critique of Hiroshima I found this book very interesting while at the same time appearing unimaginable. I found it scary to read about the description of the events that took place during the bombing, and the results of the radiations released by the bomb. The vivid description of the death, the flesh falling off because of the radiations and people having to live with the traumas illustrates the devastating effects of a bomb of such magnitude. The description of the events, from the survivors’ point of view, adds credibility and accuracy to the narration, thus enabling the audience to gain a vivid picture of the surrounding, the human suffering and devastation, following the bombing incident. However, lack of dialogue in the development of the plot makes the story rather difficult to follow. By relying purely on narration, Hersey was not able to bring out the survivors’ perspectives clearly. The use of dialogue would enable the audience to read and empathize with their emotions as they went through the ordeal of the bombing. Despite these weaknesses, I still found the book quite informative about the culture of the Japanese people, their values and communal attitudes. I also learned about the human suffering surrounding the Hiroshima bombing and how the survivors responded to the consequences of the bomb. Conclusion I may delve into a deeper and more detailed review of this book; however, I realize that doing so would be a great disservice to the book and those who have not read it. Hiroshima is an excellent novel, highlighting the human suffering due to political decisions that led to the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Hersey does a great job in describing the actual events as they took place, from the perspective of the survivors. The last chapter of this new edition explores the consequences of the bomb, forty years later, as the survivors struggle with stigma, medical and psychological challenges following their experiences with the bombing. I would therefore recommend this book to anyone who would be interested in the Japanese history and culture, the World War II and use of atomic bombs and, finally, the devastating human suffering for the citizens of Hiroshima following the bombing. Bibliography Hersey, John. Hiroshima. Reprint, USA: Wildside Press LLC, 2010. Read More