FREE ESSAY ON ATOMIC BOMBING

ATOMIC BOMBING

When asked, many people can think of an event that changed their lives instantly. For
example, a near death experience may lead a person to see that life is fragile and that
it should be lived to the fullest. Unfortunately, sometimes these events require the loss
of innocent lives. In 1945, the United States dropped nuclear bombs on the japanese cites
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the years
following the attack, many writings have been published in order to capture the horrid
nature of this event. The two that we will look at are "Hatsuyo Nakamura" by John Hersey,
and "Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki Told by Flight Member" by William Laurence. Hersey's
Story chronicles life after the bombing for one of the survivors while Laurence tells the
story of the attack through the eyes of one of the crew members aboard one of the bomber
planes. Both readings focus on the drastic events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through the
utilization of different styles while conveying two completely contrasting points of
views; however, Hersey's comes across more effectively in the end. 
One of the more apparent differences is that Hersey's "Hatsuyo Nakamura" is written in
the third person. Telling the story in the third person prevents readers from seeing
things through that person's eyes. However, it gives a clearer overview of the situation
as opposed to breaking down the person's every thought. In this case, we see the effects
of the radation on Nakamura; described as being "weak and destute" in the aftermath of
the bombing. She ends up living in a wooden shack for the next few years where she would
"begin a courageous struggle" in order to "keep her children and herself alive." These
quotes capture the very essence of her struggle and at the same time promote a feeling of
empathy for Nakamura. She continues to struggle for a long time; she justifies this with
the phrase, "Shikata ga-nai", meaning "It can't be helped." In telling Nakamura's story
in the third person, Hersey conveys the true feelings and experiences of the bombing
victims through a fictional character. Instead of putting out facts and figures, he
creates a world in which the reader is able to become engrossed in and even at times
experience vividly. 
On the other hand, Laurence writes his story in the first person. Here we see the day of
the attack through the eyes of a crew member aboard one of three B-29 Superforts on its
way to bombing the mainland of Japan. He recalls seeing the bomb being built and
describes it as, "a thing of beauty to behold." At this point, it has become clear that
his acccount is being told from a completely different point of view. The presence of the
bomb give he and his crewmates a feeling of immense power as they have no idea the
magnitude of destruction they are about to bestow upon thousands of civilians. When asked
if he thought the bomb would end the war, he responds, "There is a very good chance that
this one may do the trick...Its power is such that no nation canstand up against it very
long." Though seeing an event through ones eyes usually intesifies and clearifies the
story, Laurence's story comes across similar to a journal. It seems as if the crew member
is simply recording the happenings throughout the day and giving his input every now and
then. His account is lacking his thoughts and feelings towards his job and his mission.
The tone of "Hatsuyo Nakamura" starts off as depressing. Hersey describes Nakamura's kids
being "buried in the rubble" and how she "dug them out alive." This alone shows how
devastating and tragic this was. Afterwards, she develops A-bomb syndrome due to the
radiation. "Her belly began to swell up, and she had diarrhea and so much pain she could
no longer work at all." Soon after, people who lived through the event came to be known
as "hibakusha"-meaning "explosion-affected persons." The tone of her overall stuggle in
the story can be summed up by the quote, "The bombing almost seemed a natural disaster -
one that had smply been her bad luck, her fate, to suffer." Despite all her misfortune
and bad luck, she works hard and raises her children the best she can. Finally at age
fifty-five, "she felt at home in her body now....it was time for her to enjoy life."
Hersey does a phenomenal job in starting off with such a sad tone and gradually working
up towards a resolve, when Nakamura is finally at peace. This may not have been the case
for all victims, but it is a good illustration of life after the bombing for many
victims. 
The tone of Laurence's piece, on the other hand, is neither uplifting nor depressing. In
fact, it can almost be seem as a normal day at work for the main character. This comes
from the observation that, as mention earlier, that the crew member's account appears as
if it were more of a journal than a firsthand narration. Though he seems humbled by the
power of the bomb, he speaks of the mission and carries himself in a nonchalant manner.
This leads one to think that he is unconcerned of the innocent lives that are soon to be
lost. He goes on to say, "Does one feel any pity of compassion for the poor devils about
to die?" "Not when one thinks of Pearl Harbor and of the Death March on Bataan."
The underlying theme between both stories is how differently such a horrible event can be
perceived relative to who you are and where you're from. Nakamura felt firsthand what
such a destructive weapon could do. She nearly lost her family and had to live the rest
of her life with the burden of radiation sickness. Before the bomb dropped, she was a
civilian living her everyday life just as you and I. Laurence's character, on the
contrary, doing his job. He sees this as a step towards ending the war and nothing more.