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Explore the profound impact of John Hersey's account of the Hiroshima bombing, uncovering key historical details and critical reception. Learn about the survivors and the aftermath through this powerful narrative that sheds light on the devastation caused by atomic power.
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“The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.” ~Albert Einstein
Overview • Background of John Hersey • Story of Hiroshima’s publication • Facts about the Atomic Bomb and the events surrounding its use • Main characters
The author: John Hersey *born 1914 in China to missionary parents *studied journalism at Yale and Cambridge *was a WWII correspondent for Time magazine *many of his writings center around the topic of war *won a Pulitzer Prize *died 1993
Originally appeared in The New Yorker on Aug. 31 1946 as a long article • Story was later published as a novel • Last chapter added in 1973 • Reprint profits were donated to the American Red Cross • Albert Einstein purchased 1,000 copies; distributed them to anyone
Historical Context of “Hiroshima” • Nonfiction • Begins August 6, 1945 • the day the first atomic bomb was dropped • Ends in 1985 • with updates on the lives of the six survivors chronicled in the book • War ended with Japan surrendering August 15, 1945 • 9 days after the bombing of Hiroshima
The Reaction • Hailed an instant classic • Supporters of the bomb felt Hersey put a face to the numbers • And showed the true devastation of the bomb • Some critics argue Hersey’s impartiality did not inspire enough outrage toward the ethics of nuclear weapons
The Reaction Cont. • Some criticize the calm, dry tone as “emotionless” or “apathetic” • Hersey defended his approach • “The flat style was deliberate . . . A high literary manner, or a show of passion, would have brought me into the story as a mediator; I wanted to avoid such mediation, so the reader’s experience would be as direct as possible.”
The Survivors…interviewed by John Hersey for “Hiroshima”
Miss Toshiko Sasaki • A clerk for the East Asia Tin Works • Chatting with a co-worker when the bomb exploded
Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura A tailor’s widow Looking through her kitchen window when the bomb exploded
Dr. Masakazu Fujii • Dr. who owns a private hospital • Just sat down to read the paper when the bomb exploded
Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge • A German Jesuit Priest • Reading a magazine on a cot when the bomb exploded
Dr. Terufumi Sasaki • A young surgeon • Walking along a hospital corridor when the bomb exploded
Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto • Pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church. • Unloading a cart of clothes when the bomb exploded
"If they (Japan) do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.”~PresidentHarry S. Truman August 6, 1945
City of Hiroshima • Japan’s 7th largest city • Had not been bombed yet • Headquarters of Japan’s second army • Factories for war materials
The “Enola Gay”…the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, piloted by Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets.
“Little Boy” was what the military named the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.
“Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima and destroyed its usefulness to the enemy. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. …which is the largest bomb ever yet used in the history of warfare.” ~President Harry S. Truman in a radio address to Americans after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
“As the bomb fell over Hiroshima and exploded, we saw an entire city disappear. I wrote in my log the words: ‘My God, what have we done?’” -Capt. Robert Lewis co-pilot of the Enola Gay
The Little Boy • Created with U-235 • The bomb dropped on Hiroshima • Dropped on Aug. 6 1945 by the Enola Gay at 8:45 a.m. • Blast equaled 15,000 tons of TNT • Detonated about 1000 feet above the ground (hypocenter) • Hiroshima surprised because of only one B-29 plane seen that morning
Those not killed by the blast suffered burns and radiation poisoning • Estimated that 140,000 people died by the end of the year • Subsequent deaths from radiation poisoning brought the death toll to somewhere around 200,000
In the name of peace They waged the wars Ain't they got no shame ~Nikki Giovanni
“What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends…; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.” ~Gen. Robert E. Lee
A “Hiroshima” shadow… When the blast took place, radiation moved across in every direction, scorching everything in its path. Anything that was behind, or covered, by an object, was left unscortched… the “shadow" effect -it is similar to when you get a sunburn, but there are places not burned --like a tan line. This picture is an example of a “Hiroshima Shadow”. The man that was standing by his ladder disintegrated instantly after the blast.
“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.” ~John F. Kennedy, 1961
