Hiroshima
(John Hersey)

Destruction

The bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima creates destruction so total and consuming that it killed most of the population and injured nearly all of the survivors. The destruction took out people’s homes and businesses and claimed many lives and possessions. The magnitude of the destruction did not fully hit everyone until they had a moment to sit back and survey the area, baffled by what sort of weapon could possibly cause something so catastrophic. Months after the bombing, people were still recovering, their lives had not gotten back to normal, and Hiroshima was still being cleaned up in the hopes of being rebuilt.

Stoicism

The Japanese people are a stoic group and often suffer silently, which is something that was showcased by Hersey. Despite the fact that most people were injured beyond belief, and sometimes beyond healing, they suffered silently. Father Kleinsorge was very ill but kept moving to help others, even years after the attack. Miss Sasaki waited patiently for two days in a make-shift shelter until she was evacuated to a hospital to treat her badly crushed and infected leg. Despite the inner hysteria that the people of Hiroshima must have been experiencing they remained resilient and helpful toward others.

Religion

Two of the survivors showcased were religious men, Father Kleinsorge and Mr. Tanimoto, but in the wake of the destruction Miss Sasaki devoted her life to her religious beliefs as well, becoming a nun. Father Kleinsorge and Mr. Tanimoto were two of the men most instrumental in providing for the survivors, helping those who were injured, and trying to receive aid from those outside of Hiroshima to help them. It is most likely that the reason those two men in particular were so instrumental is because they felt that God was leading them, and it was their duty as God’s servants to help those in need.

Confusion

Confusion seems to be a theme central to the survivors of the Hiroshima bombing, as no one seemed to understand the magnitude of what had happened. Those who were able to survey the damage and take it all in could not fathom what sort of weaponry could have caused destruction so complete as what had happened to Hiroshima. For people who were expecting a B-29 air-raid the devastation caused by a nuclear weapon took them totally by surprise and left everyone in a state of awe and confusion.

Selflessness

Those survivors who worked so hard to help others, mainly Mr. Tanimoto, Father Kleinsorge, and Dr. Sasaki, were truly selfless in their actions. They put the welfare of others before the health considerations of themselves and worked to save as much of the community as possible. Even Miss Sasaki, who was severely injured, did not complain but merely waited patiently for help knowing that there were many people in need of assistance other than her. The desire to maintain the feeling of community even once the community had been destroyed shows true selflessness.