The destructive nature of an atomic bomb is well known now, being used to end World War II in Japan and kill over 100,000 people in the process (Hersey 2). However, survivors are overlooked because of the many deaths, but these survivors were not as fortunate as one might think. In Hiroshima by John Hersey, after the people of Hiroshima seemingly recovered, the bomb still continued to negatively affect their lives. Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, a young priest, suffered disease which left him lacking the vitality he once had. Before the bombing, missionary Father Kleinsorge and the Society of Jesus lived and worked in their mission house. (Hersey 13-15). His pre-bombing situation was decent considering Japan was in a war. However, after
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Terufumi Sasaki’s life became hectic after the atomic bomb was dropped. Dr. Sasaki was a surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital in Hiroshima, and after work he went to a village to care for the sick (Hersey 16-17). Even though he kept himself busy, Dr. Sasaki handled his work well, and he seemed unstressed early in the book. Although, once the bomb dropped, Dr. Sasaki remained uninjured, and Hersey explains Dr. Sasaki “became an automaton, mechanically wiping, daubing, winding, wiping, daubing, winding” (32-34). Sustaining no injuries, Dr. Sasaki’s duty was to help the wounded. Treating people with seemingly no end would have put pressure on him to work as fast as possible. Because the lives of these people were his responsibility, he needed to save anyone he could. Personally, this pressure would be too much to handle, and my quality of aid would degrade. Four months after the bombing, as the only available surgeon at the hospital, Dr. Sasaki “almost never left the building” (Hersey 110). Working long hours harms a person. If I work late after school and need to finish homework, I feel drained of energy, not wanting to do anything. Dr. Sasaki’s endurance was impressive when presented with the challenge of treating thousands of
Terufumi Sasaki’s life became hectic after the atomic bomb was dropped. Dr. Sasaki was a surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital in Hiroshima, and after work he went to a village to care for the sick (Hersey 16-17). Even though he kept himself busy, Dr. Sasaki handled his work well, and he seemed unstressed early in the book. Although, once the bomb dropped, Dr. Sasaki remained uninjured, and Hersey explains Dr. Sasaki “became an automaton, mechanically wiping, daubing, winding, wiping, daubing, winding” (32-34). Sustaining no injuries, Dr. Sasaki’s duty was to help the wounded. Treating people with seemingly no end would have put pressure on him to work as fast as possible. Because the lives of these people were his responsibility, he needed to save anyone he could. Personally, this pressure would be too much to handle, and my quality of aid would degrade. Four months after the bombing, as the only available surgeon at the hospital, Dr. Sasaki “almost never left the building” (Hersey 110). Working long hours harms a person. If I work late after school and need to finish homework, I feel drained of energy, not wanting to do anything. Dr. Sasaki’s endurance was impressive when presented with the challenge of treating thousands of