The Tragic Hero In John Hersey's Hiroshima

Throughout John Hersey’s book Hiroshima, he introduces six main subjects, or characters, and writes of their journey’s from before the bomb drops to a few months following the event. Each of these characters have similar and different methods for their survival and how they contributed to the tragedy. In the event of an end-of-the world scenario, depending on my health status, I would help and assist as many as I could, protect and guard my family, and cherish my most personal possession to contribute to history. My actions for assisting would be similar to Dr. Terufumi Sasaki, my protection for my family would resemble Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto, and lastly, I would cherish my belongings as did Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura. In my role in an end-of-the

Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura who was a widow and mother of three residing in Hiroshima, saved one of her most prized possessions, her sewing machine. As childhood memorabilia and her main machinery for her trade as a tailor, she hid her sewing machine in a water tank made of cement. Unlike Mrs. Nakamura, instead of hiding my camera, I would use my camera to document. I would film the tragedies and horrors of the event to contribute to history and showcase visually the reality of the event. I admired Mrs. Nakamura’s devotion to herself and children. Her focus was keeping all of them safe and doing what was necessary to survive the negative conditions that resulted from the bomb dropping. I too would focus on keeping myself and family protected and

To me, Mr. Tanimoto was the most admirable subject Hersey wrote about. Throughout the novel, we examine Mr. Tanimoto as a selfless, kindhearted, brave, and compassionate individual. For example, after the bomb dropped, Mr. Tanimoto was gratefully unharmed. He feels guilty and ashamed that he wasn’t injured. He even asked for forgiveness from the people whom he would pass in the streets. I can relate to the guilt he was feeling, because I too would feel uneasy after witnessing others around me suffering when I was unharmed. I extremely dislike seeing others suffering and hurt and it would be heartbreaking to be faced with that scenario. I would positively use my good health to help the others who were injured and