And in the end-nothing is learned

As Mr. Hershey updates us on the lives of his characters, we see that they survive. Humanity continues but without learning from our mistakes and especially of our aggressive need for power. As Mr. Hershey leads us through the characters' lives of surviving and putting a life together for themselves, he injects with a note of which country has established their own nuclear weapon. Proving that mankind has not learned anything, even though each postures for no more advancement in this type of weapon, we are well aware there will always be that threat hanging over us and each generation to come.

In reading this story and Hermann Melville's story about Bartleby I realize they are both about the effects the global environment places on individuals. Both authors use descriptive details to draw the reader into the lives of their characters. We can make personal connections to the characters and the events that take place because of their use of a universal theme that we are not alone in life, each action will lead to a reaction that can impact the world we live in. If the narrator in Bartleby chose to not be affected by Bartleby, would he have reached out to his fellow man? If Mr. Hershey did not tell the story of the survivors of Hiroshima, would we be so inclined to allow nuclear proliferation? In each reading there was a lesson to be learned in Hershey’s book it was an obvious lesson; Melville’s lesson was more oblique.

As we read a story, we think about what the author is trying to tell the reader. I don’t think every author starts out with the intent to give us a lesson, moral or otherwise. It is inevitable that there is an underlying lesson to be learned because of the interactions between characters and the events that unfold in a story. It is through the interaction author and reader that we can walk away with a newfound knowledge about ourselves.

When reading, it helps to put ourselves in one of the characters shoes. As the story unfolds we should stop and ask what we would do in their situation. In Hiroshima, I wonder if I would be so brave. In Bartleby would I be so caring towards a stranger if it meant to leave the comfort and security of my own little world. Reading lets us experience the life we do not have and the possibilities of what we could have.

Hiroshima part 2 and reading

What really came to mind is the intensity with which Mr. Hershey describes his characters. As you read you can feel the frustration of the doctors and priests at not being able to help the wounded. He draws you into the confusion felt by many that day. They wondered about family members and friends, as well as the extent of human damage. As each character moved about in the book you begin to see the human toll- those who lie dead, ill, and terribly hurt. As he moves us forward, approximately three weeks, he describes the effect of radiation poisoning. Of course at that time it was all new to this population, but then he tells about the scientists and American "aids" who come to Japan to investigate the outcome of the atomic bomb. I found the mentioning of keeping most of the after effects of these bombing out of the news and especially from the American population most disturbing, because as we move forward in time - to today's America, we cannot help but wonder just how much is held back from us for "our own good". A reader today will see many similarities to the events of Sept. 11th, the survivors suffered long term physical, mental and emotional effects. Another similarity was the financial toll on the government. As the end of the bombing period came to an end, Mr. Hershey relates how willing the Japanese were to die for their country. But in retrospect, he relayed their pleas to be saved, showing with fear came their courage. Perhaps knowing the after effect to the atomic bomb made them think they were better off dead. I am just guessing. Our own Sept. 11th heros did not survive, and the few that did told how they wanted to save as many people as possible-it was not for country but for humanity. So I continue to wonder why humanity has not changed, then I read what most Japanese felt afterwards; that it was war and "it could not be helped". If the victims do not cry out against the injustice and immorality of such a weapon, how can anyone else? The questioning continues in my head about the maturity of our human obligations to each other. I look forward to reading on.....

What was the truth in the morning turns into a lie in the evening

After reading my blog partner Larry’s account of John Hershey’s book Hiroshima, I became intrigued because I do like historical events. I read the back cover about Mr. Hershey telling the story of the fateful day through the survivor’s of the attack on Hiroshima. What really intrigued me was his returning to Hiroshima almost forty years later to update his readers on the survivors’ lives.

There where many ways that Mr. Hershey grabs the reader’s attention. He starts by introducing the characters at the exact moment the atom bomb hit Hiroshima. Then he brings us back in time to the beginning of each survivor’s day. He gives us a very descriptive account of the people and their surroundings. His narrative style steps back to give us insight to what each person is thinking and feeling prior to the explosion. I think this is so we can feel the intensity of the horrible fate that awaits his characters.

I thought about Sept. 11th and how I was on the express bus to Manhattan. It was about 6:30 am and the sun was already up in the sky. But what a beautiful sky!!! I cannot ever remember the sky and temperature being so absolutely perfect. Even people on the bus started commenting on the beauty of that morning. As I looked past the Twin Towers from my office window, my co-workers and I said it is a great day to have “the flu” so we can enjoy this perfect day. Within 43 minutes it turned into the most horrible day.
I saw so many horrible things that day and walked through smoke, fear and confusion before I made it home.

As I read the “flash of bright white light” and the terror and destruction that ensued, I was able to be part of this because of my own personal experience. There are times we read about horrible things that happen in the world and the sympathy is great within ourselves. But, to live through an experience that is very similar I found made me mad. After almost 60 years, mankind has not learned a damn thing!

I would prefer not to....

The safeness of the narrator's conformity and living within the confines of an easy way of life becomes shattered when he hires Bartleby. The character of Bartleby gives us insight to the meaning of despair when we chose to conform in order to feel "safe. He is described as "a motionless young man", pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlon!" Each positive attribute-young, neat, and respectable is preceded by a negative connotation. We can see the analysis being drawn that all our good characteristics will be negated by yielding to the crowd. Bartleby seems to become the mirror image of our narrator's inner self. It is perhaps of this unconscious realization, that the narrator strives to become Bartleby's savior. This is evident when the narrator states, "The bond of common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam." How many times have you found yourself attracted to someone without understanding why-this person is not like anyone you would normally befriend, but yet there is a connection?

As stated earlier, Melville's contemporary, Emerson, implored his readers not to live as others would dictate, nor to live for materialism, praise or status. We see Melville's agreement with Emerson as we see the narrator begin to go out of his way to help Bartleby. As we move through the story, we see an urgency in the narrator to save Bartleby. Is this because if the narrator saves Bartleby, then he will be saved from the despair which isolation of humanity can bring?

I started this post with "I would prefer not to". It is this simple and honest statement spoken by Bartleby that intrigues our narrator to know more of this gentlemen. How would you react to someone telling you "I would prefer not to", every time a task needed to be done? Would you rant? Or would the sincere and calm tone, as Bartleby uses, allow you to excuse this type of behavior?

The ending line used by the narrator "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!" is not one we would expect from a person who declares from the onset that he is one who lives in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat. I have to ask all that read this or better yet, the story itself: What in your life keeps you from reaching out to life? Do you keep yourself "safe" within your own private circle of friends and friends? Have you ever had a "Bartleby" enter your life? How did it affect you? How did it change you? If not - how would you imagine a "Bartleby" would affect you?