Topic > The tragedy of World War II and nuclear tests in the Godzilla film

The Godzilla film directed by Ishiro Honda and written by Takeo Muraka in 1954, depicts a monster created by the devastating effects of nuclear weapons. In the film, Japan is gripped by panic after the mysterious explosion and sinking of several ships. One night, on an island, a storm hits, devastating numerous homes and putting an end to numerous lives. Professor Kyohei Yamane suggests that a task force investigate the mysterious incident that occurred on the island. This team detects radiation and discovers gigantic footprints. Later that night, the legend of the enormous reptilian monster called Gojira (Godzilla) emerges before the villagers and disappears into the vast ocean. Professor Yamene announces that the monster dates back to the dinosaur era and was awakened due to the recent hydrogen bomb tests. Serizawa invents a weapon that could destroy Godzilla, but in the wrong hands this weapon could be used to destroy humanity. Due to the monster's great power of destruction, Serizawa ultimately decides to use his weapon. After Godzilla's death, Professor Yammi theorizes that there may be other monsters out there waiting to be awakened by humanity's experimentation with atomic weapons. The monster Godzilla represents society's fear of nuclear weapons and the emerging risk of US nuclear energy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The film Godzilla represents a complex metaphor for Japan's tragic history of nuclear technology. In August 1954 the United States bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the first explosion approximately 70,000 people died instantly, followed by the deaths of thousands of people exposed to radiation. The second atomic bomb dropped immediately killed approximately 80,000 people. Even today, there is still background radiation in these cities. The film's writer Isirō Honda visited Hiroshima a year after the tragedy and was fascinated by the idea of ​​humans capable of such monstrous destruction. Due to censorship laws in Japan, Honda was unable to directly create a film about the Cold War. However, Honda applied his experiences during the war and the characteristics of the atomic bomb to the film. Just like nuclear weapons, Godzilla causes destruction and chaos. When the monster enters Tokyo he is electrocuted by power lines and uses his radioactive breath to rage. Immediately, buildings catch fire and the monster's victims disintegrate within seconds. These scenes depicting fires and chaos mirror the devastation of buildings and victims in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In March 1954 the Lucky Dragon, a tuna fishing vessel, ran into trouble when the vessel's lines became entangled on coral reefs. Hoping to find more rewarding fishing grounds the ship moved towards the Marshall Islands. However, the United States was conducting nuclear tests near the ship, but the Lucky Dragon was outside the exclusive zone. The weapon nicknamed “Castle Bravo” was the largest nuclear test ever conducted by the United States. Due to an error, the explosion occurred two and a half times more powerful than expected and a thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped earlier on Hiroshima. Radioactive dust rained on the boat. After the accident, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that over twenty thousand crew members had been exposed to radiation causing numerous health problems and deaths. Although tuna consumption has plummeted, fish and other seafood have not been the only consequences.