Discussion on a Scene from Barefoot Gen - Trailing Through Atomic Death and Destuction with Hope

Despite Hiroshima's horrific destruction by the atomic bomb dropped by the United States, there was still the human element of hope persisting. Gen, whose father, sister and younger brother were killed after the explosion, does not give up hope for survival. This page reflects this home trailing amidst death and decay. The picture could also reflect more troubles that Gen will run into. I noticed the human skeletal remains were close to the top of the page above Gen's footsteps. I could be overanalyzing, but I do not think the picture is completely optimistic.

There is optimism in Gen's words as he walks in the sand but the optimism is eroded with death symbolized by the skeletal remains. Gen not only endures the dying villagers (Whom most have gone mad.) but bandit children who run around unwatched because their parents are dead. Gen will run into indifference and selfishness of people bitter about the bomb and about what they lost in the fire.

Gen will also find a struggle within himself. He possesses persistent memories of his dead family and about the life he had before the atomic bomb. Gen struggles with his hunger, his anger towards the Americans for dropping the bombs, his fear of the loss of his mother and baby sister. The only way he is winning that struggle is continuing a positive outlook on life that did not vanish after the bomb exploded. Children like Gen are more resilent than even the toughest adults and I believe that is why Gen had not broken down into despair like most of the population.

Barefoot Gen is a reminder of when humankind grasps power such as the atomic bomb and uses it to end a war. The bomb not only created a new type of war which every finger is held over the fat, large red button but one debating whether new types of weapons should be created or not. The atomic bomb and every other nuclear device proved that all humankind needed to destroy itself was a weapon to set the atmosphere ablaze. Is proof of the survivors of Hiroshima not enough to dissuade more nuclear arms development? Are we that desperate to destroy our own species through arrogance, bigotry and misled ideology?

I wish I could answer that. I wish anyone could answer that. Anyone knowing that the Doomsday Clock reads five minutes to midnight would be nervous.

- Kristopher