THE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF THE ATOMIC EXPLOSION IN JOHN HERSEY’S HIROSHIMA

Abstract

Atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima is one of the events happened in the World War II, the most destructive war in human history. The atomic bomb explosion results in some social effects toward the citizens in Hiroshima. It is written in the novel, Hiroshima. This thesis tries to discuss the social effects of the atomic bomb explosion through the novel. This thesis tries to explain the social transition before and after the explosion. The transition of the education system, economic, health, nationalism and the change of the social class happened in Hiroshima’s society. It will give the explanation about the social effects that result in some problems in some aspects of life. The aim of writing this thesis is to investigate the social effects of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima. It is to show the transition before and after the explosion in some aspects of life. It is also intended to show the facts and the truth behind the disaster. This thesis tries to explain the sequence of events of the atomic explosion in Hiroshima as the background of all events in John Hersey’s Hiroshima. Meanwhile, there are two approaches to use to analyze Hiroshima. They are Sociological and Historical approach. The method to use in analyze the data is deductive method. The research applies the discussion from general to the specific one. The application of the method in this thesis begins in the explanation about the World War II; the thesis explains the historical background of the World War II as the introduction to the Hiroshima’s disaster. Then, the thesis explains the historical background of the atomic explosion in Hiroshima and the last explanation is about the social effects of the atomic explosion in Hiroshima. The data and information, which are related to the thesis, are from the library research. The data and information are collected from books, dictionaries and Internet. The analysis proves that there are some social effects of the atomic bomb explosion through the novel. There are the changes of the social class, the economic condition, the education, the radiation sickness, the rise of nationalism and the rise of hatred toward the American. It can be conclude that there is a transition before and after the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima.