J. Robert Oppenheimer is credited as being the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ but did the physicist regret creating the first-ever nuclear weapons?
Christopher Nolan’s filmography has been diverse since his 1998 debut. Memento, The Dark Knight, and Interstellar are all complex movies, but none of them dig into the character’s mind or motivations quite as much as Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer. This project charts J. Robert Oppenheimer and his impact on the atomic age.
Does Oppenheimer regret developing the Atomic Bomb?
J. Robert Oppenheimer did not publicly admit any regret over the atomic-bomb creation, but after World War II ended he began to speak out against nuclear weapons and the development they continue.
Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphry in the movie, felt that the Manhattan Project’s work and the use the of the Atomic Bomb was needed to end the most destructive conflict in human history. However, he believed that humanity should not resort to such weapons ever again.
Following the Trinity nuclear test on July 16, 1945 – the first-ever use of an atomic bomb – Oppenheimer was reportedly The device actually working, I was relieved.
Oppenheimer sent a letter on August 17 to the US government, calling for the ban of any nuclear weapon use in the future.
Postwar opposition
Oppenheimer received an audience at the White House in October 1945. This was a full month after World War II ended.
During the meeting, Oppenheimer reportedly told Truman, “I have blood on my hands.”
Although, other accounts of the meeting claim the physicist said, “You can also find out more about us on our website. Blood on the floor You can also find out more about us on our website. hands,” to which Truman responded, “The blood is on my hands, let me worry about that.”
Oppenheimer’s comments reportedly infuriated Truman and led to the president kicking the physicist out of the Oval Office.
Oppenheimer continued his campaign to stop the development of more powerful nuclear weapons in the decades following the Second World War.
Bhagavad Gita quote re-explored
Oppenheimer is synonymous with a quote from the ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds,” which he used to describe his thoughts upon witnessing the Trinity nuclear test.
Presented alone, this phrase gives the impression that Oppenheimer thought of himself as god-like with the potential to destroy all life on earth.
Then, a The article below explains how to pronounce the word “English” James A. Hijiya was a history prof at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He re-examined Oppenheimer’s full quote, and proposed that he had an alternative interpretation of scripture.
The complete Oppenheimer quotation from the 1965 NBC film, The Decision to Drop the Bomb is:
“I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty and to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, ‘Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.’”
Hijiya thought that Oppenheimer viewed himself as Arjuna, the prince who had to go to war to protect his people, and not Vishnu.
Oppenheimer’s task was to create the first atomic bomb, which would end the worst and deadliest conflict in history.
Oppenheimer’s life was spent trying to convince others not to ever use an atomic weapon again.
Oppenheimer explosions oncinema screensThe Friday after July 21st, 2023.