The onset of World War II set a significant paradigm shift in international relations and the essence of humanity. Hillenbrand authored the novel based on the experiences of distinctive characters and the core factors that rendered their dignified conquer. Louis Zamperini is one of the main characters whose life prominently changes during combat, especially when the plane he was bombarding clashes. The examination of Zamperini’s life and the relationship with the family and colleagues attributed to the core thematic constructs; struggle, discipline, friendship, and determination. Honor among soldiers enshrines the resilience to engage in moral and ethical acts despite the sociocultural, economic, and political hurdles.
Summary
The novel aptly integrates the dynamism of human behavior based on the sociological environment to establish the vital response system. There is a significant interdependent relationship between personality traits and the essence of upholding dignity. Louis Zamperini was born into a family whose key values entailed attaining education and seeking stability. However, during his childhood, Zamperini proved a delinquent and cunning individual, evidently participating in such misconduct as breaking into houses and brawling. Zamperini’s life changed after discovering his talent as an athlete and then later enrolling as an airman in the Air force. In 1941, while on duty to ferry soldiers, Zamperini’s plane crashed in the open ocean near the enemy’s camp (Hillenbrand 64). The personnel encountered distinctive hardships while on a raft in the ocean and surrounded by sharks due to the striking starvation and thirst. Zamperini showed rebellion against brutality, hope for suffering, and ingenuity for desperation to survive. Ideally, the reconstruction of Zamperini’s experiences aligns with the restructuring of dignity based on the articulate significance of humanity and redemption.
Thematic Construct on Dignity
One of the key outliers within the novel’s storyline enshrines the advocacy for family relationships. During Louis Zamperini’s childhood, as a delinquent, his brother commits as his mentor. The main aim involves guiding Zamperini to discover his talent for self-realization and improvement. Transcendentally, the relationship fosters the nurturing of an athlete and productive community member in the U.S. Hillenbrand profoundly integrates the importance of family with traditional ideological appeals on morality and ethical virtues to enhance Zamperini’s character development as a dignified entity (Bramastyo 3). Apart from attaining honor from the wins as an athlete for the U.S., Zamperini’s volunteering as an airman attributed to the honor of offering his expertise and life for the freedom and sovereignty of the nation. Zamperini demonstrates that there is no compromise of humanity and dignity for power and slavery.
The novel’s plot mainly focuses on the life experiences and encounters of Louis Zamperini. In this case, Hillenbrand exploits five distinctive dimensions of value practice encapsulating religiosity, morality, sociological beliefs and customs, and cultural overviews. During his lifetime, Louis’ first time praying involved seeking God’s healing power for his ailing mother. The second time that Louis prayed to God enshrined a redemption from the imminent dangers while floating on a raft in the ocean (Hillenbrand 138). The vital variant of the belief system entailed boosting resilience against life-threatening conditions. Hillenbrand intersects Zamperini’s survival tactic with his faith in God as a dignified emancipation counter to his childhood engagements and bad records.
A different dimensional outlook that supports the dignity of the characters in the novel enshrines the moral and educational perspectives. Loving children is a moral component demonstrated to restore dignity across family relations. In 1919, the two years old Louis fell ill with pneumonia and was later prescribed medicine. However, the parents resolved to relocate to a warmer region in California (Hillenbrand 16). Primarily, respect for the quality of human life played a significant role in individuals’ decision-making and behavioral response, mainly Louis’ parents.
Another ideological moral implication from the novel’s plot entails the relationship between Louis and his father. Louis gets frustrated with his poor defense mechanism during a fight when his paternal parent offers to train different techniques. Louis’ father teaches him approaches to maneuver a punching bag (Hillenbrand 20). Ideally, the commitment to aptly learn and perfect the skills demonstrates the essence of resilience, fostering honor and respect for ethical virtues and human behavior. Hillenbrand establishes a dynamic overview of the nurturing process of Louis’ wife, Cynthia. Although Cynthia loved Louis, she also pursued her teaching career as a disciplined and diligent character (Hillenbrand 60). Cynthia’s character development features an essential baseline on the reciprocity of honor and respect from Louis as a career athlete and prominently participating in nation-building.
Morality is a multidimensional phenomenon that significantly influences human behavior and the nature of relationships. Louis’ dignity is further demonstrated in a scene where he saves Phil’s life. Trained as a boy scout during his teenage years and the Honolulu first aid session, Louis helped Phil back to life by running his fingers down the throat (Bramastyo 6). During combat, it is essential to utilize knowledge and skills to save lives optimally. Louis proved his dignity based on the level of concern and engagement with his colleague, Phil, hence the honor and respect. Education is a profound empowerment tool that contributes to individuals’ survival and resilience.
Life skills is a form of education that significantly fosters human dignity based on the capacity to handle dynamic hurdles. In the novel, Louis hangs onto a raft after the plane crashes while encountering shark attacks. Louis applies acquired knowledge from an old man’s advice living in Honolulu to tackle the sharks. According to the old man, imposing an intimidating expression is crucial, mainly hitting the shark’s snout hard. In this case, Louis utilized the insight and attacked the shark causing its flight (Hillenbrand 140). On the one hand, Louis’ honor and respect towards the elderly are attributed to his engagement with the old man and acquiring the crucial details. On the other hand, Louis’ courage to fight the shark rendered the survivors a chance of survival from the atrocities of the ocean. Intelligence is an emblem of resilience and redemption among individuals due to their proficiency in managing challenging conditions.
Different military troops uphold divergent appeals and opinions concerning war. During the Second World War, a significant percentage of Japanese and American soldiers encountered profound inhumane situations. One of the perceptive foundations of military philosophy enshrined survival tactics across enemy borders. In 1941, the Japanese government established that the vital code of resilience encompassed upholding dignity among the soldiers (Hillenbrand 125). Therefore, the counterparts committed to fighting to the death against capture as prisoners of war. Fundamentally, there is a core distinction between the American and Japanese principles of honor and respect.
The American military focus on promoting humanity and engaging in the war along the margins of moral and ethical virtues. Jimmy is one of the characters with a noble heart based on the comments regarding the raging poverty levels in Japan. According to Jimmy, regardless of World War II, it is paramount that Americans with Japanese ancestry coordinate and sends money and resources contributing to improving livelihoods (Hillenbrand 46). However, Jimmy’s perception is contrary to the ideological dignity of the Japanese soldiers. Hillenbrand further intensifies the controversy on redefining dignity anent to Officer Wade’s behavior. After the imprisonment of Louis and fellow American soldiers, Wade’s intent engulfed attaining respect from the inmates. Therefore, Wade tortured and tormented the prisoners, and the counterparts feared his attitude and potential. The subjective appeal to honor and respect significantly impacts the dynamism of reconstructing moral practice on the battlefield.
Leadership is a multifaceted domain adeptly influencing the interplay of affiliations, democracy, coaching, and pacesetting. The American prisoners of war survive the tribulations of the Japanese due to their proficient dignity. Hillenbrand narrates that Fitzgerald, a team leader of the American prisoners of war, once ordered the Japanese foreman to allow the counterparts to rest and be fed (250). Ideally, Fitzgerald sacrifices his command and influence with the Japanese to protect the needs and wants of his fellow American soldiers. Captured in 1943, Commander John Fitzgerald endured starvation and enslavement under the Japanese military for two years and prominently persisted in defending his American counterparts (Hillenbrand 280). In this case, Hillenbrand renders an in-depth insight concerning the interdependent relationship between captaincy, honor, and respect.
Sociocultural constituents proficiently impact the nurturing of perceptive human behavior among counterparts, mainly during the war. Hillenbrand renders an oscillating mainframe on the applicability of dignity (Yamashiro 721). On the one hand, the Japanese militia upholds dignity as a vital parameter of bravery. On the other hand, Watanabe, a Japanese soldier, attests that torturing the American prisoners of war was a protection mechanism for the enslaved personnel facing the wrath of the citizens. Ideally, it is better for the American fighters to die by the sword of another soldier than the civilians.
Primarily, leadership prominently influences human behavior and psychological perspective among individuals. In this case, it is vital to indicate core factors that impact the living quotient among counterparts. Principals play a critical role in developing sustainable regulatory frameworks that enhance social equity (Yamashiro 723). The lack of vital indicators influencing personality threatens the moral conduct among the counterparts. The traumatic experiences of escaping death encounters highly affected the psychological state of international relations and the confidence index towards the charismatic leadership from the incumbent governments.
The world wars fostered imminent negative effects on the psychological status of people. On the one hand, the long-term triggers of the confrontations involved nationalism, imperialism, industrialization, and militarism. On the other hand, different short-term factors led to the emergence of tussles. The evolution of the global society rendered a significant imbalance among communities to determine the power position internationally (Yamashiro 724). It is evident based on the inhumane living conditions among the American prisoners of war in the Japanese territory. The revelation of the traumatic experience manifests through Louis’ desperate attempts to seek divine intervention from God to be saved from misery. Fundamentally, the foundational outlier on equality lies in the coordinative efforts to enhance unity and reconstruct a supportive environment.
The provocation of the second military confrontation engulfed the disagreements and arrogance between the American and Japanese governments. The U.S administration received news of Nanjing’s rape and the Manchurian crisis that led to its decision to establish sanctions against Japan. These bans included the exportation of oil, iron, and essential supplies. It is an initiative that significantly affected Japan’s economic growth, hence the promptness to foster an attack at Pearl Harbor, triggering the tussle (Yamashiro 725). Therefore, the spark for the second battle was socio-economically motivated, thus prominently implicating the torturous experiences among the American prisoners of war in Japan. Japanese government focused on restoring its dignity, while the American administration’s main aim encompassed retaining honor and respect. However, Hillenbrand demonstrates the consequential outcome regarding the profound compromises between the two armies on enslavement. In some instances, Louis and Phil express excitement for the relief of accessing better treatment according to international law (Hillenbrand 167). World War II influenced the deregulation of international relations on human rights fostering the imminent threat to social justice. Primarily, the key implication of combat entails prioritizing power and dominance at the expense of human lives.
The difference in nationalistic ideals, such as capitalism and communism, promoted the emergence of the World Wars. However, the significance of globalization offered the platform to end the war through treaties and agreements. One of the profound results of the World Wars entails the development of the United Nations. The agency emerged as a neutral entity that campaigned for peace, growth, and development across the globe. As a representation of globalization, the United Nations became a pillar of negotiations and resolutions to international issues and ideals hence changing the language of planning and policies. The agency focuses on the equal distribution of resources among the member states, especially the less developed countries. Ideally, these efforts empower the nationalities to improve their living standards. An evolutionary nationalism encompasses the integration of international policies and practices with profitable national ideals to improve productivity (Hillenbrand 101). An excellent example involves securing modernized weapons for enemy combat. It is an empowering tool that gets complemented with assistance from the United Nations to promote peace and security within the region. Therefore, globalization improves the value of nationalism through the mainframe of security.
Globalization positively influences the values of nationalism through dynamic perspectives. On the one hand, nationalism fosters the elaborate difference among nations under various gradients. These gradients include culture, politics, economy, sports, technological advancements, and security. It is a contrast that rendered the emergence of consequential conflicts as well as ideological resolutions. On the other hand, globalization enhances the definite operation of the universe as a global village. Essentially, the concept encapsulates the emergence of a new form of nationalism globally, influencing the value of nationalism. The vital element of globalization is interdependence among nations despite the dynamic nationalism prospects as perceived by Louis while enslaved by the Japanese government (Hillenbrand 234). Therefore, its effects on nationalism get measured through the contribution to human society. For instance, solving political differences through violence counters the international policies of peace and unity. As a result, globalization negatively influences the nationalistic ideals to establish global standards of peace, integration, and security.
Different nations uphold different economic values, such as capitalism and communism. The economic value difference influenced the sparks of the war on account of the essence of superiority. However, globalization fostered a greater influence on balancing the economic value difference through the involvement of other nations. The participation of other countries in the war enhanced the possibility of developing peace treaties and agreements despite nationalistic ideals. Hillenbrand narrates that World War II attributed to the margin between America and Japan at the expense of soldiers’ lives (67). Transcendentally, the existing relationship among nations reflected the fundamental role of globalization in regulating nationalism without reducing the value, as Hillenbrand indicates of dignity. Ideally, globalization triggers the development of economically-based national intelligence. An excellent example of such intelligence entails signing free trade treaties among nations despite economic values. It is an aspect that boosts economic performance among countries by promoting the free flow of goods and services.
Consequently, the novel profoundly demonstrates the dynamic implications of World War II, mainly to the Americans and Japanese. Hillenbrand intersects the character, human behavioral quotients, and apt international relations along the gradient of dignity. Louis and his colleagues experience optimal tribulations as the prisoners of war in the Japanese territory but endure due to the perceived honor and respect for American nationalism. Therefore, a significant interdependent relationship between nationalism and globalization steers the response and interaction among the soldiers. Peaceful coexistence is necessary to advocate sustainable living among individuals and retain productive relations among countries. The novel’s plot renders an in-depth overview of the importance of dignity among individuals across dynamic sociological environments.
Works Cited
Bramastyo, Galih. Analysis of Educational Value in” Unbroken” Novel by Laura Hillenbrand. Diss. IAIN Ponorogo, 2018.
Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken: A World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Random House, 2010.
Yamashiro, Jennifer Pearson. “More than half: Multiracial families in the World War II Japanese American incarceration camps.”Journal of Child and Family Studies 31.3 (2022): 721-734. Web.