7/29/2019 August 6 1945 Essay Lalith Sanathi
1/1
August 6 1945 Essay Lalith Sanathi
In the first stanza of the poem, we are straight away told that the person in
the poem is in the Enola Gay, a plane that bombed Hiroshima. We are also
told that he whistles a dry tune which gives the reader a sense of thecalmness of the atmosphere, but dry also gives a sinister feel. He also
does this five minutes before impact which gives the reader a sense of
foreboding, which reflects on the emotions and tension for the soldiers.
In the second stanza, an apricot ice is mentioned. This positive image of a
popular drink is juxtaposed on the situation, to give it effect, and make it
more impactful on the reader. This gives the reader a more visual sense of
what is going on, because not many people have experienced war, but
many more people have experienced drinking or seeing an apricot ice. This
makes the scene more relatable to the reader. This visual image is furtheremphasized with the phrase Marilyns skirts which is a very famous
image, and also symbolizes the mushroom cloud produced when the bomb
goes off. The reader is also informed of the mixed emotions felt by the
soldiers in battle when we are told that he will laugh and tremble which
are two words put close together that are completely contrasted to impact
the reader.
The onomatopoeia in the next stanza when the bees drizzle also gives
the viewer a more aesthetic feel for the poem. This is further emphasized
with the contrast between the innocence of the rhododendrons and the
heat of the explosion, which is illustrated with hot white rhododendrons
In the next stanza, we are told about a scarlet girl who has been skinned
because of the blast of the explosion. The scarlet is most likely the blood
that the girl is covered in, which gives the reader a very intense, bloody,
strong view of the victims of this type of warfare, and it is amplified when
her skin is described as an old shoe sole or mermaids tail which the
reader can easily visualize.
The poem finishes by the repetition of the word ladybird which
illustrates the black and red of the ash and bloody bodies. However, it
could also be a reference to the childrens nursery rhyme Lady bird, lady
bird fly away home, your house is on fire, your children are gone
The poet uses this poem to show that war is a very violent, gruesome
situation that is a very impactful event in the lives of both the victims, and
the soldiers.
Lalith Sanathi
Top Related