Laura Hillenbrand’s biography titled Unbroken recounts the life of Louie Zamperini and major events that occurred throughout it. Hillenbrand’s purpose was to emphasize the inspirational story of heroic Zamperini as he qualified and participated in the Olympics, as well as describe the endless struggle of pain in the plane crash and in the Japanese POW camps. She also portrays the importance of dignity and resilience and how without it, the chances of surviving the cruel events Louie experienced during World War II would have been minimal. In the first part of the story, since the book didn’t have a point of view from Louie, the author uses many different types of imagery to allow the reader to imagine what Louie experienced and how it impacted
At many points during the course of the novel Hillenbrand shows Louie’s drive to surpass every obstacle he faces. She shows his drive through some of the rhetorical devices, which includes, syntax in the first paragraph and developing suspense. She also uses personification in describing the camp around Louie while he is holding the beam over his head. Finally, her use of dialog at the end of the second paragraph continues the overall power of the text. It also pulls the theme of human spirit and endurance into the whole
The visual and tactile imagery in Cather’s My Antonia highlight the novel’s theme of nostalgia. In the first paragraph of the passage, Jim writes about an afternoon out with Antonia. He describes the plains of Nebraska, his surroundings, using words of warmth and peace. Jim talks about the “warm, grassy bank,” the “amber sunlight,” and the “tall asparagus…lying on the ground.” The visual imagery, displayed in these descriptions, contributes to the theme of nostalgia as Jim reminisces about a more peaceful and loving part of his adolescence. Through this visual imagery, Jim’s descriptions of his surroundings immerse themselves into the novel and become a character of their own. The sun, the sky, the animals- Jim’s surroundings- aid in Jim’s
Through the years 1939 through 1945 there was the terrifying tragedy of World War II. It wrecked people’s homes and nations, killed many families and friends. However, the true destruction it caused was on the mind, the psyches and the sanity of the loved ones waiting at home and the men in battle. I am Louie Zamperini and this is my story from the war, and how I was unbroken.
Louis Zamperini, a well-known World War II soldier whose story is told in Laura Hillenbrand’s biography Unbroken, struggled in youth to become the man he is known for today. Struggling with societal rules and thievery, Louie turned his life around by adopting running in his early years of high school. Giving Louie something to strive and live for, running turned into the most important thing in Louie’s life and had a profound effect for years to come. Soon competing in the Olympics, Louie’s life diverged from disobedience to make both him and his family proud. Running, including in high school, the Olympics, and post-war, played a momentous role in Zamperini’s life by molding him into a famous and heroic man that played a quintessential role
During World War II Japan held around 350,000 prisoners of war (POW’s) ;33% of the American POW’s had died while in captivity. Louie Zamperini was lucky enough to be part of the percentage that lived. The novel Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, is a story that goes on to tell the story of Louie’s life as a POW. He had to overcome the struggles the guards made him go through. During the war while Louie was a POW, he lost his true identity.
imagery that made the story come alive for the readers. This story symbolized the difficulty of
It is very hard to tell the full story of the courage Louie obtained, and everything he went through. She created this book from the life of Louie, however a big part of the making of the book was the many phone calls she sat through in order to interview him. In an article from New York Times article called Zamperini’s War, written by David Margolick, it states, “ Laura Hillenbrand reached Louis Zamperini just in the nick of time — he was in his mid-80s when she found him, and 93 now— and it’s an excellent thing, for his is surely one of the most extraordinary war stories of all.” In the back of the book within the acknowledgements she talks a lot about how the interviews went and how Louie really was. She said, “... I felt certain that I would never again find a subject that fascinated me as did the Depression-era racehorse and the team of men who campaigned him. When I had my first conversation with the infectiously effervescent and apparently immortal Louie Zamperini, I changed my mind.” She then continues to say, “ That conversation began my seven-year journey through Louie’s unlikely life. I found his story in the memories of Olympians, former POWs and airmen, Japanese veterans, and the family and friends who one formed the home front; in diaries, letters, essays, and telegrams, and many written by men and women who died long ago;...” The most touching part
When Philips, known as Phil, and Zamperini reached the Marshall Islands, the Japanese immediately captured them. A new journey had begun for them, and it was not going to be any easier. Before they knew it, they were becoming prisoners of war. They were beaten, interrogated, forced to take unknown medication for experimental purposes, enslaved, and most importantly mentally tortured. It was the job of the Japanese guards to make them feel weak and useless individuals to the point where dignity was completely lost. Bouncing from one P.O.W. camp to the next, the food and berthing conditions were unfathomable. Updates of the war were next to impossible to receive. As Phil and Zamperini were eventually separated to different camps, it took everything Zamperini had to maintain his mental strength. Surviving on a raft was one thing, but surviving while being tormented by the enemy was an entirely different ballgame for them. All humanity was lost in this part of the war, and there was no international law that could save them from this torture. Since the suspense was clearly already as high as it gets, Hillenbrand made it even more thorough by interviewing several men from various P.O.W. camps throughout Japan. Hearing the different stories and perspectives added more reality to my wild imagination of what a P.O.W. camp would look like. It also served as a reminder of everyone else who was going through this hell, rather than remaining focused only on Zamperini’s journey. This
Over the course of the book, “Unbroken”, many life tasks go on throughout the century to affect the people of the U.S from traumatizing events. Such events that it changed people into a new type of person which later developed into cases of PTSD. “Unbroken” starts off as a story about a young boy named Louie who could not determine what his true fate was, later he develops into a fearsome young man who has the opportunity to save American lives as an American soldier during World War II. Not only was he a soldier, he was a Throughout the war many devastating tragedies occurred, such as random friends fighting and dying in combat to protect the U.S. While reading the book, one might notice that the effects of war can change a person significantly. Although Louie saw traumatizing events, this helped him become a better person in the overall better state of the world. Many close friends in which he developed feelings for as buds later passed away would always get to him emotionally. One may agree that the events that occurred to Louie and his crewmates may lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Although the soldiers fight for our incredible nation, and enjoy every aspect of the victory, it is often ignored that PTSD affects many our veteran troops whom will suffer for years to come.
Dignity, it’s what makes a human humane. It’s what powers, us, our fire, our spirit. Once removed, it kills a man, before he dies. Being raised in Torrance, and as a young boy, Louie Zamperini acted pridefully in his rebellious and risky work, He was often known for stealing, drinking liquor, and also smoking cigarettes as a young boy. He later grew to be an incredible athlete, an Olympic runner, where again his passion was impeccably strong. These actions, show Louie’s future and help him simply due to his beliefs of individual pride through his World War II experience as an Air Force Bombardier. Louie Zamperini, through the process of the P.O.W. camp-powered World War II , fought against the driving force of removing dignity, by acting
In the beginning of the story, the author gives the reader images of the two
World War II is unarguably one of the most destructive, deadliest, and bloodiest war throughout history between the Allies and the Axis Powers. It involved over 100 million people from more than thirty countries, and were met with fatalities exceeding 60 million people. 22 to 25 million of those people were said to have been soldiers, including 5 million of them dying due to the horrible conditions they faced whilst being held hostage in various camps in the opposing side as prisoners of war. and Angelina Jolie’s debut film, “Unbroken”, she focuses on the life of World War II hero, Louis Zamperini. In
Moreover, the author uses strong imagery to show the different life circumstances that they face. For example , the author mentions “ Eating the steak he does
Unbroken, a movie about Louis “Louie” Zamperini was released on December 25, 2014. As a kid growing up Louis always found his self in troubles way, but then he started running to keep out trouble. Later on in his career he qualified for the 1936 Olympics team. After World War II Louie signed up to join the military. When he was at war his plane crashed into the Pacific, and he was captured by the Japanese navy and survived 47 days in a raft. Louis “Louie” Zamperini (hero in the movie), Russell Phillips (pilot), and Mutsuhiro ”The Bird” Watanabe. Unbroken is an action packed movie.
Who can imagine being beaten, made a worthless number, and tortured for no reason? Who can imagine making code in order to communicate, drawing pictures, and stealing in order to feel like a person again? These things are just a few of the things that happened during World War II. Louie came from a famous background. He was training to be in the Olympics which was to be held in Tokyo. Miné’s parents were both Japanese immigrants to the United States. Miné had received her bachelor's and master’s degree and was just touring Europe to study art. Louie was an Olympian and through that experience he learned determination and hope. Miné spent her previous years trying to get into college, then succeeding, and pursuing her passion. She was determined to