Barefoot Gen 1 – Keiji Nakazawa

Barefoot Gen is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel series by Keiji Nakazawa. The first volume, titled Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima, introduces readers to the experiences of a young boy named Gen Nakaoka and his family during and after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

The story is set in Hiroshima and begins shortly before the bombing, depicting the daily lives of Gen’s family, who are struggling with poverty and food shortages due to Japan’s involvement in World War II. The first volume captures the devastating impact of the atomic bomb, showing the immediate aftermath, including the destruction of the city, the horrific injuries suffered by the survivors, and the overwhelming sense of loss.

Barefoot Gen #1 is notable for its raw and powerful portrayal of the effects of war, particularly on civilians. It is a deeply emotional work that illustrates the horrors of nuclear warfare and the resilience of the human spirit. The series has been praised for its historical significance and its ability to convey complex themes such as the consequences of war, the strength of family, and the importance of peace.

Chapters

1. A Season of Hunger – The story begins in Hiroshima in the spring of 1945, as Japan is nearing defeat in World War II. Gen Nakaoka, a young boy, lives with his family, who are struggling with poverty and hunger due to the war. The family consists of Gen’s father, Daikichi, a pacifist who opposes the war; his pregnant mother, Kimie; his older sister, Eiko; his older brother, Koji; and his younger brother, Shinji. Despite the hardships, Gen’s father tries to keep the family’s spirits up by encouraging them to survive and stay united. This chapter sets the stage for the family’s struggles and the looming threat of the atomic bomb.
2. Eyewitness – This chapter introduces the brutal realities of wartime Japan. Gen’s father, Daikichi, is labeled a traitor and unpatriotic for his anti-war stance, which leads to discrimination and violence against the family by neighbors and authorities. Meanwhile, the war effort intensifies, and young men, including Gen’s brother Koji, are pressured to join the military. The chapter highlights the increasing tension and fear as the war drags on, and the family’s desperation grows.
3. The Fate of All Living Things – As the situation in Japan becomes more dire, food shortages worsen, and the family struggles to find enough to eat. Gen and Shinji try to help by gathering wild plants and catching fish. The chapter also portrays the relentless air raids by American forces, which terrorize the civilians of Hiroshima. Daikichi’s attempts to maintain his pacifist stance and protect his family become increasingly difficult as the war takes its toll.
4. The Day Hiroshima Disappeared – On the morning of August 6, 1945, life in Hiroshima seems normal, but everything changes in an instant when the atomic bomb is dropped on the city. The chapter graphically depicts the horrifying effects of the bomb—the intense heat, the blinding light, and the massive destruction that follows. Gen witnesses the devastation firsthand as his family and the entire city are engulfed in flames and chaos. This chapter is a pivotal moment in the story, marking the beginning of Gen’s struggle for survival in a destroyed world.
5. Flames of Carnage – In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, Gen searches for his family amidst the ruins of Hiroshima. He finds his mother, Kimie, trapped under the debris of their home, but his father, Daikichi, and younger brother, Shinji, are killed in the collapse. The chapter portrays the overwhelming grief and horror as Gen and his mother realize the full extent of their loss. The streets of Hiroshima are filled with the injured and dying, and the surviving citizens are in a state of shock and disbelief.
6. Breaking Down – Gen and his mother struggle to come to terms with the death of their family members and the destruction of their home. They are forced to flee the burning city and search for safety and shelter. This chapter delves into the psychological trauma that Gen and Kimie experience as they confront the stark reality of their situation. The chapter also highlights the resilience and determination that Gen begins to develop as he resolves to protect his mother and unborn sibling.
7. A Mother’s Anguish – Kimie goes into labor as she and Gen seek refuge outside the city. Despite the dire circumstances, Gen helps his mother give birth to a baby girl, whom they name Tomoko. The chapter explores the bittersweet nature of this event—new life is born amidst the devastation. However, the challenges of finding food and shelter for the newborn and themselves weigh heavily on Gen and his mother.
8. Doomsday – The final chapter of this volume shows the continued struggle for survival as Gen, Kimie, and Tomoko endure the harsh conditions in the aftermath of the bombing. Food and clean water are scarce, and the threat of radiation sickness looms over the survivors. The chapter ends with Gen’s resolve to keep his family alive and to carry on despite the overwhelming obstacles they face.
9. Conclusion – Barefoot Gen is a harrowing depiction of the impact of the atomic bomb on a single family in Hiroshima. Through the eyes of young Gen, readers witness the horrors of war and the atomic bombing, as well as the resilience and strength required to survive such a catastrophe. The first volume sets the stage for Gen’s ongoing struggle and determination to overcome the tragedies that have befallen his family.

One of our specialties is a collection of quotes supporting the themes. You can use them to substantiate your answers and to have a closer understanding of the work. 

Thematic Quotes

The Horrors of War: The graphic novel vividly depicts the brutal realities of war, particularly the suffering of civilians. It challenges the glorification of war by showing its devastating impact on everyday people, especially children.

Quotes:

• “I don’t want to die! Why should we die in this war?” — Gen
• “Look at what war has done to our city. Look at what it has done to us.” — Daikichi
• “Why must innocent people suffer so much?” — Kimie
• “Our home is gone. Everything is gone.” — Gen
• “The streets are filled with the dead and dying… this is war.” — Narration
• “We have nothing left… only the scars of this war.” — Gen
• “They say it’s for the glory of the nation, but it’s just killing us all.” — Daikichi
• “War turns people into monsters, into killers.” — Daikichi
• “Is this what war is? Destroying lives, destroying families?” — Kimie
• “War is a curse, a curse on all humanity.” — Gen

The Impact of Nuclear Weapons: Barefoot Gen is a powerful critique of the use of nuclear weapons. It graphically portrays the immediate and long-term effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, highlighting the indiscriminate destruction it caused.

Quotes:

• “In an instant, Hiroshima was wiped off the map.” — Narration
• “The bomb turned the city into a sea of flames.” — Narration
• “The light was so bright… and then everything was gone.” — Gen
• “People melted, their skin hanging off their bones.” — Narration
• “The heat was so intense, it burned everything in its path.” — Gen
• “Radiation is invisible, but it kills just the same.” — Daikichi
• “The bomb left nothing but death and destruction.” — Narration
• “Hiroshima was a living hell, a city of ghosts.” — Gen
• “The bomb didn’t just kill people, it destroyed their souls.” — Kimie
• “This is the power of the bomb—unimaginable, unstoppable.” — Daikichi

Survival and Resilience: Despite the overwhelming odds, the characters in Barefoot Gen #1 demonstrate incredible resilience and determination to survive. The theme explores the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Quotes:

• “We must survive, no matter what.” — Daikichi
• “We’ll find a way to live, even if everything is taken from us.” — Gen
• “As long as we have each other, we can survive.” — Kimie
• “I won’t give up, not now, not ever.” — Gen
• “We have to keep moving forward, for those who can’t.” — Gen
• “Even in this hell, we’ll find a way to live.” — Daikichi
• “We survived the bomb; we can survive anything.” — Gen
• “Our spirits are strong, stronger than the bomb.” — Kimie
• “We are survivors, and we will continue to survive.” — Gen
• “The bomb may have destroyed our city, but it won’t destroy our will to live.” — Daikichi

Loss and Trauma: The novel delves into the profound loss and trauma experienced by the survivors of the Hiroshima bombing. It shows the psychological and emotional scars that linger long after the physical wounds have healed.

Quotes:

• “My father, my brother… they’re gone, just like that.” — Gen
• “I keep seeing their faces in my dreams… the ones who died.” — Gen
• “The pain of losing them will never go away.” — Kimie
• “Hiroshima is full of ghosts, full of sorrow.” — Gen
• “The bomb took away everything we loved.” — Kimie
• “Everywhere I look, I see death and destruction.” — Gen
• “The memories haunt me, day and night.” — Kimie
• “I feel like I’m carrying the weight of the dead on my shoulders.” — Gen
• “This city is a graveyard, and we are its survivors.” — Gen
• “The trauma is deeper than any wound, it will never heal.” — Narration

Critique of Militarism and Authority: Through characters like Daikichi, the novel critiques the blind militarism and authoritarianism that led Japan into the war. It questions the idea of sacrifice for the nation and exposes the manipulation and exploitation of civilians.

Quotes:

• “This war is not for the people; it’s for the pride of a few men in power.” — Daikichi
• “They say it’s our duty to die for the emperor, but I refuse to sacrifice my family.” — Daikichi
• “The military doesn’t care about us, they only care about victory.” — Daikichi
• “Our leaders have led us into a war we cannot win.” — Daikichi
• “The government lies to us, tells us we’re fighting for freedom.” — Daikichi
• “They call us traitors for wanting peace. Is peace such a crime?” — Daikichi
• “Blind obedience to authority has led us to this disaster.” — Daikichi
• “The military uses us as pawns in their game of war.” — Daikichi
• “This is the result of their ambition—a city in ruins.” — Daikichi
• “Authority demands sacrifice, but it is the innocent who pay the price.” — Daikichi

These themes and quotes offer rich material for analysis, particularly in the context of global issues such as the ethics of war, the consequences of nuclear proliferation, and the critique of authoritarian regimes. They align well with the IBDP English focus on exploring how literature reflects and critiques societal issues, as well as the impact of historical events on personal and collective identities.

Below are some of the striking instances for a few Lines of Inquiries. Learn them and frame your essays upon these instances to have great credibility for your answers. 

Lines of Inquiries

“The Representation of War’s Impact on Civilians.”

• Depiction of the immediate physical effects of the atomic bomb.
• The portrayal of trauma and psychological scars in survivors.
• The experiences of children in wartime Hiroshima.
• Civilian resilience in the face of destruction.
• The contrast between daily life before and after the bombing.
• Emotional responses to loss and grief.
• The role of family bonds during crises.
• The loss of innocence in young characters like Gen.
• Representation of communal support and breakdown.
• The critique of wartime propaganda.
• Impact of food shortages on civilian morale.
• The depiction of shelters and refuge during air raids.
• Long-term health effects of radiation exposure.
• Symbolism of ruined buildings and landscapes.
• The role of hope and despair in survival.
• Gender roles and their subversion in crisis situations.
• Portrayal of mourning rituals and their disruption.
• The impact of war on education and childhood.
• Civilian perspectives on the government and military.
• Depictions of PTSD and its manifestations in characters.

“Critique of Militarism and Authoritarianism.”

• Daikichi’s pacifism and its consequences.
• Depiction of the Japanese government’s propaganda.
• The glorification of the emperor and its impact on civilians.
• Criticism of blind obedience to authority.
• The role of conscription and its effect on families.
• The use of children in the war effort.
• Manipulation of public opinion by the state.
• Representation of dissent and its repression.
• The moral conflict between duty to family and nation.
• The portrayal of military personnel and their actions.
• The effect of militarism on Japanese culture.
• The concept of honor and its critique in the novel.
• The consequences of authoritarian rule on personal freedoms.
• How the novel portrays the failure of government protection.
• The use of fear to control the population.
• The role of education in promoting militarism.
• Representation of forced labor and its ethical implications.
• The critique of sacrifice for the state.
• The impact of war on civic responsibility and morality.
• The portrayal of post-war reflections on militarism.

The Ethical Implications of Nuclear Warfare

• The justification of the atomic bombing in historical context.
• The portrayal of the bomb’s immediate and long-term effects.
• The moral debate on the use of nuclear weapons.
• Representation of innocent civilian casualties.
• The role of science and technology in warfare.
• Ethical considerations of mass destruction.
• The impact of nuclear weapons on international relations.
• Depictions of the bomb as a symbol of ultimate power.
• The portrayal of radiation sickness and its ethics.
• Representation of guilt and responsibility in warfare.
• The moral implications of targeting cities.
• How the novel challenges or supports the bombing.
• The legacy of nuclear warfare in global consciousness.
• The bomb’s effects on cultural and historical memory.
• Ethical discussions around weapons of mass destruction.
• The portrayal of Hiroshima as a microcosm of nuclear war.
• The role of literature in addressing nuclear ethics.
• Depictions of the bomb’s impact on future generations.
• The moral responsibility of nations in warfare.
• How survivors are portrayed as witnesses to nuclear history.

“Survival and Resilience in the Face of Adversity.”

• Gen’s journey from despair to determination.
• The role of family unity in survival.
• Strategies for physical survival (food, shelter, safety).
• Psychological coping mechanisms used by characters.
• The depiction of hope as a survival tool.
• Representation of resilience in different age groups.
• The importance of community in survival.
• How characters adapt to a post-apocalyptic environment.
• The role of faith and spirituality in resilience.
• The symbolism of nature in survival narratives.
• The portrayal of maternal strength in adversity.
• How trauma influences survival instincts.
• The depiction of survival guilt and its effects.
• How the novel portrays the concept of “survival of the fittest.”
• The impact of cultural values on resilience.
• How characters find meaning in survival.
• The role of storytelling in maintaining hope.
• The balance between self-preservation and altruism.
• Depictions of moral dilemmas in survival scenarios.
• How resilience is portrayed as a communal versus individual trait.

“Loss and Trauma in Post-War Literature.”

• The portrayal of grief and mourning in Gen’s family.
• The impact of sudden loss on child characters.
• Depictions of PTSD and its symptoms.
• How the novel portrays survivor’s guilt.
• The representation of Hiroshima as a site of collective trauma.
• The role of memory in processing trauma.
• The effects of trauma on family dynamics.
• The use of visual imagery to convey trauma.
• How trauma shapes characters’ identities.
• The intergenerational transmission of trauma.
• The role of rituals and their disruption in mourning.
• Depictions of despair and hopelessness.
• How loss is portrayed as a transformative experience.
• The relationship between trauma and resilience.
• Representation of fragmented memories in trauma narratives.
• The impact of trauma on physical health.
• How literature serves as a space for processing trauma.
• The role of silence and unspoken trauma.
• The portrayal of traumatic flashbacks in the novel.
• How trauma influences characters’ perceptions of the future.

“The Role of Family and Community in Crisis.”

• The portrayal of family as a source of strength.
• How crisis redefines family roles and responsibilities.
• Depictions of sacrifice within the family unit.
• The impact of loss on family cohesion.
• Representation of the extended community as a family.
• The role of gender in family dynamics during crisis.
• The importance of communication in maintaining family bonds.
• Depictions of intergenerational relationships in crisis.
• The portrayal of community support systems.
• How crisis challenges traditional family structures.
• The role of family in shaping individual resilience.
• The impact of crisis on parenting and childhood.
• How the novel portrays the breakdown of community.
• Representation of communal grief and mourning.
• The influence of cultural values on family responses to crisis.
• The role of family history and heritage in crisis.
• How community leaders are portrayed during the crisis.
• The impact of crisis on familial love and relationships.
• Depictions of the family as a microcosm of society.
• The role of the family in post-crisis reconstruction and healing.

“The Influence of Historical Context on Narrative.”

• The portrayal of Hiroshima’s pre-war society.
• How World War II influences character behavior and beliefs.
• Representation of Japanese cultural values in wartime.
• The impact of imperial propaganda on civilians.
• Depictions of American influence before and after the bomb.
• The role of historical events in shaping the narrative structure.
• The influence of Nakazawa’s own experiences on the story.
• Representation of Hiroshima as a symbol of war.
• The depiction of post-war occupation and its effects.
• How historical trauma is embedded in the narrative.
• The role of historical memory in character development.
• Depictions of traditional versus modern values in wartime.
• The portrayal of historical accuracy versus artistic license.
• Representation of the global impact of Hiroshima’s bombing.
• How historical events influence the novel’s themes.
• The portrayal of history as cyclical or linear in the narrative.
• How the novel reflects broader historical debates on war.
• The influence of Japanese historical narratives on the story.
• Representation of historical events through personal stories.
• The role of historical context in reader interpretation.

“The Role of Visual Imagery in Conveying Themes.”

• The use of graphic imagery to depict the bombing’s effects.
• Visual representation of the bomb’s aftermath in Hiroshima.
• The symbolism of light and darkness in the novel’s visuals.
• Depictions of the human body in states of suffering.
• The use of visual contrast to highlight pre- and post-bombing life.
• Representation of destruction through architectural imagery.
• The use of perspective and angles in conveying horror.
• Visual metaphors for trauma and memory.
• The role of color (or lack thereof) in conveying emotion.
• How visual imagery enhances the narrative’s themes.
• Depictions of the natural environment in the novel.
• The use of recurring visual motifs (e.g., fire, ash).
• How characters’ emotions are portrayed through visuals.
• The role of visual imagery in depicting moral dilemmas.
• The influence of traditional Japanese art on the novel’s visuals.
• The interplay between text and imagery in storytelling.
• The impact of visual depictions on reader empathy.
• How visual symbolism conveys the novel’s critique of war.
• Representation of hope and despair through visual elements.
• The role of visual imagery in shaping the reader’s experience.

“The Intersection of Personal and Political in Gen’s Story.”

• How Gen’s personal experiences reflect broader political issues.
• The portrayal of individual versus collective suffering.
• Representation of personal loss within a political context.
• The impact of government decisions on Gen’s family.
• Depictions of personal identity shaped by political events.
• The role of political ideology in shaping characters’ actions.
• The critique of political authority through personal narratives.
• How Gen’s story highlights the human cost of political decisions.
• The portrayal of personal resilience against political oppression.
• Depictions of personal sacrifice for political causes.
• The role of political disillusionment in character development.
• Representation of personal morality versus political duty.
• How political events shape personal relationships in the novel.
• The influence of war on Gen’s sense of identity.
• The interplay between personal dreams and political realities.
• Depictions of personal rebellion against political authority.
• How Gen’s story serves as a microcosm of political conflict.
• The role of personal narratives in critiquing political systems.
• Representation of personal freedom versus political control.
• How the personal and political intersect in the novel’s themes.

“The Role of Childhood in War Narratives.”

• The portrayal of Gen’s childhood innocence before the bomb.
• How war accelerates the loss of childhood in Gen.
• Depictions of play and imagination as coping mechanisms.
• The role of children as witnesses to war’s horrors.
• Representation of childhood trauma and its effects.
• How the novel contrasts children’s and adults’ experiences of war.
• The impact of war on education and childhood development.
• The role of sibling relationships in the context of war.
• Depictions of children’s resilience in war-torn environments.
• How childhood is portrayed as a symbol of hope or despair.
• The influence of war on Gen’s moral development.
• Representation of childhood games in a war context.
• The portrayal of children’s understanding of political events.
• How war redefines the concept of childhood in the novel.
• The role of innocence and experience in shaping Gen’s character.
• Depictions of generational conflict in wartime.
• How childhood memories influence adult perspectives on war.
• The role of children as symbols of the future in war narratives.
• How the novel portrays the loss of childhood in wartime.
• Representation of childhood as a site of both vulnerability and strength.

Vocabulary

Here’s a list of important vocabulary from Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa, a graphic novel set during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. These terms can help in understanding the historical context and themes of the novel.

• Atomic Bomb (Genbaku) – A bomb that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions.
• Hibakusha – A Japanese term meaning “explosion-affected people,” referring to survivors of the atomic bombings.
• Radiation Sickness – Illness caused by exposure to the radiation from the atomic bomb, characterized by nausea, hair loss, bleeding, and fatigue.
• Evacuation – The process of moving people away from a dangerous area, often used in the novel as people try to escape the devastation of Hiroshima.
• Emperor (Tennō) – The emperor of Japan during World War II, Emperor Hirohito, seen as a divine figure by the Japanese people.
• Imperial Japan – Refers to Japan under the rule of the emperor during the early to mid-20th century, especially during World War II.
• Air Raid – An attack by enemy aircraft, dropping bombs on a city or military target.
• Propaganda – Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view, particularly during wartime.
• B-29 Superfortress – The American bomber plane that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Allied Powers – The coalition of nations, including the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union, that opposed the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) in World War II.
• Axis Powers – The coalition of countries led by Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.
• Surrender – The act of giving up in a war or conflict, which Japan did after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Occupation – The control of a country by a foreign military power. After World War II, Japan was occupied by the United States.
• War Crime – An action carried out during the conduct of a war that violates accepted international rules of war.
• Black Rain (Kuroi Ame) – Radioactive rain that fell after the atomic bomb explosion, causing illness and death among survivors.
• Nuclear Fallout – The residual radioactive material propelled into the atmosphere after a nuclear blast.
• Starvation – Suffering or death caused by hunger, a recurring theme in the story as Japan faces severe food shortages during and after the war.
• Pacifism – The belief in non-violence and the opposition to war, often reflected in the themes of Barefoot Gen.
• Total War – A war in which every available resource and the entire civilian population are mobilized to support the military effort.
• Survivor Guilt – A feeling of guilt experienced by those who survive a traumatic event, such as the bombing, when others did not.

Next: Comparative Analysis.

Works: Barefoot Gen vs The Nickel Boys (Colson Whitehead)

Sample Analysis

Line of Inquiry: How do authors of Nickel Boys and Barefoot Gen present the harrowing effects of suppression and its impact on their victims?

In Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead and Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa, both authors illustrate how systemic and violent forms of suppression leave devastating emotional and physical scars on their characters. Whitehead delves into racial and institutional repression in Jim Crow-era America, while Nakazawa exposes the trauma inflicted by wartime suppression in Japan, particularly during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Through the exploration of their protagonists’ struggles—Elwood Curtis and Gen Nakaoka—the authors reveal the long-term consequences of such oppression on individuals and their communities, using personal resilience, survival, and a profound sense of injustice as focal points for understanding suppression’s impact.

Both Nickel Boys and Barefoot Gen examine suppression as a dehumanizing force that denies the victims their right to dignity, freedom, and survival. In Nickel Boys, Elwood Curtis, an African American teenager, is unjustly sent to a reform school where he experiences brutal physical and psychological abuse at the hands of a corrupt system. The novel is set against the backdrop of racial segregation in America, where institutionalized racism controls every aspect of the lives of Black Americans. Whitehead presents suppression as a force that seeks to strip Elwood of his potential, keeping him trapped in a cycle of violence.

In Barefoot Gen, Nakazawa uses the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as a historical event to illustrate how war itself can become a tool of suppression. The suppression comes not just from the bomb itself but also from the militaristic ideology and nationalistic fervor that led to Japan’s entry into the war. Gen Nakaoka, the young protagonist, must navigate the immediate and long-term fallout of Hiroshima’s destruction. Nakazawa emphasizes how this suppression extends beyond physical devastation, encompassing emotional and societal suppression as the hibakusha (survivors of the bombing) are marginalized and neglected.

Both authors thus depict their characters as products of suppression, struggling not only for survival but also for a sense of agency in environments designed to obliterate it.

In Nickel Boys, suppression is embedded within the institutions, from the justice system to the school itself. Whitehead uses contrasting characters—such as Elwood, who clings to ideals of justice inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., and Turner, who adopts a more cynical, survivalist view—to highlight the different ways suppression can affect a person’s worldview. Elwood’s belief in moral rightness is eroded over time, symbolizing how suppression leads to the dismantling of ideals, hope, and identity. His eventual fate represents the ultimate triumph of suppression over innocence, where the very system that claims to reform ends up consuming its most promising subjects.

Nakazawa, in contrast, presents suppression in Barefoot Gen as an external, catastrophic force that is indiscriminate in its destruction. The atomic bomb’s effects on Gen and his family are immediate, as their lives are literally torn apart in an instant. Nakazawa employs graphic imagery to convey the full horror of this suppression, from scenes of mass death to the long-term radiation poisoning that haunts the survivors. However, like Whitehead, Nakazawa also explores the more insidious, psychological dimensions of suppression. Gen’s struggle with survivor’s guilt, as well as his experience of social exclusion as a hibakusha, reflects how the effects of suppression are deeply layered, affecting not just the body but the mind and spirit.

While Whitehead and Nakazawa both depict physical and psychological trauma, their modes of narration differ. Whitehead’s tone is meditative and reflective, emphasizing the slow erosion of hope and the systemic nature of the characters’ suffering. His use of the reform school as a microcosm of American racism shows how suppression becomes institutionalized, making it almost impossible for characters like Elwood to escape its reach. Nakazawa, on the other hand, uses the medium of the graphic novel to convey the immediacy and shock of suppression. His images of the bomb’s aftermath are raw and visceral, presenting suppression not as a slow burn but as an explosive, all-consuming force.

Both texts are tightly focused on their respective portrayals of suppression, though they approach the subject from different historical and cultural perspectives. Whitehead’s exploration of suppression is more systemic, tied to racial injustice and institutional violence in the United States, while Nakazawa’s depiction focuses on the effects of war and the aftermath of nuclear devastation in Japan.

This essay has maintained coherence by weaving together the similarities and differences between how suppression manifests in the lives of the protagonists. Both Gen and Elwood are subjected to forces beyond their control, but while Elwood’s battle is primarily against institutional suppression, Gen’s struggle is against the sheer force of wartime destruction. By focusing on these distinct forms of suppression, the essay highlights the broader theme of survival and resilience that unites the two narratives.

The essay has also maintained a clear and logical structure, beginning with an introduction to the key themes of suppression in both texts, followed by a detailed analysis of how these themes are represented through the protagonists. The comparison of the authors’ narrative strategies and techniques has provided further insight into how each novel conveys the impact of suppression on its victims.

Whitehead and Nakazawa use distinct narrative techniques to depict the suppression of their characters and its lasting effects. Whitehead’s prose in Nickel Boys is stark yet reflective, often delving into the internal monologues of Elwood as he grapples with the unjust system. His language is deliberate, designed to expose the cruelty of institutionalized racism in an unflinching manner. He uses Elwood’s innocence and idealism, inspired by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., as a juxtaposition to the harsh reality of the Nickel Academy’s brutal practices. Through the lens of Elwood’s eventual disillusionment, Whitehead subtly critiques the failure of American institutions to uphold justice and equality.

Nakazawa’s use of visual storytelling in Barefoot Gen is equally powerful, though entirely different in its execution. As a graphic novel, Nakazawa employs a direct and visual language where each panel not only captures the physical destruction but also conveys the emotional weight of the narrative. His depictions of the bomb’s aftermath—the bodies in the streets, the ruined cityscape, and the survivors’ hollow stares—are raw and unfiltered, forcing the reader to confront the harrowing consequences of war. The simplicity of Nakazawa’s illustrations, combined with the starkness of the events depicted, emphasizes the enormity of suppression and its devastating effects on humanity. Dialogue is used sparingly, often underscoring the futility and helplessness of those who have been suppressed by forces beyond their control.

Thus, while Whitehead’s Nickel Boys uses language to engage readers intellectually and emotionally through reflective prose, Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen uses the immediacy of visual storytelling to provoke a visceral reaction to the horrors of suppression. Both authors rely on their respective mediums—novel and graphic novel—to make suppression a lived experience for the reader, evoking empathy and a deeper understanding of its far-reaching impact.

In both Nickel Boys and Barefoot Gen, suppression manifests in distinct but equally devastating ways. Whitehead presents it as a slow, grinding force embedded within the institutions that govern society, while Nakazawa shows it as an overwhelming and destructive event that reshapes the very fabric of life. Yet, despite these differences, both authors emphasize the long-lasting effects of suppression on the human spirit, revealing how victims struggle to reclaim their dignity and humanity in the face of overwhelming odds. Through their powerful portrayals of survival, both novels ultimately critique the systems and ideologies that perpetuate such suppression, offering a sobering reflection on the costs of injustice and war.