The true story of J. Robert Oppenheimer is director Christopher Nolan’s latest project. The movie is based on real events and focuses on Oppenheimer’s role in developing the atomic bomb. For those wondering who Oppenheimer was, what he invented, when and how he died, and whether or not he can be considered a “good man,” here’s the need-to-know info.
Who was Oppenheimer?
Oppenheimer was an extraordinary physicist whose studies and experience led to him researching and developing the atomic bomb.
After bouncing between some of the top universities in the world, Oppenheimer was recruited by one of his previous teachers to assist with the “Manhattan Project.” The goal of this project was to develop an atomic bomb, as approved by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Shortly after being recruited to crunch numbers on the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer was promoted to take the lead on a secret weapons laboratory.
What did Oppenheimer invent?
Oppenheimer is best known for the invention of the atomic bomb.
At the secret weapons laboratory based in New Mexico, Oppenheimer and his team developed an atomic bomb that used a nuclear reaction to cause catastrophic initial damage to a target, as well as lasting effects from radiation that would lead to illness and death over time.
Upon witnessing a test explosion during the “Trinity” test, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, saying “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Though the bombs were developed too late to be used on the Germans, who had surrendered, Japan still posed a threat to the U.S. and its allies. This prompted the U.S. to deploy two atomic bombs, hitting the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The atomic bomb strikes were three days apart. With Japan failing to surrender after the first bomb attack, the U.S. hit the country again, finally forcing a surrender.
When and how did Oppenheimer die?
J. Robert Oppenheimer died on February 18, 1967.
Towards the end of his life, it was discovered that Oppenheimer had throat cancer, likely caused by his heavy smoking habit. Following a series of unsuccessful treatments, he died aged 62.
Was Oppenheimer a good man?
Oppenheimer’s morality is complicated and is the subject of much dispute, as the nuclear weapon he created helped to end the war, though caused catastrophic damage and killed thousands of innocent people.
With pressure mounting from enemy countries racing to create their own weapons, Oppenheimer was in an arms race to be the first person to come up with a war-ending bomb.
However, those who are against the atomic bomb may criticize Oppenheimer for creating the weapon in the first place. Its devastating impact on Japanese cities is unlikely to ever be forgotten, with the brutal loss of life truly horrifying.
Following the deployment of the nukes that helped end the war, Oppenheimer spoke out against the weapon that he created, fraying the relationship he had with the U.S. government. He appealed for international control of nuclear power and argued against the development of future weapons like the hydrogen bomb.
Viewers of the new Oppenheimer movie, in which the man is portrayed by Cillian Murphy, can expect a deeply intimate exploration of the man’s conflicts during the course of his life. With the story being told from a first-person perspective, the audience will effectively be inside the man’s head.
The Oppenheimer movie has the potential to be a tragedy, with the scientist rising in power and fame, only to suffer by the end.
For more Oppenheimer content, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Christopher Nolan directing the movie. Also, did Robert Downey Jr. just leak one of the movie’s big cameos?
