How Is Faith Shown In The Book Unbroken

Well-known nonfiction author Laura Hillenbrand, in her best-selling biography, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, describes the chilling reality faced by those living in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. As the title suggests, this is not the typical World War II tale of hardship that ends in liberation; rather, it follows the main character, Louis “Louie” Zamperini, through his childhood, Olympic performances, and military career leading up to his captivity, as well as his later marriage and many years of healing. Hillenbrand's purpose is to impress upon her readers the scale of this tragedy as well as remind them of the horror that so many nameless soldiers endured. She adopts an emotional yet straightforward tone in order to get readers to sympathize with the characters and truly understand what they went through. To do so, she manages to make the unique story of one man represent the thousands of others going through the same tragedy.

In World War II, 30,000 POWs died (forces-war-records). Louie Zamperini was one of the lucky few that survived. All across Louie’s life he has had to keep many of the traits that he had acquired during his childhood and teenage years. Especially when he was captured by Japanese officers after being stranded at sea for 47 days. Using these traits he survived many POW camps with “The Bird”, one of the most brutal officers that Louie knew of. In Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, Louie Zamperini has gained many attributes, the two most prominent being that he’s optimistic, and that he’s courageous, and many of his actions throughout Unbroken seem prove so.

During the time Louis Zamperini served in the military, World War II was at a devastating point, affecting millions of Americans and others throughout the world. At this time, World War II was one of the most tragic wars, with hardship, pain, trials and triumphs. This brave Army Air Force bomber proved that there were many heroes and some of their stories longed to be shared. In May of 1943, Louis Zamperini's life changed for the worse during a flight over the Pacific Ocean. Louis Zamperini showed significant amounts of courage by experiencing a terrifying plane crash and survival, being a Japanese Prisoner of War (POW), and enduring brutal treatment by Japanese Sergeant Mutsuhiro Watanabe (The Bird.) His story tells of extreme acts

The author Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” In the nonfiction book Unbroken written by Laura Hillenbrand, Louie Zamperini’s bravery brought Keller’s words to reality when Louie fought against a shark in the Pacific Ocean during a Japanese attack to their raft of three men. Obviously, Louie showed impeccable will of courage to survive against the Japanese attackers and sharks at the same time, making the events in Unbroken genuine and dangerous piece of Louie Zamperini’s life.

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.

Louie surpassed numerous experiences that would have devoured him had it not been for his spiritual endurance. His initial demonstration of spiritual perseverance can be observed when he manages to stay alive while stranded in the Ocean. The conditions of desperation

Louie Zamperini, some of you may know the legend filled name, but some others don’t. Who is this man? Well, he’s a man who fought in World War II, a man who, at the age of nineteen, was invited to compete in the Olympics, but what he’s most known for, is his journey of being a captive and his ‘unbroken’ spirit. Louie as a young boy, was a renowned troublemaker in his hometown, however with the encouragement from his brother, he trained his hardest to become a competitive runner. His work paid off, after a race in Berlin against Lash, he was invited to compete in the Olympics as the youngest runner to make the team. However, just as he was training to make the next Olympics, all was lost as America was at war, and he joined the Army Air Corps. His amazing journey was put together by Laura Hillenbrand, in the book Unbroken. A book that shows us the strong and defiant

Phil and Zamperini suffered through many camps, with many harsh and brutal guards. Amazingly, America won the war and they were saved. Unfortunately, Louie was not the same. He had post-traumatic stress disorder and was obsessed with finding and killing the Bird. After that, he went through some tough times until he was reintroduced to God and religion. He began to find himself and started living a happier life.

His time in the military is where his real test of his unbroken heart began. Louie and his

WWII was a very difficult time for people all over the world, especially men at war and their families. Although Louie endured many trials and tribulations, he portrayed resilience, survival, and redemption. Resilience is the power to overcome a difficulty you have worked hard at. Louie showed much resilience throughout the book

Those with the highest of talents can sometimes seem like they have it all, going through life with no problems. Louie Zamperini worked hard to get to the point in his life where he was one of the best long distance runners in the nation-fans viewing him as a superstar, not seeing many of the challenges he faced. Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken although also showed the hardships of war as well, Louie surviving from the worst of conditions when faced upon the evil of the Japanese at the time. From the start of Louie’s childhood to his days as a college student, his exhibition of resiliency and perseverance such as stubborn childhood acts and running for a living, helps Louie to learn to cope and survive throughout his service as an airman during

Before he was a POW, he drifted 47 days across the Pacific ocean before he was a captive. The journey included sharks, bombing attacks, starvation, and trying to keep their minds sharp. In one instance, the Japanese dive bombed Louie, Phil and Mac. A difficult decision lay before Louie: either dive into the shark infested water, or be plugged up with bullet holes. Hillenbrand narrated this by saying: “Louie took a last glance at them, then dropped into the water and swam back under the rafts” (161). Jumping into Pacific ocean knowing sharks are swimming around is not an easy task. Louie’s eagle like bravery helped him survive multiple Japanese bomber attacks while fighting off hungry sharks. Louie and many other POW’s struggled to survive captivity. Japanese officers continuously abused them and made their lives hell. He showed extreme bravery at the POW camp, not only for himself but for other prisoners. When the prisoners were being starved more than usual, Louie stepped in. “Louie would hide half the rice, inch up to Phil on the parade ground, and slipped it into his hand” (214). Louie knew if he got caught he would have to deal with the consequences. Time and again, Louis risked his own safety to help his fellow

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.

First of all, the theme of survival was demonstrated throughout the book. Starting off with Zamperini surviving from the eugenics by transforming himself into an Olympian athlete in Part I, to the plane crash in Part II, next the 47 days of drifting in the Pacific Ocean in Part III, then the Japanese POW camps in Part IV, and finally overcoming his mental illness in Part V were all examples of the theme survival being demonstrated. In addition, the theme of resilience was part of the protagonist Zamperini’s personality. At the Japanese POW camp, Naoetsu, the Bird, a sadistic Japanese POW guard, tortured him and stripped away his dignity. The Bird has let Zamperini perform tasks such as holding up a six foot beam after discovering Zamperini was desperate for medical care. Being told to hold the beam or else being whacked by the guard’s gun, Zamperini held it for 37 minutes. Considering his physical condition during that time period, it was incredible how Zamperini’s mental state helped him through the difficulties of the Japanese POW camp. Lastly, Hillenbrand integrated the theme of redemption mostly in Part V. The following quote from that section explains it all. “It was forgiveness, beautiful and effortless and complete. For Louie Zamperini, the war was over” (p.386). After the war, Zamperini had nightmares of the Bird, sank into

‘Fellowship’ and ‘Community’ are fundamental elements to the traditional Christian view attitude, by the fact that the role of the Church is to bring people together and provides them with a sanctuary to express their beliefs. There is a psychological explanation for this, that we are at a lesser stage of anxiety when we seek for belonging and acceptances from others, thus Kierkegaard argues that this leads to complacency. Kierkegaard further argues that Authentic faith is an active faith in that the movements of faith are chosen again and again, thus Active faith is for the individual in their own solitude. Inauthentic faith is inactive and complacent, therefore complacent faith is faith for comfort's sake and not faith in its truest sense. Hence, comfort comes from the community, that of the Church and the concept that others believe what oneself also believes.