Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Code Talker, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Memory, Language, and Identity
The Navajo Way and the Life of the Warrior
Culture and Patriotism
War, Healing, and Peace
Summary
Analysis
On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killing over 70,000 people. Two days later, a second one is dropped on Nagasaki. After this, Emperor Hirohito wants to surrender. After an attempted coup by some of the military officers, Hirohito announces the Japanese surrender to his people, many of whom have never heard his voice before. The code talkers are among the first to learn this news. The Navajo marines are overjoyed, dancing down the road with some of the bandsmen’s drums. The other marines join in or celebrate in their own ways. It is a wonderful night for everyone.
After the horrible fighting on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Allies dreaded an invasion of Japan itself, projecting at least a million American casualties alone. This projection contributed to the decision to drop the atomic bombs, in hopes of bringing the war to an end at last. In that respect, at least, the dropping of the bombs was successful, though the humanitarian cost of that choice was unthinkably vast. At the time, all Ned and his fellow Marines know is that they are finally going home.
Themes
