Now I Am Become Death Destroyer Of Worlds Full Quote
The phrase "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" is a famous quote attributed to J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the lead scientists on the Manhattan Project. The quote is often associated with the testing of the first atomic bomb, which was successfully detonated on July 16, 1945, in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
The Origin of the Quote
The quote itself is actually a paraphrase of a much older text, the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture. In the Gita, the god Vishnu appears as the warrior Krishna to a prince named Arjuna, who is hesitant to fight in a great battle. Krishna convinces Arjuna to fight, telling him that it is his duty as a warrior and that he should not fear death. In one of the most famous passages, Krishna says:
"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
Oppenheimer was reportedly familiar with the Bhagavad Gita and its importance in Hindu culture and philosophy. He is said to have been inspired by the passage and used a version of it to describe his feelings about the atomic bomb.
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a top-secret government initiative during World War II to develop the first nuclear weapons. It was led by a team of scientists, including Oppenheimer, who were working in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The project was a massive undertaking, involving thousands of people and billions of dollars in funding.
After years of research, testing, and development, the team finally succeeded in creating a working bomb. The testing took place in Alamogordo, a remote desert location chosen for its isolation and lack of civilian population.
The First Test
The first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945, in a test codenamed Trinity. The explosion was so powerful that it was felt for miles around and created a mushroom cloud that rose high into the sky. The bomb released an enormous amount of energy, equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.
Oppenheimer was present at the test and later described his feelings in a letter to a friend:
"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita; Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
The Legacy of the Quote
The quote has since become one of the most famous and haunting statements about the destructive power of nuclear weapons. It has been used in countless books, movies, and other works of popular culture, often to emphasize the terrible consequences of war and the need for peace.
While Oppenheimer himself was initially supportive of the development of the atomic bomb, he later became a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons and a proponent of disarmament. He spent much of the rest of his life working to promote peace and prevent future wars.
Conclusion
The quote "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" is a powerful reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons and the need for peace in the world. It is a testament to the complex history of the atomic bomb and the many people who were involved in its creation and testing.