Unbroken, By Laura Hillenbrand: Character Analysis

When Louie Zamperini finally returned home from his journey as a bombardier, castaway, and POW, he was asked of his experiences. Louie replied, “If I knew I had to go through those experiences again… I’d kill myself” (233). Ever since he was a young boy, Louie was resilient and determined, whether it was stealing from the local bakery or becoming a track star. During his time as a captive in Japanese POW camps, he would depend on these traits to survive. In Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, the theme people often reveal their true natures in their darkest moments is illustrated through the use of character.
In many cases, people show their true colors when exposed to hardship and suffering. During his time as a POW, living under the harsh

The Bird, Mutsuhiro Watanabe, took his pain and anger out on Louie, who he resented for his accomplishments. Watanabe was from a family of high ranking military personnel, and expected to become a prominent soldier, but he was rejected. Hillenbrand explains, “His failure derailed him, leaving him feeling disgraced, infuriated, and bitterly jealous of officers” (173). The Bird saw Louie as everything he was not; a strong willed, successful Olympian, and a high ranking POW. Of course, from the minute he discovered him, “The corporal was fixated on Louie, hunting the man he would call ‘number one prisoner,” (179). The Bird’s jealousy of Louie’s accomplishments coupled with his own failures, generated a vigorous hate and determination to break Louie’s will. Unsurprisingly, at Omori POW camp, Mutsuhiro Watanabe became notorious for his degradation and abuse, including emotional torture. Once, The Bird forced a POW to “stand all night saluting a flagpole, shouting the Japanese word for ‘Salute!’ - Keirei! - leaving the man weeping and out of his mind” (174). Corporal Watanabe was a broken man. Often after he harassed a prisoner he collapsed in regret. Watanabe was unpredictable and malicious. As can be seen, after his failure to become an officer, Mutsuhiro, ‘The Bird’ Watanabe, fell apart. Ashamed, he became a violent maniac, praying on and torturing Louie, jealous of his