Transformation from innocent youth to killing machine
The author didn’t only try to show the world how terrible the massacre in Nanking was, but also looked for an explanation of a problem of the soldiers’ transformation from innocent youth to genuine killing machines. She didn’t accuse them of being born evil, for it would be unfair to Japanese people. This frightening transformation could never even happen if it hadn’t been preceded with a long process of militarization. The story of the Nanking massacre shows consequences of military propaganda. Teach a soldier now to value his or her own live or any human’s life and one is going to have a killer, who is deaf to tears and suffering of others.
Loyalty
This noble trait occupied a special place in the story. John Rabe, Robert Wilson and Vinnie Vautrin were foreigners, who could flee from the city and horrors of the approaching war. However, none of them could do that, for they were loyal, courageous and strong-willed. Were they deprived of this trait, they would easily forget all the good that Chinese people did to them. They proved that it would be possible to stay a human even during the darkest times. John Rabe, Robert Wilson and Vinnie Vautrin saved not only lives, but the souls of poor and struggling people, who could easily lose faith in humanity.
Laws of war
People like to believe that there are certain rules that can protect us from anything. However, it is a bitter illusion and laws of war are a perfect example of it. In spite of the all norms and regulations that are supposed to protect civilians from injustice, innocent people suffer most. There is no need to expect a hand from the governments of other countries, for it is not an easy task to stop the violence and find those, who commit cries during a war. The massacre of Nanking proves every aforementioned word. Neither reports of the press filled with shocking photos, nor pleas of the international observers to stop the killing managed to put an end to injustice. Laws of war don’t work in practice and this is a reason why a bad peace is better than a good victory.
