Science vs. morals

Abstract

The present dissertation is a character study of the historical figure J. Robert Oppenheimer as portrayed in Christopher Nolan‘s film Oppenheimer (2023). To examine the psychology behind his behavior, this study draws from Freudian psychoanalysis theory to be able to understand the inner workings of the scientist‘s mind, and the unconscious drives and internal conflicts behind his decisions. This research spans his college years, his central role in the famous Manhattan Project, the creation of the atomic bomb, and his eventual downfall during the 1954 security hearing. Oppenheimer is analyzed as a subject plagued by guilt, repression, and an unrelenting death drive. The aim of this study is to offer a clear theoretical framework and critically examine the psychological and moral dimensions of Oppenheimer. It explores how his life was built upon, and then ultimately shattered by scientific ambition, political power, and moral conflict. Moreover, the value of this research lays in its originality as the film remains relatively recent and underexplored. The major lack of scholarly research regarding this topic leaves plenty of space for new critical perspectives that would contribute to the understanding of its psychological and thematic depth.