What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to examine how Don DeLillo's Underworld addresses the issues of nuclear waste and its long-term effects on society.

April 4, 2026Open Access

Radiation Narratives in Don DeLillo's Underworld: Managing the Incalculable, Long-Term Effects of Nuclear Waste

YNYoshihiro NaganoSophia University

Key Points

The aim is to examine how Don DeLillo's Underworld addresses the issues of nuclear waste and its long-term effects on society.
Literary analysis of Don DeLillo's Underworld
Exploration of themes related to nuclear crises and waste management
Investigation of the protagonist's conceptualization of radiation effects
DeLillo highlights the complexities of managing nuclear waste in an awe-inspiring context.
Nick Shay's sublimity reflects profound emotional responses to radiation's effects.
The narrative critiques technological mastery over the long-term consequences of nuclear power.

Abstract

This study explores the issue of radiation in Don DeLillo's Underworld, which involves a nuclear crisis that is domestically generated by weapons tests and radioactive waste.Drawing on research on the long-term effects of radiation, it examines how the novel's protagonist, Nick Shay, conceptualizes and practices nuclear waste management in the face of the awe-inspiring incalculability of radiation.To achieve that aim, the study first explores the nuclear landscape and examines how DeLillo, against a contaminated landscape, raises problems with the technological mastery of nuclear power, chief among which are the amount of time required for radioactive decay and the sensation of the mathematical sublime Nick develops in his response to the complex effects of radiation.To approach Nick's sublime sensation, the representation of the untouchable-a group of individuals who have been exposed to deadly radiation around a nuclear test site-is also important.Overall, the article investigates the geographic, aesthetic, and ethical aspects of DeLillo's narratives about radiation in conjunction with waste management's long-term responsibility for the protection of life.

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