It’s been just over a year since Christopher Nolan’s career defining film, ‘Oppenheimer’, was released. It took the world by storm, with both its cinematic achievements, political statements, as well as the role it played in pop culture and in the zeitgeist in general.  

But one of the most memorable and important things the film offers us, is the detailed yet nuanced look into the duality of ambition. ‘Oppenheimer’, is a great reference to use to explore this very theme because what it does immensely well is play out, with great personal insight, the idea of someone who has an incredibly ambitious goal, being controlled by that ambition and eventually succumbing to the possibility of power and status and the effects of giving into it. 

In the beginning, Oppenheimer’s goal is an admirable one. His ambition is portrayed as a natural extension of his brilliance and curiosity. What drove him and motivated him, was the possibility of unlocking the mysteries of atomic energy, quantum physics & general relativity.  At its core, his ambition was about pushing the boundaries of the remarkable things humans can achieve through science, and that’s an ambition that most would consider commendable. 

But the brilliance of ‘’Oppenheimer’,  is that it doesn’t settle for a one-sided celebration of ambition. As the film progresses, we see the darker sides to this ambition. The same ambition that drives Oppenheimer to create something groundbreaking also creates something catastrophic. 

We see Oppenheimer’s goal gradually shift, from being able to uncover the mysteries of science – to being known as the man who did. It’s a subtle but influential change that perhaps enabled him to overlook a lot of the valid opposition to the goal he had. 

This sort of shift is something that any of us can fall prey to. It’s extremely easy to be enticed into doing something we would have outrightly opposed, for the sake of recognition, status, power and achievement, but it’s much harder to recover from the negative effects that the outcome brings.

The toll of Oppenheimer’s ambition isn’t just external; it’s personal. The film shows how his single-minded pursuit of the bomb strains his relationships and alienates him from those closest to him. His ambition isolates him, emotionally and physically. He becomes increasingly distanced from the people in his life as his work consumes him. But undoubtedly, the most traumatic effect was the guilt, shame & horror that came from confronting and coming to terms with the atrocity that he helped orchestrate. 

The film also places Oppenheimer’s ambition against the backdrop of global conflict and societal pressure. His pursuit of the atomic bomb wasn’t something that existed in a vacuum—it was driven by the realities of war, fear, and competition. Society, in many ways, demanded and even rewarded the kind of ambition Oppenheimer had, and at times even validated and justified the atrocity of his creation in the name of national prosperity. 

And that brings us to a larger question: how much of our ambition is shaped by external forces—by society, by the times we live in? And how much of what we think we need is because of what the world tells us we should want? 

Ultimately, the story of Oppenheimer shows us that ambition is not inherently good or bad. It is a powerful force that can lead to extraordinary achievements or devastating outcomes, it all depends on how it is channelled. The duality of ambition lies in its ability to inspire both creation and destruction, innovation and regret. Perhaps there’s nothing inherently wrong with desiring power, status & recognition, it’s just that it’s very rare that those things provide the genuine fulfilment and meaning that you’re searching for.

Don’t take this to mean that you shouldn’t be ambitious. You absolutely should be, there is a drive and potential, inherent within all of us that when harnessed correctly can make the world and our lives a much better place. It’s a fact, that you at your best, is better for the world and the people around you. But you need to make sure that you have a clear vision and understanding of what you at your best truly looks like, so you don’t become someone you dislike while chasing it.

Essentially, it just comes down to what you really want. Do you genuinely want to change the world for the better – or do you just want to be known as a person who did? 

Because those are two very different things. 

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Written by Ben Joshua