Godzilla as a Symbol of Nuclear Allegory

Godzilla is seen as an allegory for the US and the nuclear age, working on two levels - form and content. Content-wise, Godzilla represents a radiated mutant, while form-wise, the shots of people running and screaming put the viewer in the position of the atomic bomb, creating the atomic sublime. Throughout Godzilla's history, there is an ambiguity about whether he is a friend or foe to the Japanese people. This ambiguity grew as Japan gained a foothold in the global economy, leading to the interpretation of Godzilla as a symbol of capitalism, taking down other gods or ways of organizing society before disappearing back into the ocean, which represents a place between national borders.