The death of Jean Tatlock in the Oppenheimer case: who really killed her?

Jean Tatlock is one of the most mysterious characters in Oppenheimerand although her death seems clear, there are theories that violence may have been involved. The film was released in 2023 and Oppenheimer has made a big splash in Hollywood with its huge star cast and scope. After its huge success at the 2023 Academy Awards, Christopher Nolan’s film will likely go down in history as one of the best films of the decade. However, due to its sheer size and history, there are still aspects of Oppenheimer that need to be taken apart and analyzed to gain more meaning.

Jean Tatlock is a member of the Oppenheimer Actors who could certainly use more research. Played by Florence Pugh, Tatlock was a real woman who lived from 1914 to 1944 and was best known for her ties to the Communist Party USA and her relationship with J. Robert Oppenheimer. Although she doesn’t appear too often in the three-hour film, her influence on Oppenheimer is important. Tatlock causes tension in Oppenheimer’s relationship with his wife Kitty. In addition, her death triggers an emotional breakdown in the physicist. Tatlock’s importance increases when discussing how exactly she died.

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Jean Tatlock committed suicide in 1944

Tatlock took his own life

The most common assumption about Jean Tatlock’s fate is that she committed suicide. In January 1944 Tatlock was treated for clinical depression (above Brotherhood of the Bomb). One day, Tatlock’s father came to her apartment, and when she didn’t open the door, he climbed in through a window (via American Prometheus). Soon after, he found Jean dead with his head in the bathtub (via J. Oppenheimer: A Life)Next to her was an unsigned farewell letter in which she described how much she felt like a “paralyzed soul”, (above The strange death of Oppenheimer’s lover.

Accordingly American Prometheus, After Tatlock’s death, an autopsy was performed. The medical examiner concluded that Jean’s cause of death was suicide. Her stomach contained traces of chloral hydratea compound that causes sedation. Because of Tatlock’s work as a psychiatrist, it was easy for her to obtain this drug. Therefore, it was believed that Tatlock consumed chloral hydrate before taking her own life by drowning. Despite this clear-cut case, however, several people questioned whether this explanation really made sense. Some people suspected that something – or someone – else might have been at play.

Why there was a theory that Jean Tatlock was killed

Tatlock was under FBI surveillance

Although Jean Tatlock’s death was ruled a suicide, some believed she was the victim of murder. American Prometheus, It turns out that Tatlock’s brother Hugh was a big proponent of this theory. Later historians also investigated the validity of this idea. The most important detail that supports the murder theory is that Jean Tatlock was under surveillance by the FBI (via An atomic love story)Because of her role in the Communist Party of the USA, The US government kept a close eye on TatlockHer phone was tapped and she was often followed by FBI agents.

If Tatlock was murdered, the circumstances of her death are still understandable. Although Tatlock may have ingested the chloral hydrate herself, It is just as likely that someone else could have given Tatlock the drug. From there, her attacker may have staged her suicide in the bathtub. Her suicide note was unsigned, which may indicate that her attacker wrote it but did not want to risk forging her signature. If Jean Tatlock was murdered, the perpetrator certainly got off scot-free in the end. Despite this theory, most believed Tatlock died by suicide in 1944, including Oppenheimer (via American Prometheus).

How Oppenheimer gets involved in the conspiracy surrounding Jean Tatlock’s death

Christopher Nolan offers several options

As a historical epic Oppenheimer tries to portray real events as they happened, but when it comes to Jean Tatlock’s death, Christopher Nolan cleverly shows both sides of her story. When Tatlock’s death is revealed in the film, Oppenheimer is seen imagining her death. First, he sees her suicide as described in the story. But briefly, he also sees her possible murder. For a moment, The audience sees Tatlock’s head being pushed into the bathtub from a black-gloved hand.

By depicting this alternative death, Nolan does not confirm what he thinks happened to Jean Tatlock. On the contrary, he subtly hinted at those who believed Tatlock’s death was a murder. Oppenheimer’s Black Glove is a very clever piece of work by Nolan, who manages to show the entire story in just a few small details. Although Tatlock’s death is largely considered a suicide, the way Oppenheimer Looking at both sides proves how delicate the details of the story can be.

Sources: Brotherhood of the Bomb, The strange death of Oppenheimer’s lover, An atomic love story, American Prometheus

Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer is a film directed by Christopher Nolan that follows theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy will play the title role. The story is based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

Release date

July 21, 2023

Duration

150 minutes