Alexander Morden is a very important addition to "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. Although his character is not in the entire book, he still affects the story later on because of his death. Alex Morden is one of the workers in the small coal-mining village that the Nazi soldiers take over. He is also the husband of his pretty wife, Molly Morden. He is known for having a quick-temper, but besides that he is a good and respected man in the village, who has never broken a law. He is described as being a big, young man with a wide forehead, mouth, and shoulders, deep set eyes, and a long sharp nose. (Steinbeck, 51) Alexander, being a miner that is now forced to mine for the Nazis, understandingly wanted to quit work. Captain Loft was present and was ordering Morden to get back to work. Now, Alexander Morden, being the short tempered man that he is, was not going to let this soldier take away his freedom. Yelling that he was a free man, he came at Captain Loft with his pick and when Captain Bentick tried to interfere, he was killed. He was then captured to be tried and shot. His wife tried to plead his case to Mayor Orden and the mayor himself did not want to see Alex killed, but it was out of his control. Mayor Orden, however did show that he cared. Examples of this would be how he let Alex sit in a chair during the trial, kissed him on the cheek goodbye, and sent Madame to comfort Molly. The death of Alexander Morden was not wasted though. I think this act was what would start the revolt and the Nazis knew so too. " 'So it starts again. We will shoot this man and make twenty new enemies. It's the only thing we know, the only thing we know' " (Steinbeck, 38). His death affected the townspeople without a doubt. Molly was especially affected and it was because of his death that she later kills Lieutenant Tonder out of revenge.
Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.
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