The Moon is Down question #5

The book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck reflects history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting very well. The period in which this book was written is 1942 during the early days of World War II. The setting of "The Moon is Down" is in a small coal-mining village somewhere in Europe. The actual country in Europe that this story takes place is never specifically mentioned. The book describes the history of this very well simply from the plot of the story. This plot would be how the invaders, which are the Nazis, take over this small coal-mining village and the townspeople in it, while the townspeople struggle to maintain their freedom and begin a revolt. Another thing that represents the history of the war happening in this story is the characters. The stronger of these characters would be the "invaders" including: Colonel Lanser, Captain Bentick, Major Hunter, Captain Loft, Lieutenant Tonder, and Lieutenant Prackle. They reflect the history of the war because they are the enemy. Behavior and social issues of this period and setting would be the way the invaders treated the townspeople. The Nazis used violence and punishment to control them and although effective at first, it would only make things worse. An example of this was when they executed Alexander Morden. " '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). The symbolic significance of "The Moon is Down" I think would obviously be World War II. It is what the book symbolizes and what the plot is about and based off of. I think the thematic significance of this book would be the strength of overcoming your oppressors. This is a theme that is shown through the entire story. Examples of this would be when Annie throws boiling water on the soldiers, when Alexander sticks up for himself, when Molly kills Lieutenant Tonder, and then of course the destruction of the rail road tracks.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.