Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Evolution of the Mayor
Molly's Role in The Moon is Down
Monday, July 30, 2012
The advantages and disadvantages of writing The Moon is Down as a play
Colonel Lanser
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Lieutenant Tonder
What techniques does the author use to engage the reader of The Moon is Down??
Saturday, July 28, 2012
What responsibilities does John Steinbeck believe exists between various groups in society by his book The Moon is Down?
What is the thematic and symbolic significance of The Moon is Down?
The book The Moon is
Down by John Steinbeck possesses both thematic and symbolic significance.
The thematic significance of this book is its theme that the general public is
more powerful than an army. This theme is reinforced by all of the rebellious
acts of the people against the soldiers that occupy them, such as attacking the
soldiers and using explosives to destroy the supply routes of the army to drive them away(Steinbeck 84). It also shows that they can use emotional warfare as well as physical.
For example, in this book one of the soldiers goes crazy due to all the hate
the civilians feel for them (Steinbeck 61). He had been mentally exhausted by
always having to watch his back and not trusting anyone (Steinbeck 61). By the
success of the people in wearing down the army, it shows that the soldiers are
not all powerful. This theme could influence other people that are stuck under
military occupation, and inspire them to have acts of rebellion against their
oppressors.
Not only does The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck have thematic significance,
but it also has symbolic significance. The symbolic significance of this comes
from the stage setting conditions in the book. At the beginning of the book,
the mayor’s living room is described as being warm yet elegant (Steinbeck 1).
This is when the army has not yet fully taken over. Yet, as more time passes
the room slowly begins to change. As the soldiers set up headquarters in the
living room, the beautiful furnishings are taken away along with the people’s
freedom (Steinbeck 21). The room becomes littered with the army’s technology
and weapons (Steinbeck 21). Slowly the room begins to be described as cold and
unwelcoming, a far cry from what it once was (Steinbeck 57). This change
represents the army’s takeover and general mood around the town. The people too
have lost their warmth and happiness. In addition to this, they have also lost
their grandeur and pride.
Why do we still read The Moon is Down? What can we learn from this book?
The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
is still read today because of its timeless message that readers can still
learn from. This message is that no one can break man’s spirit. This is shown
when the army invades a country and occupies a group of people. The soldiers
come into the town thinking that the people will not resist and that it will be
an easy job. They soon find however that this is not the case. Problems arise
when the town folk begin to shake off the confusion of their homeland being
occupied by soldiers. The first incident happens when a coal miner named Alex
decides that he does not want to work in the mines anymore (Steinbeck 38). The
soldiers will not allow this because they want the coal (Steinbeck 16). This
makes Alex go on the offensive and he attacks a soldier (Steinbeck 38). Another
soldier interferes, however, and takes the blow from Alex (Steinbeck 38). This
soldier ends up dead and Alex is sentenced to death for killing an officer
(Steinbeck 54). This outrages the people and they start to fight against the
soldiers. The people are willing to do anything to get rid of the soldiers
including murder and using explosives to mess with the supply routes of the
soldiers. The army ends up prosecuting many of the people, but this does not
stop them. If anything they become even more rebellious. The townspeople also
use their hatred against the soldiers. The soldiers know how the people feel
about them and know that they cannot trust them and have to watch their backs
at all times. This begins to exhaust the soldiers and even causes some
psychological problems. An example of this is Lieutenant Tonder, who begins to
ramble and laugh hysterically about the mistake the army has made in occupying
the country (Steinbeck 68). The whole rebellion of this group of people against
the soldiers, shows that anyone can fight back and stand up for what they
want. It also says that no one can break
your spirit if you let them.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Who is the hero of The Moon is Down?
Most books have one defined hero, but the Moon is Down by John Steinbeck is an exception. The hero of this book is not even a few people, but a whole group of them. The main heroes of The Moon is Down are all of the townspeople that fight the soldiers. I believe that every single person that helps in the rebellion in some way is a hero in this novel. These people are heroes because they decide to stand up for their freedom even though they have no weapons and are outnumbered. The civilians also do not let the soldiers break their spirit. I think that this shows real heroics because it would be much easier to surrender their homeland to the invaders and go along with them peacefully, but the townspeople will not. This strength is not something everyone has, or would bother to wield. In this book the townspeople's accomplishments include blowing up bridges, letting their enemy know that they will not go peacefully, and doing anything they can to get rid of them (Steinbeck 86). The most important accomplishment though of these heroes is what they inspire in the people reading the book. The civilians give the reader a sense that anyone can do what they did because they are just normal people. The heroes in this book includes a doctor, mayor, a servant girl, a coal miner, and many more. They show that anyone can rise up and stand up for what they believe in and protect their homeland from invaders. They show that even the best soldiers cannot fight human determination and spirit. This message of regular people doing extraordinary things shows the reader that you can do anything you put your mind to, and that no one can ever hold you down if you decide to stand up for what you believe in. An example of this is Alex, who is the first person to act out against the soldiers and rebel (Steinbeck 38). Even though he pays for this rebellion with his life, he emboldens the other people to do the same and starts a full-scale rebellion against the soldiers (Steinbeck 54).
Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print
Saturday, July 21, 2012
What universal theme does The Moon is Down address? What does the author understand about human nature?
What are the gains, losses, and causes of the conflict dealt with in The Moon is Down??
Friday, July 20, 2012
What does the author reveal about his values in The Moon is Down? What perspective is this novel written in?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Foil Characters: Captain Beatty and Faber
Foil Characters: Mildred and Clarisse
Monday, July 16, 2012
What is the thematic and symbolic significance of Fahrenheit 451?
The thematic significance of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
is the dire warning that the book preaches for future generations. In this
novel, society has gotten rid of books and relies completely on technology.
Even those people who want books are not allowed to have them and fire fighters
burn down houses where books are suspected to be (Bradbury 37). Without books,
the population has become mentally lazy and does not bother to think. In the
novel society has become attached to adrenaline and leisure activities. Without
knowing it they have given up their intellectual freedom. A good example of
this is Montag’s wife named Mildred. Mildred spends most of her time watching
television or listening to her radio. She even calls the people on the
television affectionately her family, but does not seem very happy or fulfilled
(Bradbury 49). When Montag begins to read to Mildred in the novel she cannot
take the thought that the book provokes and starts to freak out (Bradbury 68).
This shows us that we need to keep our intellectual freedom for happiness and
sanity sake.
The symbolic significance of Fahrenheit 451 was the fire symbolism that appeared
throughout the whole novel. The fire in this novel represents both destruction
and creation. At the beginning of the novel Montag revels in the pleasure of burning
and destroying books (Bradbury 3). In the middle of the novel, fire turns into
something that burns and devours and cannot be stopped. This represents the
course that Montag is on. He has begun to rebel against his society and has
chosen to revive books (Bradbury 86). Once he chooses this course of action he
cannot turn back and he seems to be racing towards fate. It seems that his
choice to lead a life of knowledge destroys most of the life that he has known
for such a long time. Near the end of the book, fire once again takes on a new meaning . As the city gets bombed and consumed by flames at the end of the
novel, Montag realizes that this destruction will give way to creation as the
city rebuilds (Bradbury 160). He realizes that this is the chance for the world
to change and that the destruction of his old life now gives him a chance to
start over.