What are the gains, losses, and causes of the conflict dealt with in The Moon is Down??

The conflict in the story The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck is that a country has been invaded by a group of enemy soldiers creating resentment in the people who are being occupied. Like many conflicts of this intensity, there are many causes, gains, and losses dealt with in The Moon is Down. The conflict is mainly caused by another country that wants to expand and take over the land that the townspeople live on (Steinbeck 12). The invading country decides to take this land for a show of power and expansion. By taking over new land, the invading country gains new power and wealth. Power comes from the fact that their territory has greatly increased and wealth comes from the new natural resources at their disposal. For example, in this book the army comes to the town to take over the existing coal mines and ship it back to their homeland (Steinbeck 15).

In The Moon is Down, the townspeople gain things that are both good and bad. They gain a new enemy in the soldiers that come to occupy their land (Steinbeck 15). They also gain a new sense of determination and resilience as they try to quietly fight back against the enemy that has taken over their lives. Through this newly gained determination they are given the strength to fight back when hardly anyone else did in their country (Steinbeck 98).

This conflict not only has gains, but also a lot of losses. The most important loss for the townspeople in this book is the loss of their freedom and happiness. They now have to work under the soldiers and their new rules (Steinbeck 15). Sadly, many of the characters in this book also lose their lives due to the conflict. These people include the mayor, Dr. Winter, Alex, and countless others that were not named and tried to fight against the soldiers. In addition, some of the soldiers such as Lieutenant Tonder and Captain Bentick lose their lives as well.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print