The Moon Is Down

“I don’t know. It’s been so long since we conquered anybody or anybody conquered us. I don’t know what is proper.”

As Doctor Winter, Mayor Orden, and Orden’s wife await Colonel Lanser’s arrival, Doctor Winter comments on the confusion and unexpectedness of the town’s conquest. He cannot advise Mayor Orden’s wife on how to best behave when the Colonel arrives because the social situation is beyond their expectations.

“Lanser had been in Belgium and France twenty years before and he tried not to think what he knew-that war is treachery and hatred, the muddling of incompetent generals, the torture and killing and sickness and tiredness, until at last it is over and nothing has changed except for a new weariness and new hatreds.”

Colonel Lanser has experienced war before and is disillusioned to the idealistic portrait of heroic soldiers that the rest of his staff, especially the lieutenants, expect wartime to be. Lanser’s emotions in this quote foreshadow the ways his staff will struggle to understand their relationship with the townspeople the longer their forces hold the town hostage.

“In marching, in mobs, in football games, and in war, outlines become vague; real things become unreal and a fog creeps over the mind.”

This quote joins the experience of war to other collective activities that require little individual thinking. As Colonel Lanser is the only member of his staff that has experienced war extensively in his past, Lanser can anticipate the lack of personal agency that eventually drives his lieutenants to a breaking point.

“The invaders will have a trial and hope to convince the people that there is justice involved.”

Doctor Winter explains the performative nature of Lanser’s actions to Mayor Orden as they wait for Alex Morden’s trial to begin. Winter’s words in this quote coincide with the novel’s theme of performativity and the respect Lanser and his men have for following protocol despite its often illogical nature.

“That is a mystery that has disturbed rulers all over the world-how the people know.”

Doctor Winter claims that the uncanny ability for news to spread unofficially and rapidly through the town is a mystery that has often plagued military and political leaders throughout history. Winter’s words reflect the novel’s theme of collectivity and group action, which allow the townspeople to take steps towards revolting against their conquerors.

“We do not act alone or on our own judgement.”

Spoken by Colonel Lanser immediately preceding Alex Morden’s trial, this quote reflects the German force’s respect for and adherence to military protocol. Lanser’s actions must coincide with the actions his superiors would make in his absence. In this, Lanser does not prioritize his own morals above those of the military collective he belongs to.

“And over the town there hung a blackness that was deeper than the cloud, and over the town there hung a sullenness and a dry, growing hatred.”

On the day of Alex Morden’s trial, a heavy snowfall begins to fall on the town. The narrator connects the atmospherics of this scene with the emotions of the townspeople as they begin to form a hatred and plan for revolt against Colonel Lanser’s forces.

“Yours was the first clear act. Your private anger was the beginning of a public anger.”

Spoken by Mayor Orden to Alex Morden before Alex’s execution, this quote symbolizes the moment in which Mayor Orden realizes what stance the people of the town desire him to take with Colonel Lanser. Alex's deadly action against Captain Bentick symbolizes the first act of revolt for the town.

“Alex, go, knowing that these men will have no rest, no rest at all until they are gone, or dead.”

Moments before Alex’s execution, Mayor Orden reassures him that his courageous action in rebelling against Colonel Lanser’s troops will not be an act in vain. This quote signals Mayor Orden’s understanding of the people’s need for revolt and how he must act to help them achieve liberation.

“The people of the conquered country settled in a slow, silent, waiting revenge.”

Without access to weapons or organized resistance, the people in the town and countryside take a prolonged resistance to their invaders. Their form of revolt takes shape in small acts of revenge, such as slowing mining work and acting coldly towards the soldiers.

“The conquerors were under a terrible spiritual siege and everyone knew, conquered and conquerors, what would happen when the first crack appeared.”

After months in the town, Colonel Lanser’s soldiers are approaching a breaking point of morale, enthusiasm, and control. The townspeople revolt in small ways and refuse to engage with the soldiers while the English bomb the town and mines each night. Prolonged stress causes the soldiers to question their real motives in conquering the town.

“The patrol talked as they walked, and they talked of things that they longed for-of meat and of hot soup and of the richness of butter, of the prettiness of girls and of their smiles and of their lips and their eyes.”

While on patrol, the soldiers display their longing for home and an end to the war. Though they follow their orders, Lanser’s troops are beginning to lose morale and enthusiasm for the cause as the winter becomes darker and the townspeople more inhospitable.

“Can you understand this-can you believe this? Just for a little while, can’t we forget this war? Just for a little while. Just for a little while, can’t we talk together like people-together?”

Lieutenant Tonder arrives unannounced at Molly Morden’s house and begs for a conversation with her. This quote reflects Tonder’s loneliness as well as symbolizes the frustrations Lanser’s soldiers feel for their prolonged inhabitance of the town with little warmth or friendliness from the conquered townspeople.

“We are watched. Any move we make calls for reprisals. If we could have simple, secret weapons, weapons of stealth, explosives, dynamite to blow up rails, grenades, if possible, even poison.”

Mayor Orden instructs the Anders brothers to escape to England and request help from the British military in providing them with methods of resistance against Colonel Lanser’s forces. Their plan for revolt is to be secretive but effective, and therefore Orden asks for small weapons that can be easily concealed from Lanser’s troops.

“The trouble I’m in no one can help me with.”

Molly refuses Mayor Orden’s offer of help when Tonder arrives at her door, breaking up their rebellious meeting. Her words reflect the novel’s treatment of women as first being subject to the desires of soldiers and second being without help or support in refusing these soldiers’ advances. Tellingly, Molly indeed solves the problem herself by killing Tonder.

“The capital orders me to stamp this out so ruthlessly that they won’t drop it any place else.”

Colonel Lanser admits that the town is the only place where the English dropped weapons packages for the country’s citizens, and that his orders are to be merciless when dealing punishment in the town. Steinbeck reveals the way violence begets more violence in war; it first began with the death of one miner that resulted in the deaths of many soldiers. Now, Lanser realizes that he will need to kill more of the townspeople. 

“We told them they were brighter and braver than other young men. It was a shock to them to find out that they aren’t a bit braver or brighter than other young men.”

Spoken by Colonel Lanser to Captain Loft, this quote reflects the idealistic training of Lanser’s troops prior to their conquest of the town. Lanser acknowledges that the new recruits were not emotionally nor morally prepared for the effects of prolonged contact with their conquered subjects. 

“You’re not a man anymore. You are a soldier.”

Colonel Lanser reminds Lieutenant Prackle that when his morale is down, he must remind himself of his loyalties and duty to the military. Lanser expresses the depersonalization necessary for a soldier to remain dutiful to his position, and the need for Prackle to put aside his personal desires.

“They should have built your soul with truth, not led along with lies.”

During his speech to Prackle, Colonel Lanser acknowledges the poor emotional and moral training his troops received prior to the conquest of the town. The idealistic image of heroic soldiers celebrated by the townspeople was a lie told to new recruits, like Lieutenant Prackle, so as to make going to war more appealing to them.

“They know that ten heads lopped off will destroy them, but we are a free people; we have as many heads as we have people, and in a time of need leaders pop up among us like mushrooms.”

After being placed under house arrest, Doctor Winter reassures Mayor Orden that the townspeople’s fight for freedom is not dependent on their leadership and will continue if they are executed. Now that the town has communicated with the English military, Winter is reassured that the town will soon be liberated.

“You know, Doctor, I am a little man and this is a little town, but there must be a spark in little men that can burst into flame.”

As Orden discusses the future of the town with Winter, he reveals his confidence that the townspeople’s desire for freedom will continue regardless of what might happen to him. He believes that spark of rebellion may eventually become a full revolt now that English soldiers are assisting the town. Orden’s speech contrasts with the soldiers’ understanding of themselves at the outset of the occupation: The soldiers thought they were the bravest and brightest, while Orden describes himself as insignificant, a “little man.” Steinbeck seems to suggest that humility and a collaborative mindset win out over individual self-assuredness.

“‘But that won’t stop it,’ Orden said simply. ‘You don’t understand. When I have become a hindrance to the people, they will do without me.’”

Orden informs Colonel Lanser that his execution won’t impact the townspeople’s continued revolt against Lanser’s authoritarianism. Orden believes that the townspeople are focused on their cause more so than on preserving any one leader, a key concept in Orden’s democratic leadership. 

“If I tell them to fight, they will be glad, and I who am not a very brave man will have made them a little braver.”

Mayor Orden speaks these words to the group present prior to his execution. He refutes Colonel Lanser’s claim that the townspeople will suffer without his leadership, believing that their willingness to fight against Lanser’s rule will only increase after his death. Lanser is only serving to reaffirm the townspeople’s resolve and martyr their leader. This quote directly reflects the novels discussion of democratic principles versus authoritarianism.