The Moon is Down: How does this novel reflect the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting? What is this book's symbolic and thematic significance?

Though the story this book tells is really fiction, I’m sure it wasn’t very far off from what conquered countries had to go through when Germany was invading them during WWII. This book was written “at the zenith of Nazi Germany’s power” as it says on the summary of my copy, which means when Germany was brought to the highest state and had conquered the majority of Europe. That was around 1942, literally, and that was when this book was first published. This book is very reflective on the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting. The setting is a small country in Europe, and the time is during WWII. At this time, many European countries were living in fear, and were being invaded by Germany. People would wake up one day, free, and wake up the next I n oppression from invading Nazi’s. The country this book revolves around goes through the same thing. They all start out having a perfectly fine day, and Mr. Corell, a friendly storekeeper (and spy), plans a shooting competition for the soldiers. All is well until another country uses their distraction as a time to invade. (Steinbeck, 1) Things like this happened all the time when Germany invaded countries. The historical problems of the time period and setting  in the story are true to what happened in real life. The behavior and social problems can be found in the relationship between the soldiers and the people of the conquered country. “ I think all invaded people want to resist” (Steinbeck, 83) Doctor Winter says this. This part of the story was true to life also. The people of the invaded country did resist, as did so many others against Germany in WWII.The people also had a strong hate and revengeful spirit against the conquering soldiers, and these feelings led to murder and psychological distress. Lots of European countries resisted Germany too, and had a secret hate for the Nazi soldiers ruling over them. So socially and behaviorally, there was a lot of resentment between conquering soldiers and conquered people.

Symbolically, I think this story really represents freedom, and humans striving for it. It can’t be quenched, and sometimes, the bullys don’t always win. If someone believes enough in something, and in this case, that something is the townpeoples want for freedom, then they will do anything to achieve it. Man will always strive for freedom and resist against invaders. Thematically, I think this story can teach the reader that sometimes there must be sacrifices to achieving freedom, and that war, in the end, only leads to a lot of hurt, but that you should continue to fight for your freedom and not lose faith.

Steinbeck, John. Moon Is Down. N.p.: Penguin Group, 1942. Print.