The Moon is Down: Legacy In Death--Alex Morden

 

 Death is a very real and common occurrence in The Moon is Down. Not only do invading soldiers die, but so do countless other citizens that try to stand up against the conquerors. There is no such thing as a war without death, and The Moon is Down doesn’t differ from that fact. Tonder is murdered (Steinbeck 86), and Captain Bentick dies defending another (Steinbeck , 37), to name a couple mentioned. Death is a very touchy subject for many, but there are two deaths in this story that really stood out to me and I received something meaningful from them. I once read a book series, and when someone in the story died, or was going to die, the family and friends, and even respectful strangers would make something called the death-touch sign. This sign meant “even in death, may you be triumphant.” It was a wish that even though that person died, their death would mean something, or become significant and for a cause. I kept thinking about this phrase as I read this story, and the death of Alex Morden and the foreshadowing death of the Mayor Orden really stood out to me. Firstly, the death of Alex Morden. Alex was the killer of Captain Bentick. Some might say that his murdering of Bentick was a terrible act, and that he made himself the same as every other soldier, but I think differently. Alex was the first of the townspeople to stand up for himself. He was a killer, and was killed in return, but his execution was something like a wake-up call to everyone. Alex didn’t mean to kill Bentick, he just wanted to stand up for himself (Steainbeck, 52) Orden, when talking to Alex about his execution, says something that I think summed up the legacy that Alex began. “When they came, the people were confused and I was confused. We did not know what to do or think. Yours was the first clear act. Your private anger was the beginning of a public anger.” (Steinbeck, 54). He also says, “Alex, go, knowing that these men will have no rest, no rest at all until they are gone, or dead. You will make the people one. It’s a sad knowledge and little enough gift to you, but it is so. No rest at all.” (Steinbeck, 55) What Alex did, I found to be very brave.  He sacrificed himself, and did something drastic, but like Orden said, it made the people one. His one act of anger ignited the anger within the rest of the people. It gave them courage. It made them think ‘if Alex would give up his life to fight for freedom, then so can I.’ It also made them see that their own freedom was worth fighting for, and that it was time to start striking back.  Alex, like he said, didn’t mean to murder Bentick, but this event let the people know that the time had come. The people, like Orden said, were confused about what they should do because the situation was new to them all. I thought it was just so brave that Alex made the first move, so that the rest of the people could follow after him, and have the courage to get back their home.

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