The Moon is Down: Why do we still read this book? What is so timeless about its message and characters? What can we learn from reading this novel?

I think we still read this book because it shows us that everyone is only human. It shows the brutality of war, and Steinbeck wrote it as propaganda to show how worthless and useless it is—everyone suffers and everyone gets hurt! The ‘opponent’ is just as scared and worried as the other. Steinbeck even shows who made up the invading army in The Moon is Down: sentimental young men, an ambitious captain , a bitter poets with a dream,  and an experienced Colonel who’d seen so much” killing, torture, sickness, and tiredness over his life”.(Steinbeck, 20-23) He describes them like ordinary soldiers. With dreams and hopes, and a  wish to be home. He shows their fear and in dialogue describes their misery of not being accepted by the people. He shows their loyalty to each other, and describes how Captain Bentick jumped in front of Loft and died to save him. (Steinbeck, 37) War is terrible for everyone. Characters like Colonel Lanser and Mayor Orden were timeless characters too. Lanser was the leader of the invading people, and was trying desperately to get the ‘job’ done with as little blood shed as possible. He even begs Orden to cooperate so that no one will have to get hurt anymore.(Steinbeck, 16) Though in this story he’s on the ‘bad’ side, he still, even in his state, doesn’t want innocent people to get killed, but he can’t avoid it. Colonel Lanser is a timeless character because he was on the ‘bad’ side but was represented as a normal human being. Readers aren’t used to that. We see the ‘bad guys’ as evil, vile people who deserve to be hurt and killed, but in this story, you can’t really choose a side because we get to SEE that both sides are suffering and have families and homes to go too and don’t WANT to hurt one another, but they have too because it’s their job or duty. Mayor Orden is another timeless character. Though he is the elected ‘leader’ he admits that he is not the one in full control, but that it’s the people.(Steinbeck, 19) He is a great example of what democracy should be. He understands that he is the leader, but that he has to take account of what the people want, not just what he thinks should be done. And even in death he accepts his fate and says that it doesn’t matter if he dies, his people will still light ‘the flame’ and will continue to fight even harder than before. (Steinbeck, 110) He has ultimate faith in his people. We really can learn the truth about war and freedom from this novel. How much freedom means to people, and how death can’t stop people from fighting for their freedom. We also learn that war is all about perspective, opposite sides see the other as ‘bad’ and themselves as ‘good’ but in the end, everyone is the same. Each army is made up of regular people with homes and families.

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