The Moon is Down Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

Activity Overview

Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes and symbols from the novel, and support their choices with details from the text.

Themes to Look For and Discuss

The Power and Importance of Resistance

The novel as a whole highlights what must be done in the face of an oppressor trying to take away the workings of a free democracy. Steinbeck wrote this novel as a way to encourage and support the various resistances around Europe under the Nazi occupations. In the novel, the defiance of the people of this tiny town cause Lanser to plead with Mayor Orden to cooperate and to calm his people down; however, Mayor Orden knows that they cannot calm down; their freedom has been violated. They continue to resist in the face of death, starvation, and the executions of their beloved leaders. Freedom and democracy are much bigger than fear for these people.

The Complexities of the Human Character

Steinbeck faced widespread criticism for his depiction of the occupying soldiers as complex human beings, with feelings, dreams, and fears of their own. While America at the time wanted to view these enemies as a sort of drone-like being, Steinbeck was actually capturing the truth about what was happening in these occupied countries: many soldiers were afraid, were paranoid, wanted to fall in love, thought they were doing what was right, etc. Many women in these occupied countries were confused about their feelings for these soldiers, much like Molly who recognizes that under different circumstances, she might have wanted to reciprocate Lieutenant Tonder’s proposition. Even Lanser, a seasoned veteran of World War I who has no illusions about the brutality of war, is somewhat tired of it all, and tired of continuing to have to make more enemies every time they execute someone. Steinbeck explores the gray areas of being human in an evil regime throughout the novel.

The Strength of the Human Spirit

In the discussion between Lanser and Orden about Alex Morden’s trial, Lanser realizes that Mayor Orden will not cooperate with him in creating a mirage of civility by participating in Alex Morden’s sentencing. Lanser realizes that maybe he will have to install Corell as mayor after all. Lanser looks at Orden and remarks, "We have taken on a job, haven’t we?" The Mayor replies, "Yes, the one impossible job in the world, the one thing that can’t be done. To break man’s spirit permanently." This is reflected in the continuing resistance of the people of the town, even in the face of threats of death. People light up the mine at night to guide the English bombers to it; they rebel in cold silence, freezing out the soldiers from any sort of human contact; they furtively locate the dynamite and begin their attacks. Meanwhile, the soldiers are rounding up people daily, executing them, and threatening to withhold food from their families. This does nothing to deter or diminish the strength of the human spirit. The townspeople’s willingness to die for their beliefs endures beyond their physical deaths; therefore, the occupying forces cannot break their collective spirit of rebelling against injustice.

Motifs, Imagery, and Symbols

Winter

The troops invade this small country as winter is moving in. Winter provides a sense of cold strength for the town, and a sense of beauty and wonder for the arriving troops. In the face of chaos, the Mayor often finds comfort in the consistency of the snow; he loves the smell, the sound, and the feel of the snow falling. For the townspeople later, it provides them a place to hide their secrets, including the soldier’s bodies that they are able to pick off when the soldiers let their guards down.

The Mine

The coal mine was an important resource before the invasion, and now it is one that the townspeople want destroyed. They figure that if they get rid of the reason for the occupation, the soldiers will leave. They arrange to light it up with lanterns when the English bombers fly over, they routinely try to sabotage the routes, and since the men are forced to work in it, they detest its existence. It gives them a way to resist.

The Dynamite

The dynamite provides hope and another way to finally fight back against the occupiers. The dynamite floats down with detailed instructions for ways to utilize it to destroy or cripple the occupier’s transportation systems, and for Colonel Lanser, the dynamite means an escalation of violent resistance. For the people, it provides them with a jubilant sense of rebellion.

Flies on Flypaper

Lieutenant Tonder utters this phrase in the middle of his emotional breakdown. He echoes the ideas of what many other soldiers were thinking: there’s no point. The more they conquer, the more problems they arise, and so this war will never be over. Tonder’s phrase soon becomes a rallying cry throughout the country; however, it also reflects the complexities of the soldier’s emotions as they are ordered to conquer, but are often in doubt of those orders.

Mayoral Chain of Office

The Mayoral Chain of Office represents the enduring ideals of democracy and freedom. Mayor Orden wears it proudly each day, but he knows that it’s not as much about him as it is the trust that the people put into a position which they freely elect. While Mayor Orden is threatened with death, he takes comfort in the fact that the office cannot be arrested or killed; it is an entity separate from him, created and maintained by free people.

Colonel Lanser’s Staff

Colonel Lanser’s staff represents the complexities of the human character. Major Hunter sees this mission as an engineering one, not one of war; Captain Bentick lacks ambition and actually enjoys everything English, the same people who are their supposed enemy; Captain Loft is ambitious and a military man; Lieutenants Tonder and Prackle are emotional and want to fall in love with the right girl. These are not cold-blooded drones; they are men, too.