Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Moon is Down - Chapter Eight

This is a rather short chapter, but hopefully it will sum things up well. At the beginning of the chapter, we learn that the news of the Mayor's arrest has spread like wildfire. Everyone is freaking out about it. Also, children across the town are finding the parachutes and taking the contents, bringing them to their parents. The parachutes have causes a massive goosehunt to ensue on both sides of the war. The story segues to Annie, who is cleaning up the house. A guard is standing in front of the Mayor's room, not allowing him to leave. Doctor Winter is brought in by another soldier. They both begin to talk about what they think will happen to each other, but they wait a while before bringing up death. They later decide to not think of such sad things, but of the old times. The Mayor began to quote some speech from his past, and the doctor corrected him whenever he messed up on a word or something. The Colonel comes in quietly with Prackle and the two of them listen to the Mayor, also correcting him when he messed certain things up. After the mayor's speech, Lanser says that the rebellion has to stop. Instead of getting angry or upset, Orden only smiles at him saying, "They cannot stop, sir." (Steinbeck 109). The Mayor goes on to say that his people will fight whether he tells them to or not. "Yes, they will light it. I have no choice of living or dying, you see, sir, but - I do have a choice of how I do it. If I tell them not to fight, they will be sorry, but they will fight. If I tell them to fight, they will be glad, and I who am not a very brave man will hae made them a little braver," (Steinbeck 110-111). This sentence shows me how much he believes in the people of his town. He realizes that they do not need him to function and he trusts that they will do what is right when the time comes. I really admire that about him. He continues to say that he has no doubt that the people of the town will drive them out. "The people don't like to be conquered, sir, and so they will not be." (Steinbeck 111).  After this talk, an explosion is heard outside. The Colonel and the other soldiers leave the building, leaving the mayor to wait for his execution. Then, the book ends.

So. Intense.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Penguin Classics, 1942. Print.

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