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represses them. In this novel, the Nazi invaders give influences to the society of the townspeople. Every local people give different reactions and it has an effect
on their behaviour and ways of living. Therefore, to show that there are some changes on the society of the
townspeople in John Steinbeck’s The Moon is Down because of the behaviours of the Nazi invaders, there are three things to discuss. The first concerns trust and
loyalty of the townspeople. It describes how the arrival of the invaders makes the townspeople do not trust their leader anymore. The second is rebellion of the
townspeople against the tyranny. It describes how the townspeople, who formerly do not know about war, rebel against the invaders. The third is independent
community. It describes the changes of the local people, who formerly depend on the leading of Mayor Orden, become an independent community.
1. Trust and Loyalty of the Townspeople
Society will always exist, as long as the people or the groups of individuals still exist. They live in a system of organized communities called
social way of living. The novel starts with the description of a small town where the citizens live peacefully. There is no violent among them. They care, love,
trust to each other. “…the people are confused now. They lived at peace so long that they do not quite believe in war...” 26. It is a small town which has small
population of citizens. Therefore, every citizen knows well to each other. Before the invaders come, the townspeople make the system of their
government by their own. Zanden says that there is a possibility that the social way of living which is formed by individual can inherit from one generation to
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another like the royal family 65. In the novel the townspeople choose one of the citizens who later become a leader by their own way. There are no written rules
about the procedure how to choose the leader and the requirements of a leader. “…He had been Mayor so long that he was the Idea-Mayor in the town. Even
grown people when they saw the word “Mayor” printed or written, saw Mayor Orden in their minds. He and his office were one. It had given it warmth” 21.
This rule inherits from one generation to another. Therefore, there is no limited time how long the leader will govern their town. If they still trust the leader and
their leader does the duties with his office well, the townspeople will continually elect him. It means no other candidates, except Mayor Orden.
The townspeople tend to trust only to one leader. It is because they believe that Mayor Orden can give them a better life. Moreover, Mayor Orden
already does his job well as local government. Therefore, whatever the commands of Mayor Orden are, they believe that it is for the community needs. They do not
understand about rebellions exactly, because they are satisfied enough as ordinary people. They just do what they suppose to do and are never brave to do against the
law. However, they still have principles life about what right is and what wrong is. They hold firm their own principles to manage how to live together. It means
that although they really believe on the abilities of Mayor Orden in leading the townspeople, they will not just keep silent if Mayor Orden has done the wrong
things which are forbidden by the norms. Therefore, Mayor Orden never betrays the trust of the townspeople.
Sir, I am of this people, and yet I don’t know what they will do. Perhaps you know. Or maybe it would be different from anything you know or we
know. Some people accept appointed leaders and obey them. But my PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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people have elected me. They made me and they can unmake me. Perhaps they will if they think I have gone over to you…. 36.
After the invaders come to their country, all the local people are so confused with the condition. They are shocked when they realize that there are
betrayers among the community. Moreover, the townspeople know that Mr.
Correl is a betrayer. He is the person who prepares all the things for the Nazi invaders’ arrival. Mr. Correl is the popular storekeeper in the town. His store
holds an important economic role in the town. People know him as person who contributes much in the town. People usually buy their daily needs and chat with
others in his store. “George Correll? Why, that seems impossible He’s done a lot for this town. Why, he even gave prizes for the shooting-match in the hills in the
morning” 20. Therefore, the townspeople become suspicious to each other. It is because they are afraid if one of their friends or family is actually a betrayer who
can treat them as the invaders treat the townspeople. Formerly, the townspeople think that it seems impossible if there are
betrayers arise among the local society. It is because the townspeople assume that their solidarity is strong enough. The townspeople’ suspicion shows that the
invaders can influence some peoples who have strong relationship within the community to cooperate with them. Some of the townspeople can be persuaded to
help the invaders and many of them think that it is the right choice of their life. It means that the invaders can change the people beliefs, attitudes, and action.
The condition is worse when Alex Morden one of the townspeople kills one of the soldiers. The townspeople hear that the invaders really plan to kill Alex
in Mayor Orden’s house. There is an issue which spreads quickly in the town. The news says that Mayor Orden is the person who will decide the death of Alex.
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“…They say you will sentence him. It will be your words that send him out” 80. It makes the people do not quite trust the Mayor anymore. People think that
Mayor Orden is one of the Nazi invaders or a traitor. “…the people said you would, for the sake of order” 81. Whereas, the invaders order Mayor Orden so
that Mayor Orden’s house become a place where they can do their main activities. Mayor Orden understands that his people will not like it, but he can not do
anything. Before the invaders come, for many years the townspeople tend to trust
only to one leader. They believe that Mayor Orden can give them a better life and Mayor Orden is the person who they choose without any other candidates. People
really believe that Mayor Orden can lead them become a good citizen so that they can live together peaceful. The situation suddenly shifts drastically when there is
a gossip that Mayor Orden is involved in killing Alex. They believe more in what the news says than their trust that they already hold for many years. “The people
don’t quit trust me and neither does the enemy. I wonder whether this is a good thing” 78. However, it is what the invaders want. They plan on disrupting the
townspeople. The townspeople’s distrust to Mayor Orden is one of the indicators which shows that the oppression of the invaders give much influence to the
society.
2. Rebellion of the Townspeople Against the Tyranny
