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benefits or not, decide the way to achieve and then they do it together honestly. “You won’t believe this, but it is true: authority is in the town. I don’t know how
or why, but it is so. This means we cannot act as quickly as you can, but when direction is set, we all act together…” 41. The townspeople have the ideology
that everyone is created equal and has the same rights.
c. Individuality
Marian Beane’s An Adventure in American Culture and Values states that
Americans are encouraged at an early age to be independent and to develop their own goals in life. They are encouraged not to depend too much on others
including their friends, teachers and parents. They believe that their goals are achieved when they try harder to reach it.
Individuality here means the citizens can stand with their own feet although there is no leader to depend on. If the country has that kind of person, it
will be the most powerful country in the world. It is because every citizen can be the leader for himself or herself. Here, it is clearly shown that Steinbeck wants to
convey that Americans are independent people through the townspeople community. The townspeople are not afraid if the enemy suddenly kills their
leader. The death of their leader does not affect the spirit of the people. Without their leader, the townspeople will not retreat even one step. Steinbeck also wants
to convey that Americans have their own bravery not because of the instructions of a leader. The spirit to fight arises from their whole hearted to defend their
country. All Americans are leaders; leaders from himself or herself. They can PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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control hisher mind and actions. If one leader dies, there will come up a thousand leaders replace him.
…A time minded people. “He said, “And the time is nearly up. They think that just because they have only one leader and one head, we are all
like that. They know that ten heads lopped off will destroy them, but we are free people; we have as many heads as we have people, and in time of
need leaders pop up among us like mushrooms 175 Although there is no other candidates, except Mayor Orden, the
townspeople will decide to change Mayor Orden with others man who deserve to be their leader, if mayor Orden betrays the trust of the townspeople. It means that
the townspeople have own thought about right and wrong in their society. 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
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.
The townspeople resist against the invaders without the presence of their
leaders, Mayor Orden. It is because Mayor Orden is arrested as a hostage by the Nazis invaders. The townspeople realize that arresting Mayor Orden is one of the
Nazi invaders’ ways to make the townspeople cancel their plans. The Nazi invaders also want to diminish the spirit of the townspeople. However, arresting
Mayor Orden as a hostage does not make the townspeople stop their plans. The townspeople do not change their minds to bombs the crucial places. Without their
leaders, the townspeople are able to do their plans successfully by their own hand. They think that their destiny of life depends on how they struggle to achieve the
goals, not depend on how their leader governs them. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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The independent community can be shown through the conversation when the Anders boys are not sure if England can make the secret weapon that the
Mayor orders. Oh I hadn’t thought of that. Well, we can only see. If such people still
govern England and America, the world is lost, anyway. Tell them what we say, if they will listen. We must have help, but if we get it”-his face
grew very hard-“if we get it, we will get it 143.
Mayor Orden implicitly says that everyone knows that the United States is the most powerful country who has great citizen who can make everything that
people thinks it is impossible. The power of the world is in United States’ hand. Moreover, during World War II American became the great manufacturer. In this
case, the propaganda is not only for the American public, but also for the enemy. It is one of the tricks to make the enemies fear with the great weapon. Here,
Steinbeck also wants to convey that if Americans still need help from other countries, they will be glad if they can be helped. However, if they can not give
contribution, Americans will struggle by themselves. Without helping other countries, Americans will defeat the enemy by all the abilities that they have.
d. Patriotism
