The Moon is Down - A Longa Noite sem Lua

O tema abordado é, digamos, universal: a vitória da liberdade sobre a violência. Em The Moon is Down, vertido para o português brasileiro como A Longa Noite sem Lua, o norte-americano John Steinbeck trata da questão da liberdade a partir do cotidiano de uma cidade portuária durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Breve recensão abaixo. 

 (Fonte: http://suite101.com/article/review-the-moon-is-down-by-john-steinbeck-a363548) 

An invading army takes a small, peaceful coastal town by surprise. The sole reason for the invasion and occupation is to extract the town’s natural resource, coal. The army comes from a technocratic culture, hobbled by procedures and policy manuals that give them the illusion that they are naturally superior and will easily prevail against the townspeople.

The head of the invading battalion, Colonel Lanser, establishes his headquarters at the house of Mayor Orden, a simple and decent man. At first Mayor Orden and all the town's people are stunned, dazed and confused. They have no idea how to respond. Colonel Lanser follows the rule book for occupation, which sets out how to make the occupied obedient, allowing for the quick extraction of the needed coal.

However, deep in his heart, Lanser also knows the truth of human psychology. He knows that free people do not like being occupied, and will, in time, resist. Already the invading army has killed six of the town’s soldiers. Then an incident occurs where Colonel Lanser feels he has to execute one of the townsmen as an example to the people. Pretty soon a resistance is up and running.

The invading soldiers soon find that their technocratic form of government and superior weapons are useless against an unhappy and uncooperative people. The soldiers become angry and hateful because the occupied are suspicious and unfriendly, until in the end they realise they are at least psychologically losing the battle. In fact, the soliders are close to going mad.

Psychological Truth in The Moon is Down

The reason The Moon is Down can still be read and enjoyed today is its basic psychological truth. Steinbeck humanises both the enemy and the invaded. Mayor Orden is portrayed as a somewhat dull everyman. He is decent and honest, but also confesses his human failings. Through Mayor Orden, it is easy for readers to imagine themselves in the occupied people’s predicament. Colonel Lanser is shown as a war weary veteran who knows better. He has seen the cycle of violence perpetrated by invasion and resistance, and knows it can never win. The authority of the state keeps Lanser performing his duties, but he cannot deny himself the truth.

The last scene of the novella is between these two men, and ends on a philosophical note. Mayor Orden quotes Socrates from The Apology, where the Greek philosopher condemns his executioners. Colonel Lanser knows this speech by heart too, and helps Mayor Orden with the sections he cannot remember. Both men at this moment know what truth and honour mean, both read off the same page. Mayor Orden knows he is on the right side of history, whereas Colonel Lanser implicitly admits that he is on the wrong side, and cannot possibly hope to win.