“By ten- forty-five, it was all over. The town was occupied, the defenders defeated, and the war finished” and “Invasion had come to the town of Adano.” these are the opening lines of John Steinbeck's novel The Moon is Down and John Hersey’s A Bell for Adano. Although the first merely describes, what could happen when an invading army proclaims “mission accomplished” prematurely because of undemocratic and inhumane oppression and the second focuses on a humanistic approach towards invasion from a more democratic point of view, both can be considered novels of war propaganda. This is at least what is claimed by many of the reviews. Indeed the historical and biographical background refers to a time, where it was very likely that literature was used for war propaganda. This could open on the one hand the possibility to compare both works on the basis of influencing “America’s mind”. On the other hand, Pulitzer price winning novels seem to contain more than purely negative features of propagandizing. Therefore discussing The Moon is Down and A Bell for Adano as two specific examples of American propaganda literature in the Second World War, at first, means to analyse the importance and the meaning of propaganda with respect to literature as a means of it. Considering the biographical background of the authors as primarily linked to the time, where the novels were written, the next part attempts to present the relationship between personal experiences as war reporters and writing the novels The Moon is Down and A Bell for Adano. In order to compare both works with regard to means of war propaganda the third part includes a discussion of structural features, content and the choosing of the titles. This works also as a kind of preparation for analysing how the enemy is displayed that means the characteristic features in his personality in The Moon is Down and the discussion of the ideal hero represented by Major Joppolo in A Bell for Adano. The last part will then summarize the comparison of the two literary works also as an attempt to reveal problems in considering these works as (purely negative) propaganda in a unilateral sense.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Importance and meaning of war propaganda
3. Biographical background: John Steinbeck and John Hersey- two “war reporting novelists”
4. Comparing The Moon is Down and A Bell for Adano
4.1. Discussion of Structural features, content and title
4.2. The Moon is Down: presenting the enemy as a means of propaganda
4.3. Propaganda in A Bell for Adano: characterizing Major Joppolo as the “ideal American hero“
5. Summary
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines John Steinbeck’s "The Moon is Down" and John Hersey’s "A Bell for Adano" as significant examples of American propaganda literature during World War II, investigating how both authors utilized literary devices to influence public perception and support the war effort.
- Analysis of propaganda techniques such as the "plain-folks" method and "fear appeal."
- Examination of the authors' backgrounds as war correspondents and their influence on their narrative styles.
- Comparative study of structural features, plot, and symbolic title selection.
- Exploration of enemy portrayal in Steinbeck’s work versus the "ideal hero" archetype in Hersey’s work.
- Evaluation of how these novels serve as both patriotic literature and psychological tools for readers in wartime.
Auszug aus dem Buch
4.1. Discussion of structural features, content and title
Although it is widely believed that the characterization of the main figures in a literary works is “more” important for “getting the message”, this paper will at first analyze the structural features and the content. This should on the one hand work as a kind of preparation for the following parts. On the other hand it will refer to means of propaganda that are indicated by these features as the main basis of comparing both novels.
As it was mention before, Steinbeck wrote The Moon is Down in 1942, in all probability as one of several effective pieces of propaganda fiction. It can thus be assumed that he wrote this novel with a certain structure, one that makes it easier to spread “the message” to as many people as possible. Regarding the whole text it can be seen that it was consciously structured as a multifunctional text in order to “achieve the masses”. In this respect it is not merely the fact that the novel consists of 8 chapters, each chapter occupying approximately 20 pages, except for the first one (40 pages), but the fact that almost the whole action is conveyed by dialogues that already indicates the purpose of “achieving the masses”. It can be assumed that he planned this novel as a basis for a play in theatre or for a film since these were the media whose spread could effectively help “achieving the masses”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction sets the scope of the paper, identifying Steinbeck’s and Hersey’s novels as war propaganda and outlining the comparative approach regarding biographical, structural, and character-based aspects.
2. Importance and meaning of war propaganda: This section defines the historical and political understanding of propaganda, detailing techniques like "fear appeal" and "plain-folks" that are applied in the novels to influence public mindset.
3. Biographical background: John Steinbeck and John Hersey- two “war reporting novelists”: This chapter analyzes how the authors' experiences as war correspondents shaped their transition into novelists of contemporary history and influenced their portrayals of occupation and resistance.
4. Comparing The Moon is Down and A Bell for Adano: This main part contrasts the two works by examining their structural choices, the psychological construction of the enemy in Steinbeck's work, and the "ideal American hero" archetype in Hersey's work.
5. Summary: The summary concludes that while both works clearly function as propaganda to support the Allied effort, they also provide complex characterizations that offer readers emotional and psychological escape during wartime.
6. Bibliography: A comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used for the analysis of the literary works and propaganda theory.
Keywords
American Literature, World War II, Propaganda, John Steinbeck, John Hersey, The Moon is Down, A Bell for Adano, War Correspondents, Resistance, Fear Appeal, Plain-folks technique, Heroism, Bureaucracy, Occupation, Democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores "The Moon is Down" and "A Bell for Adano" as manifestations of American propaganda literature during World War II, analyzing how each book encourages resistance or justifies the American presence abroad.
Which specific propaganda techniques are analyzed in the work?
The author identifies and explains the use of the "plain-folks" technique, "fear appeal," and the "name-calling" technique as mechanisms to manipulate reader sentiment.
How do the authors' personal histories contribute to the novels?
Both Steinbeck and Hersey worked as war correspondents; the paper argues that this background provided them with first-hand observations of occupation, liberation, and morale, which they effectively synthesized into their fiction.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to determine how these novels function as propaganda without being limited to purely negative or manipulative definitions, looking at them instead as tools that provide models for resistance and ideal heroism.
What characterizes the structural comparison in the fourth chapter?
The paper analyzes the chapter structure, the use of dialogue for mass appeal, and the symbolic significance of the book titles in guiding reader interpretation.
What is the symbolic function of the titles mentioned in the study?
The titles are examined for their ability to attract the reader’s interest, with "The Moon is Down" linked to Macbeth and Sappho to imply cycles of defeat and hope, while "A Bell for Adano" is linked to civic restoration and democracy.
How is Major Joppolo portrayed in the context of propaganda?
Major Joppolo is presented as an "ideal bureaucratic hero" who uses common sense and decency to democratize a conquered town, serving as a model for American soldiers and occupation forces.
What conclusion does the author draw about the nature of these novels?
The author concludes that while the books were clearly intended as propaganda to support the war effort, they are also significant literary works that capture human struggles and provide a constructive "escape" for readers in difficult times.
- Quote paper
- Liane Weigel (Author), 2004, The Moon is Down and A Bell for Adano: Two specific examples of American propaganda literature in the Second World War, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/37597
