Steinbeck explores the reality of human emotion during war situations on opposing sides. He shows that everyone is human despite the facade they may display in order to survive. The town's people upon being captured turned into cold hard people expressing little emotion to show the soldiers that they were strong even though they were dying on the inside. The soldiers soon became wary of their duties and longed to go home to their family and homes, as Steinbeck put it, "A man can be a solider for only so many hours a day and for only so many months a year, and then he wants to be a man again, wants girls and drinks and music and laughter and ease, and when these are cute off, they become irresistibly desirable." This feeling especially occurred after the soldiers were treated coldly by all the townspeople. They had no form of communication. "Thus it came about that the conquerors grew afraid of the conquered and their nerves wore thin..." The solders were forced to hide all of their emotions and their trouble is best shown through what Colonel Lanser said " That girl.. You may rape her, or protect her, or marry her-that is of no importance so long as

Some common words found in the essay are:
Molly Morden, Holland France, Macbeth Banquo, Mayor Orden, Doctor Winter, Leader Hitler, Colonel Lanser, John Steinbeck, Dr Winter, mayor orden, , people free,
Approximate Word count = 782
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)