Zachary Gray
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Zachary Gray (spelled "Grey" in The Moon by Night, but "Gray" thereafter) is a fictional character in the young adult novels of Madeleine L'Engle. He appears in four novels, and is mentioned in at least one more.
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[edit] Character
Zachary, often called Zach, is a wealthy young man from California, with parents who show little love for their son or each other. He has "velvety black" hair, very pale skin, and "steel-grey" eyes. He is considered "gorgeous" by Vicky Austin and is taller than Polly O'Keefe, who considers herself "too tall." Intelligent but erratic in behavior, Zach is "kicked out" of numerous prestigious schools, but demonstrates that he will learn a great deal on a subject that interests him. Zach suffers from a heart condition, and is often reckless and self-destructive, but at other times seeks desperately to live. Similarly, he is torn between cynical self-interest and more altruistic desires. Zach pursues relationships with L'Engle protagonists Vicky Austin and later Polly O'Keefe, apparently seeking emotional rescue. He does not believe in an afterlife, and when his mother dies, he and his father have body preserved through cryonics in hope of her later revival through advances in medicine.
[edit] The Moon By Night
In The Moon by Night (1963, ISBN 0-374-35049-3), Vicky Austin and her family are on a cross-country camping trip when they meet Zachary Gray at a campground. Zach is there with his parents in a luxuriously equipped tent trailer pulled by a brand new black station wagon. Zach then pursues Vicky at other campgrounds across the country, leaving his parents behind to do so. Vicky is flattered by Zach's interest, and intrigued as well as discomfited by his cynical "bad boy" attitude. Vicky's younger sister, Suzy, heartily dislikes him. Vicky's father, Dr. Wallace Austin, soon deduces from observing him that Zachary has a history of rheumatic fever that damaged his heart. Several times, Dr. Austin orders Zach to avoid strenuous exercise as he accompanies Vicky and her family in their sightseeing. Eventually Zach goes missing one evening. As the Austins search for him, Zach lures Vicky to a remote mountainside to speak with her privately. The two of them become trapped in an avalanche before help arrives.
[edit] A Ring of Endless Light
In A Ring of Endless Light (1980, ISBN 0-374-36299-8), Zachary reenters Vicky's life the following summer, having failed to write or call during the period covered in The Young Unicorns. As the story opens, Zach's apparently suicidal behavior in a small boat near fictional Seven Bay Island has resulted in the death of Commander Rodney of the Coast Guard. Vicky and her family are on the island caring for her grandfather, retired Reverend Eaton, who is dying of leukemia. Zach himself has recently experienced the death of his mother "in an automobile accident in California" which he says was "her own fault." This is one of many instances of death and dying mentioned in the book. As Zach competes with Leo Rodney and Adam Eddington for Vicky's attention, he takes her to a concert and up in a plane, but again behaves recklessly, both behind the wheel of a car and during a flying lesson. In a moment of crisis, Zach deserts Vicky at a nearby hospital on the mainland, after which Vicky ends the relationship.
[edit] A House Like a Lotus
In A House Like a Lotus (1984, ISBN 0-374-33385-8), Zach meets Polly O'Keefe in Athens, Greece shortly after a traumatic event in Polly's life, and possibly three years after the events of A Ring of Endless Light. Nominally a law student from UCLA, he is taking time of from school to travel in Europe and rethink his priorities. He takes Polly sightseeing, makes her feel physically attractive for the first time, has serious discussions with her about Greek history and philosophy as well as more personal matters, and generally helps to rebuild Polly's damaged ego. As a result of his conversations with Polly about her uncle, Sandy Murry, an altruistic "anti-corporate" lawyer, Zach announces his intention to return to school, and possibly aim at a less selfish, ruthless approach to life and to business than that of Zach's father. Later, on Cyprus, Zachary recklessly takes Polly in a rented kayak beyond the marked enclosure into unsafe waters, and overturns the kayak while attempting a kiss. Polly helps to keep him from drowning until help arrives. Despite his poor behavior, Polly forgives him, which in turn helps her to forgive her mentor Max.
[edit] An Acceptable Time
In An Acceptable Time (1989, ISBN 0-374-30027-5), Zach visits Polly at her grandparents' home in rural Connecticut, only to inadvertently travel back in time with her to a period when the fictional People of the Wind are in conflict with the People Across the Lake over a devastating drought. Hoping that a tribal healer can repair his failing heart, Zachary allows Polly to rescue him and become a hostage in his stead, even though there is a strong likelihood she will be subjected to human sacrifice. This time, when the crisis is over, Polly is less inclined to forgive him immediately.
[edit] TV adaptation
In the 2002 Disney Channel Original Movie A Ring of Endless Light, Zachary Gray is played by Jared Padalecki. The film version of Zach gets reckless driving a boat while Vicky is on it, and stands up to his father about an illegal fishing practice that kills dolphins, a plot thread that does not exist in the novel.
