Zachary Gray
| Zachary Gray | |
|---|---|
 Zachary Gray (right) as depicted on the dust jacket of An Acceptable Time | |
| First appearance | The Moon by Night, 1963 |
| Last appearance | An Acceptable Time,1989 |
| Created by | Madeleine L'Engle |
| Portrayed by | Jared Padalecki |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Zach |
| Aliases | Zachary Grey (spelling in The Moon by Night) |
| Occupation | on-again, off-again student |
| Relatives | unnamed parents |
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.
Character
Zachary, often called Zach, is a wealthy young man from Los Angeles, California, with parents who show little love for their son or each other,[1] and who seem unable to exert any influence on their son's behavior. Zach is described as having "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 (namely for smoking in the bathroom or cheating as an art form), but demonstrates that he will learn a great deal on a subject that interests him, particularly anthropology. 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. In his introductory appearance, he frequently sings "The Merry Minuet" by Sheldon Harnick, a song of black humor and global annihilation. Donald R. Hettinga says of Zachary at this stage that he "looks at human suffering and sees no hope."[2] When his mother dies, he and his father have her body preserved through cryonics in lieu of a "pie in the sky" hope of resurrection. According to Carole F. Chase's study of L'Engle's work, L'Engle considered Zachary to be "a work in progress who will ultimately be redeemed."[1]
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 Grey at a campground. Zach is there with his parents in a luxuriously equipped tent trailer pulled by a brand new black station wagon. As he explains to Vicky, his family is camping its way home from Hotchkiss, the school from which Zachary has just been expelled, presumably for poor grades. Zach then pursues Vicky at other campgrounds across the country. Vicky is flattered by Zach's interest, and intrigued as well as discomfited by his cynical attitude. Vicky's younger sister Suzy and older brother John both heartily dislike him. Vicky's father, Dr. Wallace Austin, deduces 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 in a game of hide and seek. As the Austins search for him, Zach lures Vicky to a remote mountainside to speak with her privately. When Vicky tries to return to the campsite and her family, an earthquake causes an avalanche, and Zachary is trapped between some rocks. Before and after help arrives, Zach promises Vicky that he will begin to take better care of himself.
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, in the eyes of Vicky and her sister, resulted in the death by heart attack 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 island. He did this not because of selfish reasons, but because the nauseating smell of the hospital reminded him of his time spent there.
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 by this point, he is taking time off 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.
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 will repair his failing heart in return for his cooperation, Zachary helps the People Across the Lake to abduct Polly, 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. Nevertheless, she helps the healers to restore his heart, averting the death he so feared. Once again Zachary promises to make a new start and change his selfish, self-destructive ways.
TV adaptation
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chase, Carole F (1998). Suncatcher: A Study of Madeleine L'Engle and Her Writing. Philadelphia: Innisfree Press. pp. 48–49, 60, 61, 89, 95, 143. ISBN 1-880913-31-3.
- ↑ Hettinga, Donald R. (1993). Presenting Madeleine L'Engle. New York: Twayne Publishers. p. 61. ISBN 0-8057-8222-2.
External links
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