The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds

by Paul Zindel

Book Overview

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize, 1971. A drama about a disturbed mother whose dreams have been shattered and who vents her frustrations on her daughters. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060757388
• ISBN13: 9780060757380
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Harperteen
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.3" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Some background on Gamma Rays

The author of Gamma Rays (Paul Zindel) was my science and chemistry teacher on Staten Island (in the 60's). He was a hilarious teacher and would set off experiments, run out of the classroom and lock us in, and there we would be all alone, thinking the classroom was going to explode. He was also in charge of our high school's annual science fair. The winner of our science fair for 3 years' running was an exhibit titled "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Marigolds" and I always wondered if this play was about the girl who kept winning our Science Fair. While the play has no specific geographic location, it does mention Moravian Cemetery which is located on Staten Island. This play is a wonderful legacy and brings back many memories.

Toxic life

Beatrice and her two daughters, Ruth and Tillie, live in cheap accommodation in a converted shop. The store's front display window is still there, but covered in newspapers. All three females struggle, in their various ways, with the toxicity of life, with the fact that 'fairness' is for them a distant hope far beyond their grasp. For Beatrice the struggle takes the form of 'get-rich-quick' schemes as a way of escaping 'failure'. For Ruth the hard facts of life, particularly the reality of death, lead to a kind of epileptic fit, a retreat into unconsciousness. For Tillie the answer is in learning and especially science. Together these three people hurt and encourage one another as they engage in the 'struggle for life'. This play won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and that is certainly an indication of its quality. It has had a successful run Off Broadway and has been made into a television drama. This is certainly not Shakespeare, but is definitely far above the ho-hum plotting of, for example, most TV plays. The creative use of lighting and symbolism are the best features, which combine to generate a psychologically poignant ambiance. This is only a two act play, so be warned, if you are looking for searching character analysis and deep philosophy you will not find it here. The play would do admirably as the subject of a school essay, and Gale has indeed released a study book for such purposes (Paul Zindel's "The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds": A Study Guide from Gale's "Drama for Students" (Volume 12, Chapter 3)).

A play of humane, compelling, sincere depth

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a cute, catchy title. But the drama is anything but cute. It is a sensitively written play in a natural uncluttered style; the theme, plot and dialogue are not imbued with self-righteous, long-winded, cliched morality excesses. The play revolves around three characters: 1) Beatrice Hunsdorfer, a bitter and acerbic woman 2) Ruth, her daughter, selfish and at times fractious and 3) Tille, another daughter, bright, responsible, a young girl with a flair for science.The scene: a converted vegeatble store with an upper and lower landing. The room has the usual daily living necessities: couch, table, lamps, chairs, etc.The two daughters have a home environment that would be considered less than homey and family oriented. Being a part of this family would be a real drab, for their is no warmth, compassion, positive human expressiveness, nothing. What replaces these vital family qualities are characteristics on the exact opposite side of the spectrum: bitterness, sarcasm, virulence and regret for past mistakes that have impeded the present condition of living. The two daughters in this play have that glimmer of hope that only youthfulness can bestow. One daughter in particular, Tille, has found her glimmer of hope in science, specifically in her science project of atomic grown flowers: Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. Atomic energy, an element commonly recognized for its destructiveness, is used in her project to aid in the growth of the flowers. When handled carefully, atomic energy can be used to create beautiful things, thus, bettering lives. The parallel is this: as atomic energy can be harmful, so too can their mother with her permeating aura of negativity, regret and bitterness, how those dark, unwavering emotions can annihilate the bursting positive vitality and idealism that normally encompasses the spirits found in youths.With all the atrocious words and spiteful actions committed by the three characters -- Ruth and Beatrice mostly -- the stark truth from a simple child's science project remains the same: "The Future: After radiation is better understood, a day will come when the power from exploding atoms will change the whole world we know. Some of the mutations will be good ones - wonderful things beyond our dreams...." Thus, with her mother and Ruth's malevolence and cruelities, with better understanding, will rise joy, strength, stability and the fruition of that which earlier was not deemed possible. This is a play for people of all ages, a play with simple truths, a play about seeing, a guaranteed winner.

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-The-Moon Marigolds

This play contains some amazing monologue material---a pleasant alternative to the more traditional high school drama material.Paul Zindel is probably most famous for his mastery of adolescent angst. While this play owes a great deal to the same subject matter--it also stands up under adult reading as well.

I liked it

At first I had my doubts about this book because it seemed so complicated. But after several pages I automatically knew I would like it. It's a wonderful book, not just for young adult readers but for anyone. Since "The Glass Menagerie" one of the best examples of a family torn apart because they have trouble expressing their emotions. I recommend to anyone. Enjoy!