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The Effect Of Gamma Rays In The Moon Marigolds By Paul Zindel

565 Words3 Pages

“But most important, I suppose, my experiment has made me feel important-every atom in me, in everybody” (Zindel 109). In the book The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel, the significant symbols is the marigolds and the gamma rays. The marigolds represent Tillie, the main character, and how her mother affects her life. Her mother, Beatrice, also is important since the gamma rays in the play represent her. These symbols help reveal the characters personalities and the theme in the work.
The symbols appear and function in this play because Tillie does her science project on marigolds and gamma rays. Tillie signs up to do a science fair and decides to do the effect of gamma rays on marigolds. In the play Tillie describes …show more content…

Beatrice represents the gamma rays because she is like a poison to Tillie. For example she doesn't let her go to school but instead makes her work, “ the fortress of knowledge is not going to be blessed with your presence today. I have a good number of duties for you to take care of”(Zindel 39). The gamma ray symbol tells us that Beatrice is rude, selfish and is dangerous to things around her. The marigolds tells us that Tillies character is strong and true to herself. Beatrice's actions affect Tillies outlook on life. This connects to the symbols because the gamma rays kill the flowers closet to them and give mutations to the ones that slightly absorb by them. The author purposefully put these symbols in to help develop the theme which is children can thrive in an unstable family environment if they stay true themself and learn from their families mistakes. Since Tillie is strong she wouldn’t end up like her mother. Her sister, Ruth, however let Beatrice's actions affect her and she will be the marigold that dies from the gamma rays. Tillie makes her speech before winning the science fair, “Some of the mutations will be good ones-wonderful things beyond our dreams- and I believe, I believe this with all my heart, the day will come when mankind will thank God for the strange and beautiful energy from the atom” (Zindel 99). Tillie realizes at the end that she is a marigold who has

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