The Green Glass Sea

Social Inclusion and Exclusion and the Importance of Human Connection are explored in Dewey and Suze’s burgeoning relationship. Suze comes to understand the power of true friendship; in her relationship with Dewey, she is able to be completely authentic, and she feels accepted and comfortable in herself: “She’d never had a conversation like this with another kid. She didn’t feel like she had to be funny, or try to show Dewey how smart she was. She could just be” (196). Suze has previously been motivated by trying to achieve social acceptance from the popular kids. Her Coming of Age is illustrated when she defends Dewey, who is socially ridiculed, in front of Joyce and Barbara, thereby aligning herself with Dewey and choosing authenticity and kindness over her reputation. Suze’s loyalty to Dewey and her new values is illustrated when she keeps her arm around Dewey when they see Barbara and Joyce, even as Dewey tries to wriggle away, assuming that Suze won’t want to be seen with her: “She took a deep breath and squeezed Dewey’s shoulder, just once, and Dewey stood still” (201).

Dewey and Suze’s friendship is symbolized in the Shazam Club and their associated Shazam rocks. Suze’s friendship helps Dewey to cope with her significant grief after her Papa’s death, as is illustrated when Dewey agrees to leave their room for the first time in weeks to go to the dump with Suze after Suze presents her with the Shazam rock. Suze’s Coming of Age is illustrated in her enthusiastic accommodation of Dewey within the family. In the earlier chapters, Suze’s immaturity is illustrated in her obvious reluctance to host the unpopular Dewey. In these chapters, Suze tells her mother that “there’s plenty of room” for Dewey to remain living with them after Dewey’s Papa’s death (210). Furthermore, Suze emphasizes that Dewey belongs to their family when she tells Dewey about the surprise birthday trip, “‘Sure. I asked, and Daddy said the whole family’s going.’ ‘Family?’ Dewey made a funny sound in her throat but didn’t say anything” (267). Dewey is deeply moved to be included in Suze’s categorization of her family. As is illustrated by the “funny sound in her throat,” she is obviously touched and overwhelmed, as well as still wrestling with immense grief over her Papa’s death. While Suze’s coming of age is more gradual, Dewey’s coming of age is more concentrated, happening in the time following her father’s death.  

The Ethical Implications of Scientific Discovery is explored in these chapters. The anxiety around the nuclear bomb test is characterized in the atmosphere at Los Alamos as the experiment date nears: “Tensions and tempers ran high. Everyone seemed to be on hold, as if waiting for a phone that refused to ring” (228). The reader is reminded of the historical fact that even the specialized scientists had no way of knowing for sure what would happen when the bomb was detonated; scientific modeling could only guess at a never-before-seen phenomenon. This concern is illustrated in Jack and Charlie’s mom’s decision to send her sons to a farm in Oregon when the bomb is tested after she hears a rumor, originating from a scientist, that there is a chance that “when they test the gadget, all the air in the world is going to catch fire” (230).

Suspense is created vicariously for the reader through the community’s anxiety. This suspense peaks at the early morning viewing of the nuclear explosion from Los Alamos:

Suddenly there was a bright light, as bright as the sun. It lit up the faces of the people and the leaves of the trees. Dewey could see the colors and patterns of blankets and shirts that had been indistinct grays a second before, as if it were instantly morning, as if the sun had risen in the south, just this once (245).

The incredible, reality-defying experience of the nuclear bomb explosion is emphasized, as well as its power, in the fact that it’s “as bright as the sun” (245). The impression that something has been created that is beyond the bounds of reality is further emphasized by the description of the rumble—which could be heard as well as felt—as “like distant, alien thunder” (245).

Through the mixed responses of the Los Alamos population, Klages explores the immense moral and ethical quandary that the creation of such a weapon elicits. The predominant initial response is joy that the project has succeeded. This joy is characterized by the spontaneous celebration on the Hill in the aftermath of the explosion: “Their silent vigil became a party” (246). For the majority of the scientists, Army officials, and their families, the success of the atomic bomb development signals the end of the war, which is projected to save the lives of millions of American soldiers. This belief is illustrated in Philip’s elated entrance to the house: “Dr. Gordon came bounding up the back steps ten minutes later, grinning from ear to ear, his fingers raised in a V-for-Victory sign” (247). Philip’s “V for Victory” illustrates the prevailing belief that Japan, which had thus far refused to surrender, should be bombed to force their surrender.

Moral compunction over using the bomb on a civilian population, as the scientists correctly guess that Washington will decide to do with their creation, is expressed through the character of Terry and Dick Feynman’s inarticulate but obviously distressed expression of ambivalence over the bomb’s use:

She [Dewey] heard Dick Feynman talking, and stopped in the doorway to listen. ‘Well, yes. We started for a good reason, and we’ve been working so hard. It was pleasure. It was excitement, ‘ he said. ‘But you stop thinking about—you know? You just stop. And now...’ ‘And now that we’ve seen what it can do. My god,’ Terry Gordon said, her voice raised, sounding angry. ‘They can’t use it. Not on civilians. Not on anyone, for that matter’ (251).

Terry’s moral compunction and distress at her involvement in the project is clear; she feels a responsibility to try to stop the use of the weapon by the military. This is illustrated by her suggestion that the scientists sign a petition and the fractious nature of her communication with her husband, who believes that the bomb should be used as the government sees fit—likely on Japanese targets; Dewey observes that “the Gordons had been arguing a lot lately” (252), which symbolizes the Gordons opposing positions on the bomb’s use.

Klages further characterizes the atomic bomb as something out of science fiction—something completely out of this world and unprecedented—in the amazing sight of the sea of green glass created by the bomb blast’s heat. Philip tells the girls that the glass was created by the blast: “It’s the first new mineral created on this planet in millions of years” (266). The beauty and immense power of the bomb are emphasized in Dewey’s reflections; the magnificent and amazing glass sea makes her feel connected to her father and his beliefs in the beauty and power of scientific discovery: “When Papa had talked about how beautiful math and science were, his voice had sounded just the way she felt now. She knelt down and put her hand flat on the green surface” (278).

Klages intentionally creates moral ambiguity; the reader is positioned to marvel with the Gordons and Dewey at the beauty of the glass and the incredible fact that it has been created by the ingenuity and effort of a dedicated team of scientists. On the other hand, the novel ends on the radio announcement, ironically not paid much attention by any of the characters, of the bombing of Hiroshima: “‘...onto the Japanese city of Hiroshima this morning...’ She [Suze] turned past it to more static and shook her head. ‘Nothing but war news,’ she said, clicking the radio off” (281). As well as feeling awe at the achievement of the American scientists, the reader is invited to consider the incredible violence and destruction unleashed on Hiroshima, which killed more than 100,000 Japanese people, mostly civilians, and leveled miles of densely urbanized cityscape. Readers with historical knowledge of the bombing of Japan will know that three days later, such destruction occurred again in the Japanese city of Nagasaki before Japan surrendered.