Good vs Evil

I think what signifies as evil in A Wrinkle in Time is conformity. The IT takes over planets and makes everyone the same and “equal”. IT achieves this sameness and “equality” through controlling everyone and eliminating individuality. IT dominates so much of the people that it is even controls their breathing. I find it astonishing to think about not having control over your own inhaling and exhaling. On page 173 Meg speaks about how a pulse is controlling her as they enter the building. Meg has to stand still and “balance herself into this artificial rhythm.” She has no choice in the matter but to conform to the pulse of the IT. She cannot breathe at her normal pace but is being forced to breathe along with the pulse coming from IT. The great evil of conforming can also been seen by the characters. The twins did not go on this quest to fight the darkness. That is because they were able to fit in at school; the odd balls of the family went Meg and Charles. Calvin fit in at school but not at home he too was an odd ball. What really drove home for me that conforming was the darkness was the IT controlling their heartbeats and breathing. These are two necessities of life. IT has turned people into shells that are just vessels that IT has complete power over down to when they breathe.

In contrast to the darkness in the story is the light. Where I view conformity as the darkness I see the light as being individuality and love of individuality. The return home and the reunion is a passage that makes me feel happy. The passage is a high point I looked forward to. I hoped that this family would be reunited. Everyone is together and safe. There is hugging and laughter which creates this jumble of arms and legs and happiness. L'Engle paints a picture of good as being love. Love is what got them through the darkness and allowed them to go home. The happiness is so strong that it engulfs Calvin and makes Fortinbars want to be a part of the reunion too.