Discussion Topic
Charles Wallace's Role and Liberation in "A Wrinkle in Time"
Summary:
In A Wrinkle in Time, Charles Wallace is freed from IT on Camazotz when his sister Meg uses the power of love, which IT cannot comprehend. Despite IT's attempts to manipulate her emotions, Meg's sincere declaration of love for Charles penetrates IT's control, allowing him to regain his sense of self and escape IT's grasp. Initially, Charles Wallace is left behind due to being hypnotized by IT, but Meg's love ultimately liberates him.
In A Wrinkle in Time, how is Charles Wallace finally freed?
It is Meg, Charles Wallace's older sister, who finally frees him from his mental slavery to IT. She does it by exercising the only power that IT does not have--the power of love.
She begins by kything to him:
"Charles, Charles, I love you. My baby brother who always takes care of me. Come back to me Charles Wallace, come away from IT, come back, come home."
Finally, she is able to look at him and cry out loud, "I love you, Charles! I love you!"
Then, after a "whirl of darkness," both Meg and Charles Wallace are transported safely home.
Why is Charles Wallace left behind in "A Wrinkle in Time"?
Charles Wallace is a main character in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. He, his sister Meg, and their friend Calvin travel to Camazotz with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. The children are left to travel to Central Intelligence without their guides. They do not make it very far before a teacher finds their constant questions inappropriate and sends them to be reprocessed.
During reprocessing, the children encounter a strange man who speaks oddly and makes them uncomfortable. He appears to be a mouthpiece, and the children speculate he may be hypnotized, like the other adults they have come across in Camazotz. The man hypnotizes Charles Wallace, and he leads the children to Mr. Murry. Meg and Calvin rescue Mr. Murry, but Mr. Murry is not able to help Charles Wallace escape the hypnosis.
Charles Wallace leads the group to IT, a giant, pulsating human brain that is controlling all of the hypnotized people in Camazotz. IT almost begins to control Meg and Calvin, but Calvin encourages Mr. Murry to "tesser." They escape Camazotz. They are forced to leave Charles Wallace behind, though, because he is so taken by IT that they cannot connect with him enough to take him along on the "tesser."
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