Do you agree with Charles Wallace's statement in Chapter 7 of "A Wrinkle in Time" that decisions shouldn't be based on fear?
Right before Charles Wallace makes this statement, he exclaims that some force is trying to get to him. We will later find out this is IT. Charles Wallace tells Calvin and Meg to hold his hands and not let go. Calvin then says they should turn back and not go farther in search of Meg and Charles Wallace's father. At this point Charles Wallace says:
"No," . . . "I have to go on. We have to make decisions, and we can't make them if they're based on fear." His voice sounded old and strange and remote. Meg, clasping his small hand tightly, could feel it sweating in hers.
I agree that one shouldn't make decisions based on fear, as fear can cloud your judgment, and because things often aren't as bad as you might imagine in a moment of panic.
On the other hand, it seems that Charles Wallace's...
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judgment was already under assault as his hand was sweating from fear. It might have made sense to go outside the building and try to logically access what they were doing before heading toward IT again.
Charles Wallace's contention was the fear clouds the mind and prevents clear thinking. In order to fight evil, a carefull consideration of all options was necessary
Also, decisions based on fear tend to be focused more on self-preservation. In this fight, the focus needed to be on more than just self, but on the world(s) as a whole. Self-sacrifice might be necessary, as Charles Wallace will choose to do later. The larger consequences need to be considered, not just what will happen to Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin.
Do you agree with Charles Wallace's statement that decisions shouldn't be based on fear?
I agree because IT is doing its best to get control of the children's minds. IT is already in control of their father. Though fear tempts the threesome to turn and run away from Central Central Intelligence, as Charles Wallace notes, they won't make the decisions that will free their father if they give into fear. They need, instead, to face their fears. As Calvin says, quoting Mrs. Who, who was quoting Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only thing the children had to fear was fear itself.
IT is trying to hypnotize the children. If they keep thinking, rather than allowing themselves to be paralyzed by fear, they can block out IT and avoid mind control. They have to keeping thinking thoughts that are not IT's thoughts and that means overcoming their terror.