Calvin asks Meg hard questions about her father's disappearance, a touchy subject in the Murry family. He first repeats the rumor going around town that her father ran off with another woman. He says he knows that isn't true, but then probes Meg more deeply about her father's disappearance. Meg responds that all she knows is that her father had a top secret clearance with the government. Calvin asks if her father might be dead. Meg replies no, or they would have gotten a telegram. However, he has stopped writing letters. Calvin then asks if she thinks that the government doesn't know what happened to her father. Meg admits that's what she fears.
It takes courage for Calvin to ask these questions, because Mr. Murray's disappearance is such a sensitive subject. Meg is hurt, misses her father and is deeply worried about what has happened to him. Calvin shows his...
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maturity in being able to question her on such a sore subject in a way that Meg can accept.
What questions does Calvin ask Meg in A Wrinkle in Time?
Calvin is full of questions! When first meeting Meg, he asks her questions about her father, which are important to show he cares about her as a person and important because her father's absence propels the plot. One example is "Looks kind of like Charles Wallace, doesn't he?" As Meg answers, the author develops Meg's love for her family and the connection between Charles Wallace and their father; this becomes important later in the book when they need to confront IT. Parallels exist between what happens to Meg's and Charles's father and what happens to Charles Wallace. Also, Meg needs to rely on her deep love for her brother to save him.
Calvin soon asks scientific questions like this: "What's a megaparsec?" Meg demonstrates knowledge in math and science that stretches beyond expectations for her age. People make fun of her, and she gets in trouble in school, but she excels at a great deal too. When he switches to a question about literature, Meg responds with, "Oh, Calvin, I'm not any good at English." She has drawn some lines around herself, categorized her talents.
Then, he asks her more questions about her father. At first, the questions show Calvin knows something about him: "Then he did some work for the government, didn't he?" Then, he asks Meg to fill in more. She tells him about her father disappearing. Calvin inquires, "Well, what about your father's letters?" As he learns about how the family has dealt with the turmoil, he demonstrates genuine interest and respect for Meg and her family. He even prompts, "Why don't you cry?" He gives her an opportunity to feel all she has been dealing with. As he goes on this adventure with Meg and Charles Wallace, his respect grows into genuine caring and deep concern.