Student Question
What, according to Charles Wallace, makes the planet perfectly ordered?
Quick answer:
According to Charles Wallace, the planet Camazotz is perfectly ordered because everyone has "learned to relax, to give in, to submit." This reflects the influence of "It," which has taken over his mind. In reality, the planet's order is maintained through coercion and fear, as seen when a boy is tortured for not bouncing a ball correctly. Charles Wallace's statement is an attempt to persuade Meg to succumb to the same control.
When "It" takes over Charles Wallace on the planet Camazotz, he says:
You see, on this planet everything is in perfect order because everybody has learned to relax, to give in, to submit.
We know this is a false view of the planet that reflects the influence of "It" over Charles Wallace. Earlier, before Charles Wallace's mind was infiltrated, Charles Wallace, Meg and Calvin all saw the tension and upset in the mother whose son didn't bounce the ball properly, and they all witnessed how the boy was tortured with electric shocks to teach him to bounce in an orderly way. Everybody has not "relaxed" under this evil regime, but has been forced to submit.
Charles Wallace, however, says this because he is trying to encourage Meg to let down her guard and allow her mind to be taken over just as his has been. The reader hopes that Meg, despite her trust of Charles Wallace, will reject this bad advice.
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