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The Struggle Between Good and Evil
The tension between good and evil comprises the central conflict of A Wrinkle in Time, and this theme is highlighted in almost every key moment in the book, as well as in the clear distinction of every character. Anchoring the theme is the motif of darkness and light, where good is analogous to light, and evil to darkness. In true protagonist fashion, Meg is fueled by her desire to see good win over evil, especially in the cases of Mr. Murry and Charles Wallace’s capture by sinister forces. The members of the Murry family and Calvin are all clearly defined as good characters, as well as Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, Aunt Beast, and the Happy Medium. In contrast, The Black Thing, IT, the Man with the Red Eyes, and all other beings on Camazotz are completely evil, and this transparent categorization of every character that appears in the novel confirms the prevalence of this theme. The swells of good in the story are characterized by warmth, brilliance, and even curiosity, as Meg learns with time what the true nature of goodness looks like through Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit and the many lessons they teach.
The Inadequacy of Words
The theme of words and their inability to convey deep truths is an idea suggested through many moments in the story, but made especially obvious through the characterizations of Charles Wallace, Aunt Beast, and Mrs. Who. In the opening moments of the story, Meg and Mrs. Murry converse about the mysteries of Charles Wallace and the difficulty of understanding and describing him, as well as process the strange interactions with Mrs. Whatsit. Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit all communicate in different ways, but all three recognize the way human words often falter. Charles Wallace and Calvin are both able to communicate with the various beings they encounter simply through a knowing, or an understanding that cannot be fully described. Meg begins to communicate in this way as well, like on Uriel when she understands thoughts of encouragement that seem to emanate from the beating of Mrs. Whatsit’s wings. Mrs. Who primarily speaks in quotations from almost every era and in a variety of languages, showing that one’s own words are often inadequate to describe a feeling or phenomenon. One of the clearest illustrations of this theme is through Meg’s interactions with Aunt Beast, as Aunt Beast views almost every word or descriptor Meg uses as strange and incapable of capturing that thing’s true essence. Ultimately, Meg realizes through interactions with these characters that words are often inadequate to capture true understanding, and through this realization she can surrender her need to know everything.
The Triumphant Power of Love
Love is ultimately victorious over every evil in A Wrinkle in Time. In the beginning of the story, Calvin’s interest in and affirmation of Meg sparks a journey of self-discovery and confidence in her, suggesting that even the seed of love can help one overcome great challenges. Calvin finds great joy in the love that the Murry family has for each other, at first envying it when comparing their care to his own harsh, lonely home life, but eventually he feels accepted into the familial love himself, overcoming his own lack of belonging. The grandest illustration of this theme is clearly found in the climax of the story, when Meg overcomes the pulsing evil of IT by declaring her love for Charles Wallace. She realizes in her defining hour that she has love and IT does not—just as Mrs. Which instructed her. Meg’s great power is the knowledge of loving and being loved. The triumph of love as presented throughout the story is anything but superficial, and the earnestness and depth in which the characters explore love signals the power love holds is pure and strong.
