A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a seminal science fiction novel for young readers, first published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1962. The narrative centers on Margaret “Meg” Murry, her exceptionally gifted younger brother Charles Wallace, and their schoolmate Calvin O’Keefe, as they embark on an extraordinary journey across the universe. Their mission is to rescue Meg’s father, a brilliant physicist, from the clutches of a malevolent cosmic entity.
The novel has received significant acclaim, earning prestigious accolades such as the Newbery Medal in 1963, the Sequoyah Book Award, and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. It was also a runner-up for the Hans Christian Anderson Award. Its enduring popularity has led to multiple adaptations, including two Disney movie versions (2003 and 2018), three stage plays (1990, 2010, and 2014), and an opera (1992).
The Genesis of a Classic Novel
Madeleine L’Engle, born in New York in 1918, demonstrated a passion for writing from an early age. Despite earning a degree in English from Smith College, she faced considerable challenges in getting her work published. The inspiration for A Wrinkle in Time struck during a cross-country camping trip with her family, where the alien landscapes ignited her imagination. This guide references the 1973 reprinting from Dell Books.
L’Engle's creative process for the book spanned from 1959 to 1960. In her memoir, she described its conception as occurring "during a time of transition" following her family's move back to New York City after living in rural Goshen, Connecticut. The names of the enigmatic Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which emerged during this period in the spring of 1959. L'Engle often stated that she "had no choice" but to write the book, indicating a deep personal imperative behind its creation. Her interest in science, particularly Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, also significantly influenced the novel's concepts.
After facing numerous rejections-L'Engle later recounted "twenty-six rejections"-her manuscript was returned by her agent. However, a chance encounter at a Christmas tea party led to the book finding a publisher. In 1963, A Wrinkle in Time was awarded the Newbery Medal, recognizing its distinguished contribution to American children's literature. The book has remained continuously in print since its debut, with various editions published over the years, including collector's editions and paperback versions under different imprints.
Plot Summary: A Journey Through Space and Time
The novel unfolds through the perspective of young Meg Murry. Meg is deeply affected by the unexplained disappearance of her father, a physicist, several years prior. His absence leaves her feeling lost and increasingly self-loathing, as he was the only one who truly understood her. One stormy night, unable to sleep, Meg joins her mother and her exceptionally bright younger brother, Charles Wallace, for a late-night snack. Their quiet evening is interrupted by the arrival of the peculiar Mrs. Whatsit, who cryptically mentions the reality of tesseracts to a bewildered Mrs. Murry.
The following day, Meg and Charles Wallace encounter Calvin O’Keefe, a boy from Meg’s school. Calvin felt compelled to take a walk, which led him to cross paths with the Murry siblings. Later that evening, Mrs. Whatsit, accompanied by her equally enigmatic companions, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which (collectively known as the "Mrs. Ws"), arrive at the Murry home. They reveal that it is time to embark on a mission to rescue Meg’s father.
Their journey takes them to various planets, where Meg and her companions learn about a pervasive evil, referred to as the Dark Thing, that is spreading across the universe. They discover that Mr. Murry's government work, which involved research into tesseracts-a method of traversing vast distances instantaneously by folding space-time-led to his capture and imprisonment on the planet Camazotz.
The Ordeal on Camazotz
Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace then tesser to Camazotz, a planet where the Mrs. Ws cannot directly intervene. Here, they confront IT, a powerful, disembodied brain that exerts absolute control over the planet's inhabitants. In an attempt to locate his father, Charles Wallace succumbs to IT's influence, becoming a mere shadow of his former self. He leads Meg and Calvin to where Mr. Murry is being held captive. Meg manages to rescue her father, initially believing their troubles are over.
However, Mr. Murry's presence does not immediately resolve their predicament. Charles Wallace brings Mr. Murry, Meg, and Calvin before IT, a colossal, pulsating brain. As IT attacks them with the disorienting rhythm of Camazotz, Meg begins to falter. Faced with overwhelming odds, Mr. Murry uses his tesser abilities to transport himself, Meg, and Calvin away from Camazotz, but is unable to take Charles Wallace with them. The tesser process injures Meg, and they land on the planet Ixchel, where they are cared for by its inhabitants.
Rescue and Love's Triumph
On Ixchel, the Mrs. Ws reappear and assist Meg in returning to Camazotz to save Charles Wallace. They impart a cryptic clue: Meg must use "the thing she has that IT does not have." Meg contemplates this message until Charles Wallace accuses Mrs. Whatsit of hating him. Realizing that Mrs. Whatsit loves her, Meg understands that IT lacks the capacity for love. By embracing her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to free him from IT's control. Subsequently, Meg, Charles Wallace, Calvin, and Mr. Murry return to Earth, reuniting with the rest of the Murry family in their twin brothers' vegetable garden.
Themes Explored in A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time delves into a rich tapestry of themes, resonating with readers on multiple levels:
- Good versus Evil: The novel starkly contrasts forces of good and evil, symbolized by light and darkness, and the cosmic battle against the encroaching Dark Thing.
- The Power of Love and Family: Love, particularly familial love, is presented as the ultimate weapon against evil and conformity. The strength derived from family bonds is a central tenet.
- Coming of Age and Self-Discovery: Meg’s journey is one of significant personal growth, as she confronts her insecurities and learns to embrace her unique strengths.
- Faith and Spirituality: The novel incorporates profound spiritual and religious undertones, reflecting L'Engle's Christian worldview, with themes of divine intervention and God's pervasive love.
- The Dangers of Conformity: The planet Camazotz serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of absolute conformity, where individuality is suppressed in favor of uniformity.
- Science and Imagination: L'Engle masterfully blends scientific concepts, such as tesseracts and the space-time continuum, with imaginative fantasy elements.
- Overcoming Fear and Insecurity: Meg's personal struggles with fear and insecurity are central to her character arc, as she learns to face her inner demons.
Setting: From Rural Earth to Cosmic Realms
The story of A Wrinkle in Time is set primarily in the early 1960s, reflecting the era of its publication. It begins in a familiar, rural New England town, where the Murry family resides in an old farmhouse. This grounded setting serves as a stark contrast to the extraordinary cosmic landscapes the characters later explore.
As the narrative progresses, the protagonists utilize the phenomenon of the tesseract, a fifth-dimensional method of travel, to traverse vast distances and time periods. Their interplanetary journey includes visits to diverse worlds, such as the seemingly utopian planet Uriel, inhabited by centaur-like beings, and the dystopian planet Camazotz, which has fallen under the control of IT. These alien environments allow L'Engle to explore complex themes on a grand, cosmic scale.
The novel's treatment of time is fluid, blurring the lines between past, present, and future. This integration of real and imagined settings, from 1960s Earth to distant galaxies, creates a unique backdrop that is both relatable and otherworldly, underscoring the vastness of the universe and the human spirit's capacity to explore it.
Key Characters
- Meg Murry: The 13-year-old protagonist, an intelligent but often stubborn and insecure adolescent who embarks on a universe-spanning quest to find her father.
- Charles Wallace Murry: Meg's precocious 5-year-old brother, possessing extraordinary telepathic abilities, but also vulnerable to mind control.
- Calvin O’Keefe: A popular 14-year-old classmate who joins Meg and Charles Wallace, known for his gift of communication and empathy.
- Dr. Alex Murry: Meg and Charles Wallace's father, a brilliant physicist working on secret government projects involving tesseracts, whose disappearance initiates the plot.
- Dr. Kate Murry: Meg and Charles Wallace's mother, a scientist who continues her work and maintains hope for her husband's return.
- Mrs. Whatsit: A celestial being disguised as an eccentric old woman, who acts as a guide for the children. In a past life, she was a star.
- Mrs. Who: Another celestial guide, who communicates primarily through quotations from famous literary and philosophical figures in various languages.
- Mrs. Which: The eldest and most powerful of the three celestial guides, often speaking in riddles and offering guidance.
- IT: A giant, disembodied telepathic brain that controls the planet Camazotz, representing a central force of evil and conformity.
- The Man with Red Eyes: IT's primary agent on Camazotz, responsible for hypnotizing individuals and enforcing IT's will.
- Aunt Beast: A large, four-armed, furry, and eyeless creature on Ixchel with telepathic abilities, who nurses Meg back to health.
Quick Facts About A Wrinkle in Time
- A Wrinkle in Time was rejected by at least 26 publishers before its eventual publication in 1962.
- Madeleine L'Engle completed the manuscript in approximately one year, finishing in 1960.
- The novel's scientific concepts were partly inspired by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.
- The iconic names Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which originated during a family road trip.
- L'Engle based the Murry family in the novel on her own family experiences.
- The book significantly popularized the scientific concept of a "tesseract" for space-time travel.
- A Wrinkle in Time is the first installment in L'Engle's acclaimed Time Quintet series.
- The novel has been adapted into film twice: a made-for-TV movie in 2003 and a major theatrical release by Disney in 2018.
- The book has faced challenges and attempts at banning in some American schools and libraries due to its complex themes and unique spiritual perspective.
- In 1963, A Wrinkle in Time was honored with the prestigious Newbery Medal.
About the Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) was an American author renowned for her young adult fiction, most notably A Wrinkle in Time. Born in New York City, she developed a passion for writing early in life, though her academic path included time at boarding schools in Switzerland and South Carolina, followed by a degree in English from Smith College in 1941.
After college, L'Engle moved to New York to pursue a career in theater and writing. She married actor Hugh Franklin in 1946, and the couple later relocated to rural Connecticut, where they raised their three children. During this period, L'Engle balanced her writing career with managing a general store and serving as a church choir director.
Her literary breakthrough came with the 1962 publication of A Wrinkle in Time, a novel that masterfully blended science fiction, fantasy, and Christian themes-elements that would become hallmarks of her writing. She authored numerous books for both children and adults, including sequels to her most famous work and memoirs reflecting on her life and faith. A devout Episcopalian, L'Engle frequently explored spiritual concepts in her literature and served for many years as the librarian and writer-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Her significant contributions to literature were recognized with honors such as the National Humanities Medal in 2004.