To fight off IT in A Wrinkle in Time, Meg attempts to use the power of words and foundational human principles by loudly reciting the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence.
Meg's Attempt to Resist IT
In a desperate effort to resist the overwhelming, controlling force known as IT, Meg chooses to weaponize a fundamental document of freedom and equality. Her strategy involves:
- Verbal Declaration: Meg begins to yell the initial phrases from the Declaration of Independence. This act is not just a recitation but a powerful verbal challenge to IT's oppressive uniformity.
- Emphasizing Equality: She specifically recites the line, "that all men are created equal." This particular phrase is central to her attempt to counter IT's philosophy of enforced sameness.
IT's Counter-Argument
However, IT, communicating through the controlled form of Charles Wallace, swiftly counters Meg's declaration, twisting its meaning to fit its own agenda. IT argues that on Camazotz, its home planet, everyone is indeed equal—because everyone is exactly alike. This chilling response highlights IT's perversion of the concept of equality, reducing it to a state of absolute conformity where individuality is eradicated. This direct confrontation underscores the core ideological battle between individuality and oppressive conformity in the narrative.
