by Alexander Lourenco

Created on: July 29, 2008

A Wrinkle in Time is a book that, when published, was quite ahead of its time; Madeline L'Engle herself described it as a book that was "too different" to be published and endured twenty-six rejections before its eventual publication. The book itself, however, is a fascinating look into several interesting philosophical questions, including the question of personal and moral responsibility. What does it mean to be a moral person in a Wrinkle in Time? Indeed, what does it mean to be moral? L'Engle explores these ideas in a story that is both thought-provoking and entertaining for children and adults alike.

The main thrust of A Wrinkle in Time is, of course, the Murry family's battle against the evil IT that controls the planet of Camazotz. The depth into which responsibility is examined, however, appears much earlier than that. The first examples of personal and moral responsibility come when Meg's parents are experimenting with things a little beyond their control, perhaps, and they seem to be loving yet distant. The idea of personal responsibility is challenged here very early on in Meg's parents' attitudes towards their experimentation; should they have been more wary in experimentation? Is it morally acceptable or responsible to put yourself in a dangerous position when you have kids who depend on you? These are questions which are raised and given to the reader to answer for themselves.

The second idea of personal responsibility comes in the form of IT and the human reaction against IT. A host of people are described as fighting against the "Dark Thing" that threatens to envelop Earth; artists, poets, spiritual leaders, and social activists are all people who work to keep the Dark Thing away from the Earth. It is important to note that the Dark Thing can only be stopped by love and an active will to do good; in other words, all it needs to win is for good to stand by and do nothing. What is our personal and moral responsibility to give back to the world? L'Engle seems to be saying that it is irresponsible to live one's life outside of love and without giving back to the world; how much of the world's condition is the responsibility of each human being as an individual?

A whole host of personal and moral responsibilities are raised in A Wrinkle in Time, making this book as fascinating a read for adults as it is for children; reading through this book gives the reader a mountain of philosophical subtext designed to make them truly think upon what things it is they take for granted and what questions they should be asking themselves about their personal and moral responsibilities to the world around them.

Learn more about this author, Alexander Lourenco.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.