In "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, "IT" refers to a powerful and malevolent force that represents conformity, control, and the absence of individuality. IT is depicted as a central antagonist that embodies evil by promoting a totalitarian regime where free will and personal identity are suppressed.
The character of IT is particularly associated with the planet Camazotz, where everything and everyone is forced to conform to a single way of life. Individuals on this planet are controlled by IT to the point where they lose their autonomy and sense of self, exemplified by the "tesseract," a concept that allows for travel through time and space but is used to represent the struggle against this oppressive force.
IT is considered evil because it seeks to eliminate differences and impose a singular, predictable order, which leads to a loss of creativity, individuality, and love—values that are deemed essential by the protagonists. The struggle against IT prompts a broader exploration of themes such as the battle between good and evil, the importance of free will, and the value of diversity in humanity.
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