A Wind in the Door
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A Wind in the Door is a 1973 novel by Madeleine L'Engle. It is a sequel to A Wrinkle in Time, and part of the Time Quartet.
In this story, science and spirituality are intertwined. The story follows the adventures of the Murry children and Calvin O'Keefe, who first appeared in A Wrinkle in Time. Cosmic evil is connected with evil on a cellular level, and the children along with some new friends go within the mitochondria of Charles Wallace in order to save his mitochondria (and the fictive entities living within them, the farandolae) from the un-namers -- the echthroi (which, incidentally, is the Koine Greek word for "enemy"). The echthroi are powerful, evil creatures whose desire is to X (i.e. extinguish) creation.
A memorable new character, a cherubim named Proginoskes, who seems to resemble a Seraph, becomes a particular friend of Meg's, and she learns to appreciate and embrace inner beauty and strength. Much of the communication between characters in this book involves a process called kything. This process is similar to telepathy and empathic abilities combined. Meg also learns that she has something in common with Proginoskes; she is a Namer. Namers work in the universe to love and name parts of Creation. This is the exact opposite of what echthroi do in their X-ing or un-naming.
Space and time hold little meaning within the Time Quartet series. In several instances, we find Meg and other characters frustrated with their new friends and confused about these concepts. However, according to the mythical creatures that are introduced, these concepts are limiting and unimportant. This is the key concept to understanding why Charles' sickness could be so important. His sickness, the ailment of his mitochondria is just as important as the fate of a planet elsewhere in the universe because each part of creation, great or small, is important.
Like all of L'Engle's books, the power of love is again a force to be reckoned with as it helps save several characters -- not just Charles Wallace but also Meg and a farandola named Sporos.
Plot synopsis
Meg's brother Charles Wallace has just entered first grade and is having a hard time adjusting. A genius and a telepath, he says odd things which result in him being shunned and bullied by the other children. The new principal of the elementary school is the former high school principal, Mr. Jenkins, who often disciplined Meg, and who Meg is sure has a grudge against her whole family.On top of this, Meg discovers that Charles Wallace has a progressive disease which is leaving him short of breath. She suspects it may have something to do with his mitochondria and the farandolae which live within them.
One evening, Charles Wallace tells Meg he saw a dragon in the field near the house. She goes out with Calvin O'Keefe to investigate and discovers that Charles Wallace's "dragon" is a cherub named Proginoskes (who insists on being called "a cherubim" because he is "nearly plural", having a multitude of wings and eyes). She also encounters a tall robed being named Blajeny, who informs her that he is a Teacher, and she, Calvin, and Proginoskes have been called to his class.
Meg learns that the galaxy is threatened by beings called echthroi, which seek to erase the entire universe by un-naming things. She soon has to save Mr. Jenkins from this fate, by Naming him, which means that she must look past her personal grudge, find the goodness in Mr. Jenkins, and let herself love him. The characters then learn that echthroi are destroying Charles Wallace's farandolae. They travel inside one of his mitochondria and turn the tide by convincing a larval farandola to take root and accept its role as a mature fara, against the urgings of an echthros. This done, Proginoskes sacrifices himself to "fill in" the emptiness of the echthros, and Charles Wallace's life is saved.
Christian content
The premise of naming and counting is inspired by passages in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke which say that God has numbered every hair on our heads and that God is aware of every sparrow that falls.Audio adaptation
Listening Library edition on four audio cassettes, unabridged and read by the author, 1994. ISBN 0-8072-7506-9External links
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