Alike and equal are not the
same, because people should have equal rights without being forced to be like everyone
else.
On Camazotz, conformity is the rule. The kids should
all bounce the ball the same way. Anyone who does not do things exactly like everyone else is
re-educated. The populace is controlled by fear.
When Meg is trying to
prevent herself from being brainwashed by IT, she tries reciting nursery rhymes, and when that
doesn't work, the Declaration of Independence. The concept of people being equal appeals to
IT, and Meg ends up arguing with IT about the difference between equal and alike.
"But that's exactly what we have on Camazotz. Complete
equality. Everybody exactly alike."For a moment her brain reeled with
confusion. Then came a moment of blazing truth. "No!" she cried triumphantly.
"Like and equal are not the same thing at all!" (Ch. 9)
If people have equal rights, that means they can make their own choices. On Camazotz,
people have no rights at all. If they do not want to do things like everyone else, they are out
of luck. You can have different concepts that are equal, but still different. For example, if
someone wanted to bounce a ball on the ground, and someone else wanted to bounce it off a wall,
both of these are equally good ways to use a ball. They are not the same.
The concept of uniqueness is an important one in this book. Before her journey, Meg
was frustrated because she felt that she did not fit in. As she went along, she came to see how
her unique skills and personality traits made her special. On Camazotz, being strong-willed and
independent saved her from IT. Charles Wallace was not so lucky. He was more easily taken in by
the seductive nature of IT's message.
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