Chapter 7 THE MAN WITH THE RED EYES

L’Engle characterizes the CENTRAL Central Intelligence building as being cold and void and into which men in business suits line up to be told what to do. This scene sets the tone of the chapter and gives gives the reader a particular kind of texture for understanding the kind of world that the children find themselves in. Meg remarks that it was very much like the sameness of people on a subway. L’Engle is here critiquing the way in which the modern incarnation of the city has the ability to create uniformity and sameness amongst the working class people who become ensnared within it. Readers should remember the pastoral qualities of planets like Uriel and how they were described in a much more positive light.