Gaudior, the unicorn who answers Charles Wallace’s call, functions as a deuteragonist and a divine mentor. His name, Latin for “more joyful,” reflects his essence as a creature of the “old music,” the fundamental harmony of creation. Gaudior represents the power, purity, and glory of the cosmic order that the Echthroi seek to destroy. In this way, his presence connects to the theme of Dealing with Existential Threat since the struggle between the old music and the Echthroi reflects a conflict over the survival of creation itself. He is not, however, an omniscient or infallible guide. He frequently admits his own fear, uncertainty, and lack of knowledge about human history, stating, “I’m never entirely sure about Projections” (105). This fallibility makes him a complex mentor figure rather than a simple plot device. As a time traveler who drinks moonlight and starlight, he embodies a reality beyond human comprehension, yet his occasional impatience and displays of affection ground him as a distinct personality. He is a static character, as his fundamental nature remains unchanged, but he is round, possessing wit, anxiety, and a deep sense of duty.

Gaudior’s primary narrative function is to transport Charles Wallace through time and space, protecting him from the Echthroi forces that try to throw them off course. He provides the essential exposition about the nature of their quest: the battle against uncreation, the search for a “Might-Have-Been,” and the necessity of Charles Wallace going “Within” key individuals. He serves as a philosophical guide, constantly redirecting Charles Wallace’s human-centric focus on linear time and specific locations. He insists that “When is not what matters. It’s what happens in the When that matters” (56), teaching the boy to embrace a more fluid, purpose-driven understanding of existence. His physical battles with the Echthroi make the cosmic conflict tangible, illustrating the violent and terrifying nature of the forces aligned against creation. Through his wisdom and power, Gaudior connects Charles Wallace’s individual mission to a universal war between harmony and chaos.

Initially presented as Calvin’s embittered and resentful mother, Mrs. O’Keefe appears to be a flat, peripheral character. She is unkempt, toothless, and communicates largely in grunts, embodying a life of hardship and anger. However, she serves as the unexpected catalyst for the entire narrative. In a moment of crisis, she recites the ancient Rune of St. Patrick and lays the “charge” upon Charles Wallace to “Stop Mad Dog Bran […] Stop him” (23). This act reveals that her seemingly simple exterior hides a deeper connection to the larger cosmic struggle and confirms Mrs. Murry’s intuition that “there’s more to her than meets the eye” (4). Her journey from a seemingly static figure of despair to a complex, dynamic character whose personal history is the key to the plot’s resolution is one of the novel’s central transformations.

The revelation of her past as the bright, golden-haired, and loving “Beezie” Maddox provides the tragic explanation for her present state. The violent death of her beloved younger brother, Chuck, at the hands of her abusive stepfather, followed by a loveless marriage to Paddy O’Keefe, severs her earlier connection to joy and harmony. Her story illustrates how profound personal suffering and the suppression of love can sever an individual’s connection to joy and cosmic harmony. Author Madeleine L’Engle uses characterization through naming to link her directly to the historical conflict; her names, “Branwen” and “Zillah,” connect her to a lineage stretching back to the Welsh prince Madoc and the Indigenous American princess Zyll. This genealogical tie demonstrates the interconnectedness of past, present, and future, showing how her family’s history becomes interwoven with the fate of the world.

Although her physical life is one of decline, Mrs. O’Keefe undergoes a spiritual reawakening. The imminent threat of nuclear war triggers long-dormant memories of the rune and the love she bore her brother. Her quest to find an old family letter, which proves to be a crucial clue, is her first step back toward engagement with the world. In the climax, she runs with Meg to the star-watching rock and joins in reciting the rune to save Charles Wallace. This act is a reclamation of her true self, a final, courageous choice for love over bitterness. She illustrates the novel’s argument that even seemingly insignificant individuals hold the power to help avert collective doom.

Meg Murry O’Keefe, the protagonist of previous books in the Time Quintet, takes on a vital supporting role in A Swiftly Tilting Planet. Now married to Calvin O’Keefe and pregnant with their first child, she represents the home, family, and future that Charles Wallace is trying to protect. Her primary narrative function is to serve as an anchor for Charles Wallace, grounding his cosmic, time-traveling quest in the tangible present. Her ability to “kythe” allows her to follow his journey mentally, offering him a constant, empathetic connection to the home he has left behind. Through this connection, the narrative allows readers to experience Charles Wallace’s journey while remaining rooted in the present moment. Her moments of fear and hope mirror the stakes of his mission. Her pregnancy is highly symbolic, representing the continuation of life and the promise of a future, the very things most threatened by the prospect of nuclear war. Meg’s role illustrates Love as a Transformative Force since her emotional connection sustains Charles Wallace during his dangerous mission.

While a static character within this particular novel, Meg’s maturity and growth from her awkward adolescence are evident. The insecure girl of earlier stories has become a self-possessed and loving young woman, whose intuitive bond with her brother remains a powerful force. She is the one in the family who most fully grasps the reality and urgency of Charles Wallace’s mission, bridging the gap between the fantastical quest and the domestic crisis in the Murry kitchen. Her kything is not merely a passive reception of information. In a moment of extreme peril for Charles Wallace, she actively joins her mother-in-law in reciting the rune, demonstrating that love and support from home can strengthen him in his struggle against the Echthroi.

Matthew Maddox is a 19th-century writer who, though physically disabled after a riding accident, possesses immense spiritual and creative fortitude. He is a relatively flat character, defined almost entirely by his selfless love for his twin brother, Bran, his unrequited love for Zillah Llawcae, and his prophetic authorial insight. Despite his limited presence in the narrative, his role is pivotal to the resolution of the central conflict. His character most clearly illustrates love as a transformative force. Matthew’s selfless decision to use his earnings from writing to pay for Zillah’s passage to Vespugia is the crucial “Might-Have-Been” that alters history. This single act of love, performed by a man who uses a wheelchair, ensures the union of the correct ancestral lines, leading to the birth of the peaceful leader “El Zarco” instead of the destructive dictator “El Rabioso.” His choice demonstrates that historical change can emerge from personal acts of sacrifice and compassion. His authorship of the novel The Horn of Joy, which details the legend of Madoc and contains uncanny insights into time and genetics, establishes him as a conduit for the story’s deeper mystical and philosophical ideas.

The Murry family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Murry and the twins, Sandy and Dennys, functions as a collective entity representing the stability of love, reason, and faith that Charles Wallace seeks to protect. Mr. and Mrs. Murry, both world-renowned scientists, ground the fantastical events in a reality where science and spirituality are not mutually exclusive. Their immediate acceptance of Mrs. O’Keefe’s rune and their unwavering trust in Charles Wallace’s unique mission provide the supportive foundation necessary for his quest. The twins, Sandy and Dennys, embody a more pragmatic and rational worldview. As students of law and medicine, they are initially skeptical of the supernatural events, serving as foils to the intuitive understanding of their parents and younger siblings. However, their skepticism gives way to helpful engagement when they provide the crucial historical research linking Wales to Vespugia in 1865, demonstrating that reason has its own important role to play in the cosmic struggle. Together, the family represents the warm, ordered, and loving world that stands in stark contrast to the chaos threatened by the Echthroi, showing love as a transformative force through their loyalty and care for one another.