In A Wrinkle in Time, what is the thing and which historical figures have opposed it? Chapter 5

In the book, the
Thing is a representation of pure evil embodied by a very dark cloud which completely blocks out
light. This Thing that threatens the entire universe has already taken over planet Camazotz and
is currently moving in on earth and has covered part of it. In fact, on earth, the Black Thing
has been opposed by prominent figures such as Jesus, Rembrandt, Buddha and Bach over the
centuries. In Comazotz, everybody thinks and acts simultaneously because their minds are being
controlled by IT, a huge live brain that dictates evil and hate. It is in this planet that Megs
father is trapped because he failed to yield in to mind control by IT. Since the Thing knows
only evil, Meg uses the power of love to defeat it.