Re-read the following section of Descartes’ Meditation II: p. 6 at “Let us consider . . .” through p. 7, ending at “. . . requires a human mind.”
In this passage, Descartes is reconsidering the possibility that he might know and understand material objects through mere sense perceptions. He goes on to reject that idea by the end, though.
In about a page or two, try to summarize Descartes’ arguments here. Give special attention to what he says about the sense perceived properties of the wax vs. the underlying essence of it. What gives us knowledge of the latter? And why is sense perception of the wax not enough to ensure that I truly understand what it is.