The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis, is a collection of fictional letters from and elder demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood. It tells a story about a young, ordinary Christian man during World War II, but more importantly, it reveals how the enemy tempts us and the best ways to avoid those pitfalls. The book’s idea is very original and increasingly dark as the book progresses, revealing the disgusting and frightening nature of demons in this fictional setting. The world Lewis builds for the demons isn’t necessarily Biblical, but makes for a more interesting backstory—their school is The Tempters’ Training College for Young Devils under the direction of Dr. Slubglob (yes, you’ll find more amusing names in the book, like Glubose, Toadpipe, and Slumtrimpet), they function in a Lowerarchy, and their leader is “Our Father Below.” They call God “the Enemy” and they can’t imagine how He could love humans. In fact, they highly doubt that’s the real cause for His selflessness, endlessly researching His “real” motivation, always suspecting that some sort of evil intention lurks around the corner. Though we see gleams of a Christian man’s life through the letters and through Screwtape’s growing anger with Wormwood’s failures, the book is less of a story and more of a satire—proposing the exact opposite of what the author wants the reader to do. Everything Screwtape hates, we can easily imagine God loves, and everything Screwtape is obsessed with, we are disgusted by. Each chapter tends to focus on one aspect of the Christian life, as Screwtape advises Wormwood on how to best tempt and twist a human heart, leading men as far from God as the demons themselves are. For example, one chapter focuses on being two-faced, another on war, another on marriage. In these letters, Lewis is always insightful, sometimes even surprising, but always, in my heart, ringing true. In its satirical nature, we end up gaining wisdom from a character we don’t even sympathize with! Reading this book for the second time has opened my eyes, once again, to how weak I was in spiritual warfare. There were several moments when I put the book down and asked for forgiveness of the things Screwtape would have loved for me to continue doing. I suppose he unknowingly exposed the darkness in my heart, and helped me change some of the thought patterns in my mind—most notably, worrying. Of course, the moments of humiliation were balanced by the hilarity of Screwtape’s outrage as Wormwood’s “patient” became friends with a very Christian family (causing him to turn into a giant caterpillar), or when he calls God a “hedonist at heart,” or when he reveals his disgust with Wormwood when he fails in turning his patient’s heart. I rate this book 10/10! I loved it, and I would definitely read it again! It’s the kind of book that always gives you more to think about the next time around. Favorite QuotesThe Enemy loves platitudes. Of a proposed course of action He wants men, so far as I can see, to ask very simple questions; is it righteous? is it prudent? is it possible? Now if we can keep men asking 'Is it in accordance with the general movement of our time? Is is progressive or reactionary? Is this the way that History is going?' they will neglect the relevant questions. We want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow's end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using as mere fuel wherewith to heap the altar of the future every real gift which is offered them in the Present. He wants to kill their animal self-love as soon as possible; but it is His long-term policy, I fear, to restore to them a new kind of self-love - a charity and gratitude for all selves, including their own; when they have really learned to love their neighbours as themselves, they will be allowed to love themselves as their neighbours. I hope you enjoyed this post! You can probably expect more book reviews, as I've finally started to read fiction again. It's just been too long since I read a good book.
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Lily Calicois an aspiring composer, writer, artist and musician. Archives
March 2018
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