The Screwtape Letters

On Monday, January 15, our class discussed Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. I found the book incredibly stimulating, but at the same time slightly frightening. The basic premise is that Screwtape, a senior demon working in Hell, is corresponding to his nephew Wormwood, a junior demon tempting a man on Earth. Each letter provides Wormwood with advice on how to better tempt his prey, which they call the patient. Lewis uses this format to address several difficult issues that many believers face. By his bringing these topics to light, the reader can, in turn, recognize such struggles in their own life and hopefully combat them (or at least that is the effect which the book had on me). Because this work becomes almost a laundry list of topics, I have chosen to briefly describe a couple that I found particularly interesting.

One point that Lewis addresses is the difference between how the forces of evil (Satan and the fallen angels) and the Lord view humans. Lewis claims that Demons “want cattle who can finally become food” while God wants “servants who can finally become sons.” The demon derives pleasure from human suffering. His goal is to lead the human to Hell at all costs, so he can “feed” off of his misery for eternity. God, however, desires for us to desire Him. At the same time, he love our individuality (for he created it) and wants us to keep it. These to points explain why God rarely makes his power present to humans living on Earth. As Lewis states, “Merely to override a human will (as His felt presence in any but the faintest and most mitigated degree would certainly do) would be for Him useless. He cannot ravish. He can only woo.” I particularly enjoyed this passage because I have struggled in the past with God failing to reveal himself in a “tangible” sense. This chapter helped me to realize that for God could easily reveal himself to all, but that would, in a sense, be forcing us to believe in Him. He wants us to choose him of our own free will. He wants us to have faith.

A briefly discussed topic, which none-the-less violently caught my attention, was the misuse of humor. Screwtape advises his nephew to encourage his patient to indulge in the negative aspect of the joke. Lewis makes the claim that “almost anything [the patient] wants to do can be done, not only without the disapproval, but with the admiration of his fellows, if only he can get it treated as a joke.” A mean man finds approval by claiming, “it was only a practical joke.” A coward finds acceptance by comically exaggerating his cowardice. This problem is then amplified because people typically place a high value on a good sense of humor. Anyone who suggests that a joke is inappropriate or is being taken to far can then be shrugged off as being “puritanical” or “lacking a sense of humor.” This chapter made me aware of such a problem in my life. I have often escaped trouble or shrugged off sin through the use of humor, and until now had never given such actions a second thought.

The Screwtape Letters strengthened and altered my perception of spiritual warfare. I have always been a believer in the unseen battle between good and evil, but this book helped me to better perceive the struggle. Whether demons actually tempt in such a manner makes no difference to me. I enjoyed this book because it reminded me that regardless of the exact style, Satan and the fallen angels are constantly attempting to lead humans toward Hell… and they are incredibly effective.

Post by Hayes Modlin