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Screwtape letters is a classic satire written by C.S Lewis, where he uses the letters to compare his Christian views with those of non-Christians. The writer uses two main characters who are Screwtape, a senior devil and young Wormwood, who is Screwtape’s nephew. The whole book is about the communication between Wormwood and Screwtape using letters, where they discuss a person described by Screwtape as “the patient”. Wormwood’s task is to trick “the patient” and ensure that he commits. Despite there being no letters from Wormwood, the replies of Screwtape lead us to know the content of his letters. The book is used to bring to the fore the essential realities of the Christian worldview.
Initially, Wormwood is educated by his uncle on how to delicately lure a human being (the patient) away from the glimpse of God. Screwtape explain they will achieve this by making him dwell much on thoughts of self, avariciousness, fear, disbelief and renunciation of actuality of God. Lewis (1948) show Screwtape advising his nephew;
Don’t waste time trying to make him think that materialism is true! Make him think it is strong, or stark, or courageous. That’s the sort of thing he cares about. The trouble about argument is that it moves the whole struggle onto the Enemy’s ground. (pp. 1-2)
Wormwood, however, is a weak student, and he rarely heed to the advice of his uncle. With the passage of time, Screwtape becomes exasperated with his young nephew due to his recklessness and weak ability to influence human beings towards the devils. “The patient’s” faith continue to grow, making Screwtape letters to his nephew depict an irritated and intolerant demon. “The Patient” meets a young Christian girl to whom he becomes betrothed, a turn of events that makes his faith even stronger. “The Patient” enrols in world war two where he dies bravely, still faithful to God after shelling by German military plane. The mission of Wormwood turns to a failure, and his uncle Screwtape threatens that because he intended to feast on the patient, he now turns into his meal.
The last section of the book is named “Screwtape takes a Toast”. In this final section, Screwtape shows the complexity of his mind to trick humans as he lectures young devils at the Tempers’ Training College for young devils. He recapitulates the situation of modern human being and the encouraging viewpoint of hell to defeat God by netting most of His children. He also suggests that underworld will be inhabited by ordinary people who via conventionality, greediness, muddy thinking and trivial corruption fail to go to heaven.
Reading the book invokes the feeling of guilt as often we go through the day with our routine without a thought that the enemy (devil) is courting us. The book invoked my mind to the idea of how the devil might have influenced my mind in making various decisions unconsciously. By citing conformity, materialism, muddy thinking and trivial corruption as factors that will lead humans to hell invokes the old saying that all humans are sinners.
In this book, the author’s frame of reference is that demons are real, and they are constantly trying to outwit humans and influence their decisions secretly. “….Whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves” (Lewis, 1948). This phrase is an indication of the presupposition by author that demons are real, and they are always trying to influence human decisions in witty ways. I don not concur with the presupposition of the author that decisions of people are influenced by demons, as there are other scientifically proven reasons that sway our reason.
Reference
Lewis, C. (1948). The Screwtape Letters. New York: Macmillan.
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