Screwtape Analysis

     Throughout C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape and wormwood continually plot to deceive humans. Screwtape repeatedly advises his nephew to use temptation to turn his patient away from God. Using temptation, they showed how to deceive the patient into doing Biblical things, the wrong way. Screwtape and Wormwood reveal the theme of deception by recurrently trying to deceive the patient into praying, going to church, and even thinking about Jesus in an unbiblical way. 

     The theme of deception can first be seen when Screwtape recommended that Wormwood trick him into praying the wrong way. "Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." (Lewis, 17); this quote shows that Screwtape was trying to deceive the patient into believing that the success of each prayer depended on whether he got what he asked for. When Christians ask God for courage, God puts them through trials where they need courage. God does not instantly gratify a person with the attribute they have prayed for. Screwtape also suggested to Wormwood to trick the patient into praying to a composite object; during prayer the patient would be focused more on that object, then at God (Lewis 18). This is clear evidence that Screwtape was attempting to mislead Wormwood's patient about prayers by feeding lies.

     Another way the theme of deception can be seen in The Screwtape Letters, was when the demons tried to deceive the patient about going to church. While Screwtape was talking about the church, he gave Wormwood this piece of advice, "One of our great allies at present is the church itself... Provided that any of those neighbors sing out of tune, or have boots squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous." (Lewis, 6-7). Wormwood got advice to fool his patient into judging the church by the people in it. People must realize that Christians do sin and are not perfect, therefore to judge Christianity badly because Christians are not perfect, would be a mistake. This tactic was used to try and turn the patient away from Christianity to make him think it was a big scam. Once the patient started to go to church, Screwtape tried to mislead him into "searching for a 'suitable' church", even if God's will was for him to go to a different one (Lewis, 81-82). 

     The last way Screwtape and Wormwood revealed the theme of deception was by trying to  lie to the patient about who Jesus really was. The demons tried to deceive the patient by making them think of Jesus in the wrong way. Screwtape wanted him to think of Jesus more of a teacher then the Son of God who came to teach us about our morals and "remind" us of our wrong doings (Lewis, 125). When people see Jesus as a human who just had some good ethical ideas, they are not getting the full picture. "We thus distract men's minds from who He is, and what He did. We first make Him solely a teacher, and then conceal the very substantial agreement between His teachings and those of all other great moral teachers. For humans must not be allowed to notice that all great moralists are sent by the Enemy not to inform men but to remind them..." (Lewis, 125). It is important for Christians to remember all the things Jesus has taught them during His life. He is not just a teacher, but the Son of God, who came to earth to die for the sins that we have done and will commit.

     The patient endured some struggles and was constantly being lied to by Screwtape and Wormwood. Their lies were all part of their plan to bring him farther away from Christianity and closer to Hell. They tried to deceive the patient about prayer, going to Church, and who Jesus was. The patient was consistently being deceived by the two demons, but his Christian friends, family, and God all helped him to see through Screwtape's deception and make it to heaven in the end. 

Works Cited

Lewis, C. S., and C. S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters: with Screwtape Proposes a Toast. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. Print.

The Screwtape Letters XXVI-XXXI

Chapter XXVI: Unselfishness. 


I had a rather hard time interpreting what this chapter was talking about, but one of the words that stood out to me was "unselfishness". I struggle with unselfishness in almost everything and anything! Sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing something only for myself and I'm not thinking of others. One of the virtues/attributes that Jesus had when He came to us as a human was unselfishness. In order to be a good example and leader, I need to learn unselfishness and implement it into my daily life. It's not about me, it's about you. 


ChapterXXVII: "The use of his 'love' to distract his mind from the Enemy is, of course, obvious, but you reveal what poor use you are making of it when you say that the whole question of distraction and the wandering mind has now become one of the chief subjects of his prayers. " (Lewis, 147). 


Wow. It's monday morning and it's time to go to the SAC. I sit down and Mr. Sakurai begins to speak. After a short devotional its straight to prayer. The devotional was short so we actually have 10 minutes till the first period begins. About 4 minutes into the prayer my mind is already wandering, drifting away to "day-dream-land". Here is where I'm making a big mistake. Screwtape and Wormwood want to distract people during their prayers so that they aren't giving their prayers some real thought. When we aren't thinking about our prayers, it is like reading a chapter in a book while thinking of something else. By the end of the chapter you don't even know what you were reading. I must endure those long prayers and focus! I must remember to keep my concentration because I am talking to God!


Chapter XXVIII: It is definitely weird that Screwtape, the one who wants to create chaos and suffering in all humans lives, would want his most hated type of humans, Christians, to continue living. Why would someone as evil and hateful as Screwtape want his primary enemy not experience the painful consequence and punishment for our disobedience against God - death? Never thought of our continuation of living as an advantage/opportunity for Screwtape. The longer we live, the more chances there are of us losing our faith and temptation finally getting to us. However, this definitely does not mean that we should commit suicide. God wants us to continue carrying out His Will until we die even though Screwtape might have more opportunities to turn us away from Christianity. 


Chapter XXIX: "To be greatly and effectively wicked a man needs some virtue. What would Atitila have been without his courage, or Shylock without self-denial as regards the flesh?" (Lewis, 159). 


Here is yet another example of Screwtape taking something good, and making it sinful. Courage is something I ask for God daily. Whether it is to overcome homework or take a stand for my faith. Screwtape can take something like courage and use it as a strong motive to do bad. He can take good things and twist it for bad use like giving someone courage to rob a bank. 


Chapter XXX: It surprises me how Wormwood and Screwtape still work together. If I were Wormwood, I would ditch Screwtape already. "Bring us back food, or be food yourself." What a treacherous "uncle". This book kind of shows you the unfriendly and uncaring relationship that all the tempters have with each other. 


Chapter XXXI: This has ought to be my most favorite chapter in the entire book. It talks about how Wormwood's patient had gone through struggles upon struggles and finally he got to Heaven. I can't even imagine how awesome that must feel. When I finally finish an essay and all my worries and problems are finished, I get a sense of relief and a great amount of happiness; and yet a great happiness like that won't even compare to how awesome it will be when all my struggles are over and I am able to go to heaven to meet God in person!

Screwtape XVIII-XXI

Chapter XVIII: The Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Song, and God the Holy Spirit. It is important to acknowledge the uniqueness of each part or being of God. Just like when Jesus was baptized, all three parts or beings were doing different things. God the Father was speaking from heaven, God the Son was being baptized, and the Holy Spirit was descending from heaven like a dove from heaven. The fact that God is one at the same time he is three separate beings is significant as well. Screwtape mentioned in the book that God wanted our relationship with others to be like the trinity. I guess in a family, we are supposed to be separate and unique, while being unified at the same time. 


Chapter XVIV: Marriage is an immense decision that people make in their lives and shouldn't be taken lightly. Its an important decision that will affect your entire life. I think Screwtape wishes that we don't take marriage seriously, which is exactly opposite of what God wants us to do. 


Chapter XX: Choosing who you marry is pretty tricky. Screwtape wants us to focus on the outside and not on the inside when people choose their spouses. He wants us to choose someone who looks good physically but not spiritually, because he knows we won't be truly happy if we do so. So much of our culture now days is centered around the outside appearances of people, which is a very worldly view. This also applies to yourself. You should care on how you look spiritually rather than physically. As cheesy as it sounds, "It's what inside that counts..." is an exceedingly accurate and truthful statement. 


Chapter XXI: I had a hard time understanding this chapter, but something that stood out to me was the fact that Screwtape pointed out that nothing belongs to others. We can't really say "my" anything because we do not own anything. Everything is owned by God even ourselves. Us humans tend to be selfish and greedy despite the fact that nothing belongs to us. 

Brainstorming for Analysis Ideas

Here are some of the topics I have.


1) I think that pleasure and pain are symbols for reality. "The characteristic of Pains and Pleasures is that they are unmistakably real, and therefore, as far as they go, give the man who feels them a touchstone of reality." (Lewis, 64). 


2) The Screwtape Letters, often uses the Bible and God as pleasures. "...that sort of pleasure which the book and the walk gave him was the most dangerous of all..." (Lewis, 64).


3) Music, poetry, movies, etc, are symbols for the different blessings that God has given us. The ability for us to enjoy these things is a blessing too because people like Screwtape don't understand the importance of music, etc. like we do. "Something like it is expressed in much of that detestable art which humans call Music, and something it occurs in Heaven-a meaningless acceleration in the rhythm of celestial experience, quite opaque to us." (Lewis, 53, 54).


4)When people read the Bible and get the pleasure from reading it, they are pulled away from the devil's deception. In the movie Inception, the characters used an object called a totem to tell whether they were in reality or whether they were being deceived. We use the Bible and God as our "totem" to make sure we are not in a dream created by the devil to distract us from our job to fulfill God's will for our lives. 


5) I also believe that the author uses Allegory through all the characters in the story. Screwtape, Wormwood, and all the other devils that are mentioned throughout the story are an allegory to man's sinful nature and temptation. 


6) Just like Screwtape and the rest of his friends, temptation always attacks our weak points when we are in those tough situations. 


7) When someone is taking a test and the person sitting right next to them is not covering their answers, the situations suddenly turns into a difficult one. Man's sinful nature then screams to the person, "CHEAT!" Screwtape is always trying to find our vital points and attack us when our faith is at our weakest. This is just like when the temptation to cheat instantly pops in our heads the second we notice our neighbors test answers are not covered. 

Chapters IX-XII Questions

Chapter IX: Why do our "trough periods" make us so vulnerable (Lewis,43)? Is this applicable to you?
Answer: Our "trough periods" make us so vulnerable because these are times when we are usually down or negative. It is at these points that we are most susceptible  to temptation because we easily give in to sinful pleasures to make us feel better. When something goes wrong and I'm about to get in to trouble, the temptation to lie to get out of trouble is even greater then when I am not in trouble. The lie will give you the pleasure of escaping the consequence, but the burden of lying is more worse then the consequences of your sinful actions. So its better to just stick with telling the truth and being steadfast during these "trough periods".


Chapter X: What are your thoughts regarding "parallel lives" (Lewis, 51)? What does this mean to you?
Answer: I've heard a lot of chapel messages on this and I don't think it's is right. I think chapel speakers usually use a chameleon to describe this. Just like how a chameleon changes color to match its surroundings, people tend to change their personalities, thoughts, and attitudes around different groups of people to fit in. An example of this would be acting Godly with your Christian friends and then acting completely different with your nonChristian friends. I don't think this is right at all. Don't act different with others just because you think you wont fit in. If you are a Christian you should stick to your Christian-like opinions, attitudes, and thoughts. People shouldn't be afraid to share it with others. 


Chapter XI: What are your thoughts on music and joy after reading this chapter?
Answer: Music and joy are great and blessings that God has given humans. Screwtape does not understand what is so great about these because God has only given the ability to have joy and make creative things like music to humans. Both things are pretty awesome if they are aren't going against God's teachings; I'm sure God wouldn't be happy with us if we enjoyed listening to music with cuss words and sinful references. 


Chapter XII: What is the "safest road to Hell" (Lewis, 62)? Do you agree or disagree?
Answer: Screwtape describes the "safest road to Hell" as the "gradual one" with "the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts" (Lewis,63).  I think this is the safest way for them to lead a human into hell like how a subtle/gradual change is less noticeable then a distinct/steep change. I have to disagree with him though. I think this is the most dangerous road to hell if your looking at it from our perspective because it will be hard for us to notice that the road we are taking is a bad one. 

Chapters V-VIII Questions

Chapter V: What is Screwtape's idea on the bewt way for humans to die? Why?
Answer: Screwtape thinks the best way for the person to die is in a costly care home. I think he wants this to happen because people who are old or sick are usually told they are going to make it, even when the sad truth is that they aren't. People who are in situations where the chances of dying are higher, such as war, are more likely to turn to God for hope and comfort. People who still think they have more time to live are not really pushed to turn to God.


Chapter VI: How does "...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary" (Lewis, 28)? How does this apply to your life
Answer: Well, I hope I am correct on this, but I think what Screwtape is trying to say is that when you show some one malice and benevolence, people only remember the malice. In other words, even if you do good things and show kindness to someone, they still remember all the bad and evil things you have done. I am very guilty of doing this. When I look or remember the things someone has done, it is usually the bad things I remember and not the acts of kindness that person has shown to me. It is kind of like looking at the negatives of someone, which is bad. I have to focus on the good things rather then the bad things of all the people I meet and befriend. 


Chapter VII: How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
Answer: I picture the devil as a dangerous and evil demon. Challenges me to stay focused on the Lord and not let anything distract me because it seems Screwtape is always trying to distract the person from focusing on God.


Chapter VIII: "Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys. (Lewis 40). What are your thoughts on this?
Answer: It is true because Christians can desire to serve God and still do nothing; but when Christians begin to do God's will, that is when Screwtape and the rest of his friends are in danger. Many people come up with great ideas on how to advance God's will but not so many go out and actually do it. 

Chapters I-IV Questions

Dedication: Note the simple dedication. If you were to write a "spiritual" book, who would you dedicate it to? Why?
Answer: I would have to dedicate it to my Hanalani friends and teachers, and also to my parents because I have gotten all my spiritual knowledge from them and God.



Chapter I: What are you passive about because of the "ordinariness of things" (Lewis, 4)? Is it your family? Your life? Your church or school?
Answer: I guess I am kind of passive about school, but only because I go to school everyday.

Chapter II: What are your thoughts on church? Is it something you "do" every week?
Answer: I think church is great since it keeps you connected with God and because it is like a school where you only learn about the Lord. Unfortunately though, I see so many people, including myself, who go to church and hear a spectacular message only to forget about it the week after it was preached. My friend also described church as a "hospital for sinners", meaning that sinners go there to feel forgiven for all the things they have done, then continue sinning. So church is good, but it is important to practice what you have learned in the sermons and not just go there to "feel better" for all the sins that you have done throughout the week. I also haven't been going to church as much, ever since my family switched churches. I need to learn to practice what I preach and go to church more often!



Chapter III: What are your "daily pinpricks" (Lewis, 11)?
Answer: I think what drives me nuts is when my hands feel oily. I have no idea why because even when there is dirt or food on my hands I can handle it; and I'm okay with touching and holding stuff. But when my hands are oily, I have to wash them before I handle anything. Getting finger print marks on anything that is shiny also bothers me. If it has smudges... IT MUST BE WIPED!



Chapter IV: What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter.
Answer: Prayer is great, its like I'm talking to God face to face. Usually I begin it with something like "Hey God" and end it with something like "talk to you later". Now that I think about it, I hope it is not to informal. This chapter does bring up some interesting thoughts on prayer though. For example, "Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment." That is a pretty intense observation! It never occurred to me that I do that too, which kind of scares me. 

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Writing? Reading? Technology? Learning? Thoughts..

Writing?
I can't say I've written anything recently or over the summer to anybody, but I think writing is a great way to convey your thoughts to someone else. Whether its a letter, a poem, or just chatting with friends on AIM or Gmail, writing is important. Chatting on AIM and Gmail have given me some bad habits though, like ending every sentence with "LOL". This habit is making me extremely paranoid since I know my British Literature teacher is going to read this. Now I've been rereading all my sentences making there are no "lol"s or grammatical errors.


Reading?
To be honest I never really enjoyed reading, even as a kid. The one series that I was able to read for hours was that Eragon. Although the book is about dragons (which is pretty nerdy), I gotta say it became very addicting and I ended up reading it for hours a day.


Technology?
First rule of technology - If your going to buy a computer buy a Mac! A Mac computer could beat a PC any day! As for video games, I don't play that often anymore. AIM, Gmail, and Facebook are the best for keeping in touch with friends and their safe.. I think.


Learning?
Visual learning is the most effective for me. The subjects we learn in school are useful, although some classes don't have much life application to them. I wish I had coffee for those days there are boring lectures in some subjects to help me "learn" better, but sadly I'm too short and I don't want to stunt my growth anymore.


Why did I take this class?
I originally took this class because I needed an extra period. Only now did I find out that there was going to be a lot of technological involvement, which is a plus. This will help me for college and my senior year classes so I'm willing to give this class a try.