The Screwtape Letters
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend Now available unabridged on cassette and CD--C.S. Lewis’ classic Screwtape Letters--the engaging correspondence between two devils. Read by Joss Ackland.… Product details and pricing info |
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371 Customer Reviews Posted
- Fiendishly clever and very insightful
- C. S. Lewis was, without a doubt, one of the best writers of the century, and this book is C. S. Lewis at the height of his powers. It is clever, entertaining and insightful, at points even profound. At points you're almost tempted to take notes. People tend to think of "informative" and "entertaining" as opposites, or at least mutually exclusive. Lewis proves that that isn't true by writing a book that is both at the exact same time.
Some people seem think that this book is depressing or too heavy, but I don't think that's true. It's definitely not a dime novel or pulp fiction, and I suppose it does require a lot more thought than a lot of novels, but don't let that stop you. This book is wonderful satire that's not that hard to read.
If you've never read this book, I definitely recommend that you do so. - 2007-08-01, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Infernal Epistles
- This is the third CS Lewis book I read (after Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain) and once again, I am mind-blown by this author. Lewis' wit is ever present in this volume too, and it's always a pleasure to read this excellent author. I truly believe he is a massive monument in intellectual history because of his theological writings.
The Screwtape Letters are basically letters written by a demon named Screwtape - he is an old senior demon - writing to his nephew Wormwood, a young demon sent to earth to tempt a human (the "patient"). He gives him advice on how to tempt humans. That may sound simple, but you have no idea of how intricate the tempting is. Along the way, Screwtape makes some very fine points about our modern world and its current ideology.
Much more than merely theological or Christian, this book possesses some really excellent psychological insights in human behaviour in groups and inner behaviour.
It's a relatively short read and is a really good one; it happens to be quite some fun as well. Lewis uses irony in seriously gifted ways and I never got tired of it, not to say that he over-uses it, not at all.
Definitely another Lewis classic. - 2007-07-30, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Devils' Devices
- In The Screwtape Letters CS Lewis writes of devils and their work, appealing to anyone with an intrest in the purpose of life and in how to succeed in that purpose. In his preface he explains that many symbols of devils and angels produce an undesirable effect. He gives examples such as, "The humorous, sensible, adaptable Mephistopheles has helped to strengthen the illusion that evil is liberating." (9; Revised Edition Preface) It was Lewis' intent to avoid this error. While CS Lewis's depiction of devils is not proven to be true, he successfully uses diction and characterization to appeal to our emotions to build a sense of the evil of devils and appeals to the readers' logic to guide us to our own conclusions on how to protect ourselves from the devils.
Lewis's first appeal to emotion is made in the effective diction of Lewis's preface, "Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar," (6; preface) The connotation of the term devils is distinctly evil, thus Lewis gives us a prejudice toward them. Lewis furthers this prejudice with his use of the term liar, indicating that the devil is not to be trusted.
Lewis's second appeal to emotion comes in his characterization of the devils as prideful. In the 31st chapter Screwtape expresses his victory over Wormwood "I have always desired you, as you (pitiful fool) desired me. The difference is I am the stronger," (145; ch.31) through this Lewis shows us one form of Screwtape's pride. This pride, the pride of one looking down on another, leads us to further distrust Screwtape.
It is easy to see the pride of one looking down on another, thinking himself better, but Lewis doesn't confine the devils to a single form of pride. In the 1st chapter he introduces a more complex form of pride, "...oh, that abominable advantage of the Enemy's!"(8; ch.1) Here is shown the pride of the weaker or lower resenting the greater for his strength, and making excuses for his own weakness or failures. This pride shows us another shortcoming of the devils, thus Lewis deepens our distrust of them.
A second characteristic, which Lewis reveals in Wormwood's attempt to send the "Secret Police" after his uncle and mentor Screwtape as displayed in the 22nd chapter is disloyalty. This quality is echoed by Screwtape, "Love you? Why, yes. As dainty a morsel as ever I grew fat on." (145; ch.31) he further explains that because Wormwood had failed he, Screwtape, would get to in some way consume Wormwood. Screwtape displays his disloyalty as he is not upset at his nephew's failure, nor interested in his defense, but rather pleased at the prospect of gaining from Wormwood's punishment. Thus Lewis continues to build our feelings of the evils of the devils right through the final chapter.
Through the words of Screwtape, Lewis appealing to our logic explains the immediate goal of the devils, "the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy." (56; ch.12) One such example is given in the first chapter as Screwtape relates a story of one of his "patients" who he almost lost. This patient, prompted by God, had begun to think religiously, and instead of arguing Screwtape just convinced the man that he needed to go for lunch, thus breaking the line of thought(9;ch.1). Lewis uses this as an appeal to logic, leaving us to conclude that this separation is to our detriment, as it is what our enemy, the devils, desires. This is how Lewis continues to build a foundation for the views he would have us develop.
Lewis again appeals to our logic to guide us to a conclusion showing that the methods by which the devils produce their desired effect are numerous and varied; Lewis, through Screwtape, gives an example of just how varied they can be, "All extremes ... are to be encouraged. Not always, of course, but at this period. Some ages are lukewarm and complacent, and then it is our business to soothe them yet faster asleep," (33; ch.7) the methods given are opposing, so Lewis builds the logical basis for the belief that the devils will do it any way that works. Throughout the work Lewis gives many examples of possible methods of the devils such as, "tortured fear and stupid confidence are both desirable states of mind," (67; ch.15) the devils would encourage either state of mind. So the logical conclusion is that we will be face a wide array of methods of temptation depending on the age in which we live, and the temptations to which we are most susceptible.
Lewis presents another method of the devils as Screwtape warns Wormwood of "strengthening in [his] patient the fatal habit of attending to universal issues," (8; ch.1) and that he should not argue about "doctrines as primarily `true' or `false,'" (8; ch.1) thus we may logically conclude that in order to overcome the temptations of the devils we must think upon the eternities, and consider what is true and what is false. Perhaps this is why Lewis writes in such a way as to require personal thought, so we will think of what is true and false and thwart the devils.
Lewis gives further insight into the methods of the devils through the words of Screwtape, "The safest way to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,"(56;ch.12) So we know that the devils are not going to be overt. "Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick," (56; ch.12) Lewis, through the words of Screwtape, explains just how small an effective attack can be. Lewis's use of cards as a sufficient method shows just how subtle the way to Hell can be, as many would argue that the use of cards is not wrong at all, but it is what it leads to. If cards are all it takes to get someone to put God out of his mind, to disregard God's word, then it is sufficient, and the devils know it. So again he leads us to a logical conclusion: to protect ourselves from devils we must be aware of the small things that separate us from God.
Through all of this Lewis makes no conclusions. He leaves that to us. As we consider such things as, "So do not allow any temporary excitement to distract you from the real business of undermining faith and preventing the formation of virtues," (25; ch.5) we may learn more of how we should act, perhaps that we should do the opposite, but Lewis never says it. By leaving the conclusions to us Lewis helps us to form our own personal methods of protection, suited to our own strengths and weaknesses.
In his book, The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis successfully instructs us how to protect ourselves from devils. He carefully appeals to our emotions through his use of diction and characterization of the devils to convince us of a need to protect ourselves. He then gives us logical instruction, but he leaves the conclusions to us, allowing us to form our own methods of protection. - 2007-07-20, 10 of 11 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Makes you think!
- Ever wonder what separates us from God? This book will give you some hypothetical, all though theologically sound ideas as to how Saten and his dominion run chaos on earth. This book will make you take a look at how you think about how you are influenced by the secular world around us, and our reactions to it. Are we tempted in ways we have never thought about? It is easy to think of being tempted by money, lust, self-pity... but what about being tempted by the mundane, the obvious, the everyday? What about being tempted/preoccupied by the ails of the world at large, yet being soured by the needs of the person that lives next door to you? Does that seem to little or unnecessary? Or perhaps... if everyone chose to help and care for the person next door, then eventually the people a half of a world away would feel that influence? C.S. Lewis' novel is timeless and is must read for anyone who is finding new interest in the Christian faith, or has been a Christian and would like to understand the aspect of temptation even more.
- 2007-07-08, 1 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A Christian Essential
- 'The Screwtape Letters' is a brilliant book that should be read by every Christian or anyone else seeking to understand the nature of evil.
I first read this classic about 20 years ago. I thought it was great then and even better when I just reread it.
Written as a series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, this book paints an amazing picture of the tactics used to divert people from their walk with God.
As Screwtape writes: 'You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy (Christ). It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick.'
Lest anyone come away with the false impression that Lewis is condemning card playing, that is not the point at all. He is talking about anything diverting one from his/her relationship with God being a potential problem.
This book is full of brilliant dialogue from the senior miscreant to the junior. It is a great eye opener about the types of things that can lead one astray.
Highly recommended. - 2007-06-28, 2 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
