Book Review: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

Famous Christian apologist C. S. Lewis wrote a series of letters during World War II called the Screwtape Letters. Screwtape is a fictional devil that gives advice to a younger devil, Wormwood, who is assigned to lead astray a young Englishman. Screwtape gives all sorts of diabolical advice on how to corrupt the youth and muses on various situations in which people find themselves. The young man lives in a small town and has some irreligious friends but also discovers a pious young woman with whom he becomes romantically interested. World War II is looming, and in fact starts by the end of the letters. Screwtape has a lot of fodder to work with as he guides Wormwood in the ways of temptation.

The style and content of the writing makes it a nice anti-advice column. If Screwtape recommends it, it's probably something you shouldn't do. He's a part of a demonic bureaucracy that seeks out efficiency and ruthlessly condemns failure. Hell wants human souls and if the workers don't deliver, they will pay with their own spirits. Screwtape vacillates between an avuncular and a voracious attitude toward Wormwood. The writing has a certain charm and honesty, but cherishes horror, vice, and corruption as ideals.

The key insight underneath it all is that evil is a corruption of good, so any advice that seeks an evil end has to start with a good that can be ruined. Screwtape is really concerned about the young woman and advises Wormwood to look for little habits or mannerisms that might annoy the young man. His other tactic is to make the man's faith life subordinate to a political or social cause, or to have the man see his faith as valuable only insofar as it supports another cause. As the war looms, Screwtape suggests hinting at all the possible bad outcomes that may happen to the young man, even contradictory ones, so as to heighten his anxiety unnecessarily and, more importantly, to take focus off of what he has to do right now. Temptation is a delicate art with lots of pitfalls, since a humiliating moment may inflame bruised pride (good for the devils) or cause genuine contrition (bad for the devils). Screwtape gives some careful analysis to create the worst outcome, though Wormwood is not as successful as he could be.

The letters are very readable and enjoyable, understanding how to interpret what's being said. The narrative is an excuse for presenting theological and moral reflections in a creative way. The book goes quickly and has lots of insights that are as applicable today as they were in the 1940s. Eternal problems are always contemporary, as one of my professors used to say.

Highly recommended.

My pastor, Father Larry Young, has done a video commentary letter-by-letter on YouTube. Check it out!