Screwtape Analysis

Jerica Yamada

Mrs. Baniaga

Honors British Literature

31 August 2010

The Screwtape Letters Literary Analysis

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis demonstrates that temptation is the source that shatters the relationship between God and man. Screwtape, a demon, trains his nephew, Wormwood, into influencing other patient’s thoughts onto the path of corruption. Screwtape’s letters contain great thought, and C.S Lewis brings out the wicked, deprived thought of temptation that can transform an individual’s relationship with God through sexual temptations and mind tricks.

Screwtape uses sexual temptation as one of the more predominant allurements to humans since it’s appealing to all. He uses this device as a way to charm others towards his path of unrighteousness. His main ambition is to convert this newly Christian back into “real” life; he wants his patient to enjoy the earthly, physical pleasures instead of the real joy through the faith of knowing Christ. Many times, sexual temptation is his device to lure a patient into his thoughts. “I have always found that the trough periods of the human undulation provide excellent opportunity for all sensual temptations… (Lewis 43)”. At any given moment, Screwtape advises Wormwood to tempt his patient at his most low-spirited, depressed moments because the patient is easier to attack where he is more open to sensuality and love. However, not all earthly pleasures are wicked; they are genuinely gifts from God for those who are married. Nonetheless, Screwtape’s main goal is to only supply the needs for the lust of the flesh. “All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasure which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways or in degrees, which He has forbidden (Lewis 44)”. All these little acts of temptation lead up to Screwtape’s main target of destroying his patient’s faith and relationship with Christ.

Screwtape’s mind tricks are another tool he uses to persuade his patient’s thinking. In chapter four, he instructs Wormwood to teach his patient how to pray, but in an unmannerly way. “The best thing, where it is possible, is to keep the patient from the serious intention of praying altogether (Lewis 15)”. Additionally, Screwtape tricks his patient into believing that the simple and meaningless prayers are the correct way to talk with God. However, it leads to a lack of connection and concentration with God. “Whatever their bodies do affects their souls (Lewis 16)”; distractions, at this point, is Screwtape’s best device. During the time of prayer, he tempts his patients to stray away from the true focus because when praying in a quiet place with his head bowed and eyes closed, the patient is more open to connect with God. Screwtape also instructs Wormwood that, “The simplest is to turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves (Lewis 16)”, generating the character of selfishness instead of using prayers initially to build a relationship with God.

Screwtape is a demon, and all demons are liars; his minds tricks are the basis to his system of beliefs. Screwtape, in chapter twelve, tempts his patient once again into believing that “small” sins are just nudges and should not be burdened with guilt. However, this is the starting point on how Satan tempts us with this cycle; if he can get a hold of little actions, there is nothing stopping him from tempting Christians with “bigger” sins. “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 (Lewis 60).” Screwtape portrays a point that Satan is always out to get Christians and destroy their relationship with God, but it is the Christian’s job to remain faithful with Him. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Therefore, throughout the Screwtape Letters, Screwtape himself instructs Wormwood to tempt his patient to destroy his relationship with his Creator. However, Satan corrupts the minds of both Christians and non-believers; sexual temptations and mind tricks are two of Screwtape’s main contributors to this path of temptation. All people are lead into temptation at one point in their life, I John 1:9 should be a great reminder that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Work Cited

Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. Mattituck, NY: American Reprint, 1996. Print.