Sarah Matter
asked:
Why do you think C.S. Lewis chose to write the Screwtape Letters in the form, similar, to a satire? Considering C.S. Lewis is looked up to among the Christian community, how hard would it be for him to write from the evil point of view?
To answer questions about
The Screwtape Letters,
please sign up.
Michelle
In my personal opinion, he chose that style because he was originally posting the letters in 'The Guardian' and that style was easiest to manage week to week. You wouldn't have had to read the previous weeks to understand what that weeks said.
As for the second question, Lewis himself was disturbed with what he had written, which is why it was so very important that it was written. The two most important things in any war are knowing the terrain that is being fought upon and the enemy one is fighting. What better way to learn one's enemy than to imagine the world in their eyes? By writing from evil's perspective Lewis opens our eyes to the tactics often used by the enemy (the Devil and his demons) to entrap us. The book, and the writing of it, greatly disturbed him for how easily it came. He had very little trouble imagining the demons and their particular schemes to trip their respective humans up. It opened his own eyes to the Evil surrounding him and how easily the devil could trick and trip a mind with the most simple of thoughts. Writing from that style also allowed us as a reader not to feel as though we were sitting in a lecture about what we shouldn't do and instead let us, if we so chose, to compare our own lives with the unfortunate characters in the book.
As for the second question, Lewis himself was disturbed with what he had written, which is why it was so very important that it was written. The two most important things in any war are knowing the terrain that is being fought upon and the enemy one is fighting. What better way to learn one's enemy than to imagine the world in their eyes? By writing from evil's perspective Lewis opens our eyes to the tactics often used by the enemy (the Devil and his demons) to entrap us. The book, and the writing of it, greatly disturbed him for how easily it came. He had very little trouble imagining the demons and their particular schemes to trip their respective humans up. It opened his own eyes to the Evil surrounding him and how easily the devil could trick and trip a mind with the most simple of thoughts. Writing from that style also allowed us as a reader not to feel as though we were sitting in a lecture about what we shouldn't do and instead let us, if we so chose, to compare our own lives with the unfortunate characters in the book.
George V.
I don't know the mind of C. S. Lewis and I haven't read anything on why he chose to write the book as he did. That being said, the book is powerful in that it clearly illustrates the work of Satan in the lives of people. Satan is not a passive force but is very active in working to disrupt the lives of men and women. I do not believe the book would be as effective if he simply wrote "don't do this" and "don't do that" from a God-centered point of view.
C. S. Lewis did say he wrote about the sins with which he struggles or has struggled. From that point of view, I can see where it would be easy to write about how Satan works to tempt him.
C. S. Lewis did say he wrote about the sins with which he struggles or has struggled. From that point of view, I can see where it would be easy to write about how Satan works to tempt him.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more