Screwtape Letters Chapters 25-27

In this letter Screwtape focuses on the journey of marriage. He says that once 10 years comes along you begin to hate each other and just try to please each others wishes. I thought this was really sad looking at society today where it is said that about 50% or more marriages will end in divorce. A quote I really liked is on page 142, “A woman means by Unselfishness chiefly taking troubles for others; a man means not giving trouble to others”. I usually don’t like some of the things Screwtapes says but I actually liked the way he put that because I think it is true in a way. Another point Screwtape had was about being honest from the beginning then there wouldn’t be this issue; instead people try to fight the others’ battle for them. Strangely enough I really liked what Screwtape had to say in this letter. I don’t think the hatred can be blamed all on selfishness, but of course I think every relationship has to find some median in giving and taking. Lastly, I really like this quote off of page 145, “… ‘Love’ is not enough, that charity is needed”. Yay for love!

Screwtape Letters Chapters 22-24

I found these few letters to be very comical. I loved how there was finally a turning point of who was in the lead with the Patient. I believe "The Enemy" was winning again because he had a woman helping him out. I found it interesting that Wormwood would keep the relationship a secret from his uncle who was there to help himm. It was very funny how hard Screwtape tried to bring down the woman. He thought of anything and everything bad about her. I think what he hated and feared most was that she was a devout Christian which is the worst kind of woman. I’m glad that there is this challenge for Screwtape because this could be a breaking point for “The Enemy” to win the patient over for good. I'm very curious to find out what Screwtape will try and to do ruin the relationship and have the Patient back.

Screwtape Letters Chapters 19-21

I was really entertained with chapter 20. Screwtape’s focus is to find a wife so that he could be unchaste. He goes on to say on page 105, ‘… I would like to give you some hint about the type of woman – I mean physical type – which he should be encouraged…’. Screwtape wants Wormwood to find a woman by looks rather than who she is (ughs men!). He did have one comment that I found funny because with some people in society today it is the same. On page 107 he said ‘… the figures in the popular art are falsely drawn; the real women in bathing suits or tights are actually pinched in and propped up to make them appear firmer and more slender and more boyish than nature allows a full-grown woman to be’. I agree that people being brushed in and not being real makes it more difficult to find these sorts of women. I didn’t understand the purpose of the ending when he talked about the two imaginary women in a man’s mind, but I think he’s trying to say something about if he is a Christian and he loves the infernal Venus they could marry. Not too sure, but looking forward to reading what other people have to say about this.

Screwtape Letters Chapters 16-18

So I really enjoyed letter 18. It dealt with love, sex, marriage and children. One quote that I liked that is on page 95, “The Enemy described a married couple as ‘one flesh’. He did not say ‘a happily married couple’ or ‘a couple who married because they were in love’.” I believe if a couple is ‘one flesh’ then they are happy and in love. Ha it aggravates me how much Screwtape contradicts everything all the time. Another section I liked was on page 94 about how, “’To be’ means ‘to be in competition’”. That whole paragraph was really good about how one self is not another self. Can’t wait to read on!