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Of Lessons From The Demon: A Reflection On The Screwtape Letters

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Lessons from the Demon: A Reflection on the Screwtape Letters

Lesson 1: Theatricality and Deception

Right off the bat, C.S. Lewis introduces the central methodology used by Screwtape the Demon in the preface of the book. More specifically, Lewis says in the preface that one of the errors into which our race can fall into damnation is through disbelief in their existence. Here we see one of the most important characteristics of Screwtape: deception. Deception remains a central theme in the tactics that demons use to win over the human soul, although this quality is manifested in many different ways throughout the book. The devil knows that without the introduction of some form of theatricality and deception, human choices will, through the passage of time, inevitably lead man to God. The great irony of The Screwtape Letters also lies in this deception, since …show more content…

But chaos is not necessarily what one would expect from the everyday use of the term. Chaos can be introduced into the minds of people in the form of everyday theatricality in order to keep a healthy mind distracted. Screwtape says that: “Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church” (1). To me, this means that the goal is not to convince humans that the evil ways are the truest or the best. No, this would simply allow humans to think for themselves - a dangerous thing to demons as free will is indeed a gift paving the way to God. Thus, it seems that Screwtape is saying by having free will in thought, humans will end up with God. The goal thus must be to provide everyday jargon and distraction in the minds of the humans so as to remove proper rational debate from elucidating the truth. Everyday theatricalities are employed for these purposes through propaganda, luxuries, media, or even something as innocent and simple as a newsboy: “I showed him a

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