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Much of this summary and the chapter summaries are drawn
from Alan Vermilye’s Study Guide on the Screwtape Letters
Book Summary
Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no
longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will,
looks round upon a universe from which every trace him
seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken,
and still obeys. — Screwtape
Why do we sometimes succeed spiritually, and at other times
we fail? Are there a host of spiritual forces battling to
influence the choices we make, or are we left to our own
devices? The Screwtape Letters by CS. Lewis provides
unique insight into the battles that are being waged in the
spiritual world. The story is told through a collection of letters
from Screwtape, an undersecretary in the lowerarchy of Hell,
to his incompetent nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is a
junior devil who has just been given his first human, a young
man (referred to as the patient), to corrupt and secure for
eternity.
The story takes place in England during the tumultuous years
of World War II with the man contemplating Christianity.
However, another setting could very easily be his
consciousness where another war is taking place for his soul.
Each letter is filled with detailed instructions from Screwtape
to Wormwood on how to best enter the man's thoughts and
subtly influence his choices thereby guiding him closer to
Hell.
There is nothing extraordinary about this man’s life, but from
the moment of contemplating faith until his last breath, he
undergoes spiritual attack. Like most young adults, he is
influenced by culture, materialistic friends, and the media.
Each provides excellent distractions from his spiritual
journey, but his quest for spiritual truth wins out, and
eventually he becomes a Christian. Early on, he struggles with
balancing the unrealistic expectations of being an ideal
Christian with what he encounters in the world, the church,
his family, and daily life. The strange habits and hypocrisies
of fellow church members and the prospect of his own mother
doubting his new-found faith were unexpected, but they did
not discourage him.
Building a dedicated prayer life becomes one of his top
priorities. Battling everyday distractions, he quickly learns
that being completely transparent with God is hard but also
refreshing.
Living during a time of war, the man knows it’s only a matter
of time before he must make a stand. What is the Christian
response to war? Should he take up arms and fight for his
country against an evil tyrant, or should he refuse on moral
grounds? He decides in favor of military service and now
must learn to control his fear and hatred of a distant enemy
whom he has never met.
As with life, the Christian journey is filled with mountain-top
and valley experiences. Various trials and temptations
common to all men come his way. He resolves to rise above
each and finds himself strengthened with a renewed sense of
self along the way.
He soon becomes aware that building relationships in a world
hostile to his faith is difficult. He knows that he is to be in the
world but not of the world. As a result he must distance
himself from the negative influences in his life while
maintaining relationships that he can either positively
influence or be encouraged by.
Overtime with the busyness and noise of everyday life, he
finds himself drifting away from his faith. It’s so gradual at
first that he does not notice he’s slipping back into old habits.
He’s quickly awakened from his spiritual drift by
experiencing real, simple pleasures that allow him to recover
and recommit fully to his faith.
This experience has a dramatic impact on his life. He
develops a true sense of humility and becomes less anxious
about the war. He continues to battle sensual temptations, but
he fully commits himself to abstinence prior to marriage and
monogamy if he is to get married.
He soon falls in love with a dedicated Christian girl. Her
charitable and loving family welcomes him into their home
and introduces him to a new circle of friends who all share the
same values and beliefs. He feels content in his new
circumstances but also humble and grateful. The war is
moving closer to home, and his prayers intensify appealing
directly to God for guidance. During an air raid he does not
perform any spectacular act of heroism, but he sticks to his
post and fulfills his duties even in the face of great danger and
fear. He learns to manage his emotions and fatigue while still
maintaining hope.
The climax comes at the end of the book when the man dies
in a subsequent air raid. As he is ushered into Heaven, his
eyes are opened to witness the spiritual warfare that has
surrounded his life. In this state of grace, he fully realizes that
his death was the apex of the battle for his soul, and now he
can rest knowing that he is safe.
Lewis masterfully provides a great analogy between the
external war and the spiritual war raging inside the man. Both
require great endurance, perseverance, and bravery, and the
man’s response to it, as with all life circumstances, is what
ultimately shaped who he was and whose he was.
This story can easily be our story. In everyday life situations,
we can choose God’s will or evil’s will, but we always have a
choice. From the Christian perspective, to be ignorant of the
spiritual realm and demonic strategies to influence choices
and exploit our weakness is dangerous. Fortunately, as
Christians we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who
provides us clarity of thought and cuts through devilish
manipulations so that we might discover refreshing, simple,
and straightforward truth.
His courage is also put to the test as he bravely and honorably
serves his country during the war. As a soldier, he eventually
gives his life and is immediately ushered into presence of
God.
THE PATIENT’S FIANCÉ
The patient’s fiancé is a kind, loving, attractive, and dedicated
young Christian woman. She is a virgin, full of virtues, and
portrayed as an extraordinarily good person—just the sort of
human that Screwtape loathes. He sees her as vile, sneaking,
mouse-like, watery, and insignificant. She is just the type that
Screwtape would have loved to see fed to the lions in the
early days.
The girl comes from a charitable and loving Christian family
who welcomes the patient into their home. They also
introduce him to a new circle of friends who all share the
same values and beliefs. Her one weakness that Screwtape
desires to exploit is a narrowly defined understanding of her
faith, but this is mostly due to ignorance and not spiritual
pride.
THE PATIENT’S MOTHER
The patient lives with his mother who is a Christian. Having
taught her son Christianity as a boy, it appears there might
have been some friction between the two after his passionate
conversion as a young man. The mother battles a form of
gluttony that keeps her occupied with a strict diet and
inevitably creates division between her family and friends.
THE ENEMY (God)
God is characterized as an ever—present, powerful being
capable of loving “human vermin”—something Screwtape
cannot understand. God is portrayed as participating in a
spiritual battle with the Devil for the souls of men. God is
distinguished by actually caring for and responding to their
thoughts, needs, and concerns. However, God has left humans
with the ability to choose which is where Screwtape and other
demons get their foothold.
OUR FATHER BELOW (The Devil)
The Devil, worshiped by Screwtape and other demons, is
unable to understand God’s love for his creation. He claims to
have left Heaven on his own accord and that all other stories
are just rumors. He desires to damn as many souls to Hell as
possible by corrupting human nature. There is no love in his
dominion of Hell, even among fellow demons, but rather a
competitive nature of eat or be eaten.
SLUBGOB (The Head of the Training College )
Slubgob is the principal of the Training College for Young
Tcmptcrs. Screwtape portrays him initially as
inept—churning out incompetent young demons, but later he
treats him very graciously at an annual dinner.
GLUBOSE (The demon in charge of the patient’s mother)
Glubose, possibly a combination of "Gluttony" and "Obese",
is the demon in charge of the patient's mother. Although
rarely mentioned, his job is to busy himself causing discord
between her and her son as well as making her constant
dietary restrictions a problem with her family and friends.
SLUMTRIMPET (The demon in charge of the patient’s fiancé)
Slumtrimpet is a young female devil in charge of the patient’s
fiancé. She has very little success tempting the young woman
into any kind of serious sin.
Screwtape Letters – Week 1
Letter 1 – Reason and Reality
In this letter, we learn that Wormwood has been making sure that his patient spends plenty of time with his materialistic friends. Wormwood believes that by using reason and argument he can keep the man from belief in God. Screwtape does not disagree that it is good to influence the man’s thoughts, by he reminds Wormwood that his main job is to keep the patient from thinking too deeply about any spiritual matter. Instead he should use ordinary everyday distraction to mislead the man.
- Instead of making the patient think of materialism as ______________, Wormwood should make him think of is as:
- What’s the trouble with awakening “the patients reason?”
- What “abominable advantage” does the Enemy have?
- How did Screwtape once lead a patient away from a dangerous train of thought?
Letter 2 – Distracting the Christian Mind
Screwtape beings this letter by rebuking Wormwood for letting his patient escape him and become a Christian. However, not all is lost. If he can cause the man to be disillusioned with the church by highlighting the strange habits and hypocrisies of it members
Wormwood still might succeed. Screwtape tells Wormwood to attack the man’s spiritual immaturity in an effort to win him back.
- What “Church” does Screwtape mean?
- What are some “ideals” that can disappoint?
- What happens after the “initial dryness?”
Letter 3 – Relationships In this third letter, Screwtape suggest that Wormwood focus on the patient’s relationship with his mother. By cooperating with Glubose, the demon with is working o the mother, Screwtape imparts secrets on how to slowly deteriorate the relationship.
- Why would Screwtape want to focus on spiritual matters vs physical ones?
- It’s not the words that matter, it’s the
- What “elder brother” does Screwtape refer to?
Screwtape Letters – Week 2
Letter 7 – Extremism
When asked about revealing himself to his patient, Screwtape reminds Wormwood of the policy to keep humans ignorant of their existence. Also it matters not if the patient is pushed to pacifism or patriotism only so long as he doesn’t think about God or others.
What is the “cruel dilemma” for Screwtape?
What is the suggestion to squash suspicion of demon existence?
What has the church had to watch out for since the days of Paul and Apollos?
What matters most in pursuing a “worldly end”?
Letter 8 – The Rule of Undulation Screwtape explains the law of Undulation, The Enemies master plan for humans, contrast them the plan of Our Father Below
What is the law of Undulation?
What does the Enemy use more, troughs or peaks?
Why does the enemy withdraw His hand?
Letter 9 – Pleasures Screwtape explains how to exploit the spiritually dry period with sensual pleasures and then attack the faith.
What is the basic principle of exploiting the dry period?
What is the source of pleasures?
What are two other possible uses of the dry period?
Letter 10 – Bad Friends Screwtape approves the efforts to encourage a spiritually harmful relationship, and advises Wormwood to use it to his advantage by encouraging a double life
What do we mean by “the world” when we talk about it as a source of temptation? “The Devil, the world and our own sinful nature?”
How can the patient’s vanity be exploited?
What is the best if he spends more time with the new couple?
Letter 11 – Laughter
Screwtape loves the new sophisticated friends because they are consistent scoffers and worldings, but also warns Wormwood about laughter.
What are the four categories that Screwtape divides human laughter into?
What doesn’t he like about the laughter of Joy?
Why is flippancy the best?
Letter – Nothing Screwtape expresses concern about the pace of the patients drifting away. The safest path to Hell is the gentle slope without milestones or signposts.
What is the danger if the patient becomes too aware of the drift away from the sun?
What effect does a dim uneasiness have?
How does Jesus warning to the church in Laodicea play into this letter? “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!” Rev. 2:
Letter 16 – Churches Church hopping should be encouraged, so make sure the patient becomes critical and dissatisfied with his present church.
What are two reasons to encourage church shopping?
What are the “strengths” of two other possible churches for the patient to attend?
What does Paul teach about food and other unessentials?
Letter 17 – Gluttony
Gluttony isn’t only about the quantity of food, but also by being controlled by what one eats and inconvenient demands on others.
What reverse gluttony practice has taken hold?
If quantities don’t matter, then what does?
It wasn’t that in the past the servants got it right, but rather that in the past....
Letter 18 – Love and Marriage Screwtape waxes elegant on the different perspectives of God and Satan on the designs for sexual unions.
What have the poets encouraged to help with unchastity?
What is an image of the triunity of God?
What does the Enemy endue mere copulation with?
What are two advantages to “being in love” as the highest reason for marriage?
Screwtape Letters – Week 4
Letter 19 – Using Love
Screwtape has spoken heresy by referencing the love of God for his creatures. He also admits that marriage can be useful even though it is the Enemy’s invention.
What does Screwtape say the real issue between “Our Father’s” quarrel with the “Enemy”?
What is the only thing that matters to Screwtape regarding love, patriotism, et al.?
What are two different uses for love?
Letter 20 – Sexual Taste
Wormwood should attack chastity and capitalized on the work of the lower demons who manipulate the ideal woman through the media. Failing all direct the patient to look for the wrong woman to marry
What is the point of the “lowerachy” manipulating the image of the ideal woman?
What is the ultimate goal of the “boyish” trend?
What is the difference between the terrestrial and infernal Venus?
Letter 21 – Entitlement Make the patient believe that his time is his own, ad when unexpected demands encroach on his time, he has the right to become angry, exasperated, and impatient.
What should Wormwood “zealously guard” in his patient’s mind?
What is the truth of the matter concerning time?
What sounds equally funny Heaven and Hell? In what word does the joke lie?
How would the Enemy have us use word “mine”?
Screwtape Letters – Week 5
Letter 25 – The Same Old Thing
Wormwood should increase the patient’s natural desire for change to make him restless always searching for something new and exciting.
What does Screwtape say the Enemy has balanced a love of change with? Example?
How can this love of change be corrupted?
What are some ways this demand is valuable?
Letter 26 – Unselfishness
Wormwood should use the enchanting early days to sow seeds of unselfishness that can hopefully cause marital discord later on.
What is the difference between “Charity” and “Unselfishness”?
What is the difference between the sexes concerning unselfishness?
How can “unselfishness” wreak havoc and create strife?
Letter 27 – Answers Wormwood is to corrupt the prayer life of the patient by making him question how the Enemy could incorporate everyone’s prayers into the running of creation.
What is the demonstration that Wormwood has failed?
What is the “heads I win - tails you lose” argument?
What is the real problem of petitionary prayers?
What is the historical point of view?
Letter 28 – Perseverance Failures have been mounting and now Screwtape has to remind Wormwood that he should endeavor to keep his patient alive to corrupt him later in life.
What should Wormwood’s chief aim be the same as the patient’s lover and mother? Why?
What is the temptation of middle age?
What is the temptation of propserity?
Letter 29 – Cowardice
Here we revisit fear and how to bring about shame through cowardice.
What is one vice that is still a vice?
What is the dilemma created by this vice?
What is the great triumph of cowardice?
In the explanation to the Sixth Petition, “lead us not into temptation” what do we want God to guard and protect us from?
Letter 30 – Fatigue
Wormwood is to work the fatigue of war to his favor and play with reality.
What does Screwtape say is the best way to use fatigue?
Failing an intellectual attack on the patient’s faith, what is another route of attack?
What are two way “real” can be used?
What are some of the examples of using “real” for destructive purposes?
What should Wormwood encourage in the patient?
Letter 31 – The Other Side The view of death and life from Screwtape and Wormwood’s perspective.
