 First edition dust wrapper | |
| Author | C. S. Lewis |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Epistolary novel,Christian apologetics,satire |
| Publisher | Geoffrey Bles |
Publication date | 1942 1961 (first omnibus) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardcover andpaperback) |
| Pages | 160 (1st)[1] 157 (1st omnibus) |
| OCLC | 3485336 |
| LC Class | BR125 |
| Followed by | "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" |
| Text | The Screwtape Letters online |
The Screwtape Letters is aChristian apologetic novel byC. S. Lewis and dedicated toJ. R. R. Tolkien. It is written in asatirical,epistolary style and, while it isfictional in format, the plot and characters are used to addressChristian theological issues, primarily those to do with temptation and resistance to it.
First published in February 1942,[2] the story takes the form of a series of letters from a seniordevil,Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, a junior tempter. The uncle'smentorship pertains to the nephew's responsibility in securing thedamnation of a British man known only as "the Patient".
By 1999, the novel had 26 English and 15 German editions, with around half a million copies sold.[3]
InThe Screwtape Letters, Lewis imagines a series of lessons on the importance of taking a deliberate role in Christianfaith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, seen from devils' viewpoints. Screwtape holds an administrative post in thebureaucracy ("Lowerarchy") of Hell. Until the book's final pages, Screwtape acts as amentor to his nephew Wormwood, an inexperienced and incompetent tempter.
In the 31 letters which compose the book, Screwtape gives Wormwood detailed advice on various methods of underminingGod's words and of promoting abandonment of God in "the Patient" (whom Wormwood is tempting), interspersed with observations on human nature and theBible. In Screwtape's advice, selfish gain and power are seen as the only good, and neither devil can comprehendGod's love for man or acknowledge human virtue.
Versions of the letters were originally published weekly in the Anglican periodicalThe Guardian duringwartime, from May to November 1941.[4][5] The book adds an introduction explaining how the author chose to write his story.
Lewis wrote a sequel, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", in 1959. The satirical essay criticizes trends in British society, education, and public attitudes. The essay was included, with a new preface by Lewis, in editions ofThe Screwtape Letters published by Bles in 1961 and by Macmillan in 1962.
The Screwtape Letters became one of Lewis' most popular works, although he said it was "not fun" to write and "resolved never to write another 'Letter'".[6]
Both "The Screwtape Letters" and "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" were released on audio cassette and CD, with narrations byJohn Cleese,[7]Joss Ackland,[8] andRalph Cosham.[9] Cleese's recording was aGrammy Awards Finalist for Best Spoken Word.
The Screwtape Letters consists of 31 letters written by a senior devil namedScrewtape to his nephew, Wormwood (named aftera star in theBook of Revelation), a younger and less experienced devil, charged with guiding a man called "the Patient" toward "Our Father Below" (Satan), and away from "the Enemy" (God).
After the first letter, the Patient converts toChristianity, and Wormwood is chastised for allowing this. A striking contrast is formed between Wormwood and Screwtape during the rest of the book, wherein Wormwood is depicted through Screwtape's letters as anxious to tempt his patient into extravagantly wicked and deplorable sins, often recklessly, while Screwtape takes a more subtle stance, as in Letter XII, wherein he remarks: "... the safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
In Letter VIII, Screwtape explains to his protégé the different purposes that God and the devils have for the human race: "We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons." With this end in mind, Screwtape urges Wormwood in Letter VI to promote passivity and irresponsibility in the Patient: "(God) wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them."
With his own views ontheology, Lewis goes on to describe and discusssex,love,pride,gluttony, andwar in successive letters. Lewis, anOxford andCambridgescholar himself, suggests in his work that evenintellectuals are not impervious to the influence of such devils, especially during complacent acceptance of the "Historical Point of View" (Letter XXVII).
In Letter XXII, after several attempts to find a licentious woman for the Patient "to promote a useful marriage", and after Screwtape's narrowly avoiding a painful punishment for having divulged to Wormwood God's genuine love for humanity (about which Wormwood had promptly informed the Infernal authorities), Screwtape notes that the Patient has fallen in love with a Christian girl, and through her and her family, had adopted a very Christian way of life. Toward the end of this letter, in his anger, Screwtape becomes a large centipede, mimicking a similar transformation in Book X ofParadise Lost, wherein the devils are changed into snakes. Later in the correspondence, it is revealed that the young man may be placed in harm's way by his possiblecivil defence duties (it is stated in an earlier letter that he is eligible for military service, but it is never actually confirmed that he was indeed called). While Wormwood is delighted with this and by theSecond World War in general, Screwtape admonishes Wormwood to keep the Patient safe in hopes that they can compromise his faith over a long lifetime.
In the last letter, the Patient has been killed duringthe Blitz and has gone toHeaven, and for his ultimate failure, Wormwood is doomed to suffer the consumption of his spiritual essence by the other devils, especially by Screwtape himself. He responds to Wormwood's final letter by saying that he may expect as little assistance as Screwtape would expect from Wormwood were their situations reversed ("My love for you and your love for me are as alike as two peas ... The difference is that I am the stronger"), mimicking the situation where Wormwood himself reported his uncle to the Infernal Police for InfernalHeresy (making a religiously positive remark that would offend Satan).
Screwtape starts every letter with "My dear Wormwood", except the last letter, which sarcastically says, "My dear, my very dear Wormwood; mypoppet, mypigsnie."
The short sequel "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" (1959), first published as an article inThe Saturday Evening Post, is an addendum toThe Screwtape Letters; the two works are often published together as one book.[10] The sequel takes the form of anafter-dinner speech given by Screwtape at the Tempters' Training College for young devils. In stage adaptations it is sometimes added as a prelude, making the work a prequel.[11] "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" is Lewis' criticism of leveling andfeatherbedding trends inpublic education; more specifically, as he reveals in the foreword to the American edition,public education in America (though in the text, it isEnglish education that is held up as the purportedly awful example).[12]
TheCold War opposition between theWest and theCommunist World is explicitly discussed as a backdrop to the educational issues. Screwtape and other devils are portrayed as consciously using the subversion of education and intellectual thought in the West to bring about its overthrow by thecommunist enemy from without and within. In this sense "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" is more strongly political thanThe Screwtape Letters, wherein no strong stand is made on political issues of the day, such asWorld War II.[13]
Though C. S. Lewis had resolved not to write another letter, and only revisited the character of Screwtape once, in "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", the format, referred to by Lewis himself as a kind of "diabolical ventriloquism", has inspired other authors to prepare sequels or similar works, such as:
The stage playDear Wormwood (later renamedScrewtape), written by James Forsyth, was published in 1961. The setting is changed to wartime London, where we actually see Wormwood going about the business of tempting his "patient" (in the play, given the name "Michael Green"). The ending is changed as well, with Wormwood trying to repent and beg for forgiveness, when it appears that his mission has failed.Dear Wormwood premiered inLuther High School North,Chicago in April, 1961.
Philadelphia playwright and actor Anthony Lawton's original adaptation ofThe Screwtape Letters has been staged several times since 2000 byLantern Theater Company, most recently in May/June 2014. In Lawton's adaptation, each of Screwtape's letters is punctuated by varied dances includingtap,Latinballroom,jazz,martial arts, androck – and whips and fire-eating. Screwtape performs these dances with his secretary, Toadpipe.
The Fellowship for the Performing Arts obtained from the Lewis estate the rights to adaptThe Screwtape Letters for the stage. The initial production openedoff-off-Broadway at Theatre 315 inNew York City in January 2006. The initial three-week run was extended to eleven and finally closed because the theater was contractually obligated to another production.[17] It was co-written byMax McLean (who also starred) and Jeffrey Fiske (who also directed). In this production, there are two characters - Screwtape and Toadpipe; the latter is played by a female. A second, expanded production openedoff-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Clements on 18 October 2007, originally scheduled to run through 6 January 2008. The production re-opened at the Mercury Theater inChicago in September 2008, and continued on a national tour includingSan Francisco,Phoenix,Louisville,Chattanooga,Fort Lauderdale,Houston andAustin, through January 2010 as well as playing at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. for ten weeks.[18]The Screwtape Letters played for 309 performances at New York City's Westside Theatre in 2010. The 2011 tour visited performing arts venues in cities throughout the United States includingLos Angeles, Houston,Dallas,Atlanta,Seattle,Minneapolis, andBoston. The 2012–2013 tour began in Los Angeles in January 2012, with return engagements in San Francisco,San Diego, Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta as well as stops in several other cities.The Screwtape Letters has been described as "Humorous and lively ... the Devil has rarely been given his due more perceptively!" byThe New York Times, "A profound experience" byChristianity Today and "Wickedly witty ... One hell of a good show!" byThe Wall Street Journal.[18] The production has also toured worldwide.
In some productions, the role of Screwtape has been performed by a woman.[11]
The Barley Sheaf Players ofLionville, Pennsylvania performed James Forsyth's playScrewtape in September 2010. It was directed by Scott Ryan and the play ran the last three weekends in September.[19] The production was reviewed by Paul Recupero forStage Magazine.[20]
Marvel Comics and religious book publisherThomas Nelson produced a comic book adaptation ofThe Screwtape Letters in 1994.[21]
Focus on the Family Radio Theatre was granted the rights to dramatizeThe Screwtape Letters as a feature-length audio drama. Production began in 2008, and the product was released in the fall of 2009.[22]Andy Serkis, known for playingGollum inThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy, provided the voice for Screwtape, withBertie Carvel as Wormwood,Philip Bird as The Patient (identified in this production as "John Hamilton"),Laura Michelle Kelly as The Girl (identified in this production as "Dorothy"),Roger Hammond as Toadpipe, Christina Greatrex as Slumtrimpet,Janet Henfrey as Glubose, Eileen Page as John Hamilton's mother, Susie Brann as Viv Brett, Robert Benfield as Noel Brett, andGeoffrey Palmer as C.S. Lewis. There is a 7-and-a-half minute video preview of the Radio Theatre production with interviews and making-of footage.[23] This production was a 2010Audie Awards finalist.
An annotated edition ofThe Screwtape Letters was released in 2013 by HarperOne.Paul McCusker, who adapted the book forFocus on the Family's audio drama, wrote the footnotes. McCusker does not provide any theological commentary or interpretation, but instead clarifies vocabulary, literary passages and customs which might not be immediately clear to the modern reader. He also cross-references passages to Lewis' other works dealing with particular subjects.
InCalvin and Hobbes,Bill Watterson named Miss Wormwood (Calvin's elementary school teacher) after Lewis' apprentice devil.[24]
Affectionately Yours, Screwtape: The Devil and C.S. Lewis (January 1, 2007), directed by Tom Dallis and written by Amy Dallis, aired on theHistory Channel.[25]
In 2010, theMarine Corps Gazette began publishing a series of articles entitled "The Attritionist Letters" styled in the manner ofThe Screwtape Letters. In the letters, General Screwtape chastises Captain Wormwood for his inexperience and naivete while denouncing the concepts ofmaneuver warfare in favor ofattrition warfare.[26]
WriterDavid Foster Wallace praised the book in interviews and placed it first on his list of top ten favorite books.[27]
Called to Arms' concept albumPeril and the Patient (August 10, 2010) is based entirely onThe Screwtape Letters.[28][29]
InU2's music video for the song "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" (1995), an animatedBono is seen walking down the street holding the bookThe Screwtape Letters. While on stage during theZoo TV Tour Bono would dress as Mr. MacPhisto, his alter ego. Bono would wear a gold suit and devil horns and usually make prank calls to politicians.
The lyrics forThe Receiving End of Sirens' song "Oubliette (Disappear)", from the albumThe Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi (2007), were inspired by a passage fromThe Screwtape Letters.[30]
In theChristian metal bandLiving Sacrifice's albumGhost Thief, there is a track titled "Screwtape". FrontmanBruce Fitzhugh explained that the song is "about temptation and the proverbial 'devil on your shoulder.' It's about the thought process we go through to justify a thought or action that is not good for the soul". Fitzhugh also explains how he thought it was interesting Lewis wrote from the perspective of Screwtape and that he wrote from the same perspective in the song.[31]
The groupThe Oh Hellos released the albumDear Wormwood, which they have described as a form ofspeculative fiction from the point of view of "the patient".
The three-part song "Salt (in the Wounds) of the Earth" on the 2021 albumLaysongs by mandolinistChris Thile was inspired byThe Screwtape Letters.[32]
David Bazan references the book in the lyrics of the title track of the 2024Pedro the Lion albumSanta Cruz.[citation needed]
President of the United StatesRonald Reagan quoted fromThe Screwtape Letters in his 1983speech to theNational Association of Evangelicals.[33]
Antonin Scalia, anAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States appointed by Reagan, had professed his admiration for the book. In a 2013 interview withNew York magazine, Scalia remarked: "The Screwtape Letters is a great book. It really is, just as a study of human nature." The book was mentioned in the highly publicized interview during Scalia's discourse regarding the nature of hisCatholic faith.[34]
As a few readers guessed, Miss Wormwood is named after the apprentice devil in C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters.
