Satire In C. S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters Literary Analysis The Screwtape letters is a satire written by C.S. Lewis is a classic British literature novel in which many of the themes present are still used today. The letters are about two devils named Screwtape and Wormwood who are trying to steer a man whom they call “The Patient” away from believing in Christianity. Wormwood uses techniques to sway the beliefs of the patient like pointing out hypocrisy in the church. Wormwood and Screwtape also point out some of the annoying habits of the patients mother making the patient ponder how he can stand to pray for her. The devils tempt the patient during hid tough times in World War II with sexual desire and then attack his faith when he caves. Times of war are beneficial and destructive for the devils. It is beneficial because fear causes soldiers to sin for their desired pleasures, and destructive because it …show more content…
Lebouf says “Satire is a powerful art form which has the ability to point out the deficiencies in certain human behaviors and the social issues” which Lewis uses satire to prove a hypocrisy in church. Screwtape says that “All your patient sees is the half-finished, sham gothic erection on the new building estate” (6). Wormwood speaks to the patient, saying things that annoy the patient like people singing out of tune to sway him from believing in faith. These are the only people that really stand out to the patient in the church community. This makes the reader realize that people stand out more when we can find something to be judgmental about. This is ironic because the patient is trying to become a better person by going to church but is judging the people who are also there. Lewis also points out the man’s sinful judgment of churches when screwtape says “In the second place, the search for a ‘suitable’ church makes the man a critic where the enemy wants him to be a pupil”