TSL Chapter 31 -- Sheer, Instantaneous Liberation

Summary

It's over. The Patient has died in a state of Grace and has been air-lifted to Heaven.

Wormwood is facing a final reckoning as well -- as a failure in the Kingdom of Noise, the consequences are to be eaten by Screwtape.

Screwtape describes the Patient's death -- a moment of agony and horror followed by revelation, peace, and glory. And recognition. Truths he had always felt deep within him become manifest. Life is suddenly thrown into perspective and stark relief.

All that is left now, is the feasting of Screwtape upon his poor Nephew. Wormwood.

My Thoughts

The back-nine or so (last 3rd of the book) was less compelling for me than the opening chapters. The anti-sermons seemed less barbed and pointed, the mythology and world building less of a draw. While I never tired of Screwtape's voice, I think I acclimated to the flow of the book.

This chapter regains some of the power of the opening strokes.

For one thing, the view of death and emergence and salvation is powerful and hopeful. It illustrates God's victory of Death in a material and evocative way. As always, Lewis's word-choice is surprising and perfect.

It brings the whole thing together both theologically and literarily -- leaving no doubt in the reader's mind that this conclusion was planned from the beginning. The book couldn't end any other way.

I also found myself thinking about it in context -- would this be of some comfort to those who had lost loved ones to the German bombs? I think, maybe, yes. It illustrates the hope at the core of scripture.

Screwtape Unmasked
If The Patient's ascension is satisfying, Screwtape finally telling Wormwood that he plans to enjoy eating him is nicely satisfying as well. Screwtape explains that his professed affection for Wormwood was sincere: He loves Wormwood the way a hungry man loves a tasty morsel. This 'revelation' (in scare quotes because, who couldn't see that coming) comes, apparently, after a plea from Wormwood for mercy in his time of need.

Of course the demons turn on each other.

Of course the apparent virtues of helpfulness and consideration were never more than a self-serving illusion: Screwtape would have been pleased if his protege damned The Patient... but he's at least equally pleased (if more not more so) to enjoy eating Worms.

Lewis does a good job wrapping this. He does not explain how Wormwood's correspondence ends up in his hands. I would like to believe that it was a final betrayal -- that Wormwood, knowing that Screwtape's words would indict him (Screwtape), arranged for them to fall into mortal hands.