I am currently reading C S Lewis’ Mere Christianity and I can understand his genius. Wit, thought, substance and depth are in equal measure in his writings. Lewis was an influential writer and theologian. He began writing at a young age and published a wide range of genres. After his conversion to Christianity, Lewis dedicated his writing to applying logical reasoning to religion, which made him an inspiration to many of his readers. His best-known work, the Narnia series, became a children's classic.
Though today he is a famous theologian, he had become an atheist for a brief time due to misguided principles and info. At Magdalen College at Oxford in 1925 he became part of ‘The Inklings’ which was an informal literary discussion group. Here he met a fellow writer, then unknown, but today a highly acclaimed fantasy writer, J.R.R. Tolkien. With Tolkien’s company, Lewis converted back to Christianity in 1931, which was the beginning of a popular writing career.
Lewis’ books have themes of mythology, the supernatural, and classic Greek literature.
Till We Have Faces
C.S. Lewis' last novel Till We Have Faces was published in 1956. This was co-written with his wife, Joy Davidman. It is a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche. Lewis developed the idea for this novel after reading The Golden Ass by Apuleius. According to Lewis, the character's actions in the original novel were illogical and problematic. Hence he wanted to put work around with his own ideas about it. This reimagined and ‘better’ model was Orual. She is the older sister of Psyche, and is a sentimental character. But there are explanations for her emotions and the reader can empathise with her and listen to her reasoning behind her actions. ( source - Lewis archive)
The book has two parts. The first part is a lament of Orual about the Gods. She and Psyche live in the fictional kingdom of Glome, a city in hellenistic Greece. In the second part, she reflects on and regrets her earlier actions. She explains why she did so, her problems and calls out to the gods. The two parts symbolise our actions as humans. We cry and we complain to the Gods for our problems and state of life. But as we grow wiser and when we reach a mature age ( in some ways symbolically, the second part of our life ), we understand with spiritual guidance and with humility, the ways of God.
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