Book III: Chapter 9 Charity Summary and Analysis

Lewis considers charity to be a sub-virtue of forgiveness, as charity does not mean simply giving to the poor. That can be part of the whole virtue, just as rhyme is a part of the whole of poetry, but charity involves more than this. Being charitable also does not mean having any particular affection for others, but more of a concern for their well-being. Lewis compares this to a doting mother who might spoil her child to satisfy her own affectionate impulses, which is the wrong way to be charitable.

Although charity is not an affectionate feeling toward others, it is the start of affection, or fondness, or something better than not feeling anything at all and definitely better than feeling hatred toward others. But the charity needs to be genuine, not a down-payment on...