The Four Loves | Themes

The Four Loves Themes

Love of God

This is truly the most common and recurring theme of the book. Not only does Lewis say that a person's love for God is the most important love he should strive for, but he says that the love of God colors every other love in life. Charity is the love of a person for someone else (or an entire group), not because of who that person is, but despite it. The love a person feels for God makes it possible for him to display true charity, and a love of God will enhance love whenever charity is required. For example, every person has some trait that is unlovable. Lewis says that a child might be unruly, a husband lazy, and a wife moody. When those traits are buried, it's easy to love that person; but when those traits come to the forefront, it takes charity to love that person anyway....
(read more)