Letter 3 Summary

Screwtape advises Wormwood to sow seeds of domestic discord between the patient and his mother, with whom he lives, by encouraging small annoyances and frictions between the two. Further, Screwtape wants Wormwood to direct the patient's attention inward toward bogus spiritual meditation rather than outward toward service to others, e.g., his mother. Screwtape suggests Wormwood introduce some personal removal into the patient's prayers for his mother, encouraging the patient to pray for an unrealistic mental portrait of her while continuing to disregard the wants and needs of the real person next to him. Lastly, Screwtape asks for information about the mother's attitude toward her son's conversion. Can any jealousy or resentment be stirred up on that score?

Letter 3 Analysis

Philosopher Martin Buber talked about people usually relating to one another in an "I—It" relationship, where the other person is not...