I thought this chapter to be quite good. It was all about the idea of unselfishness. In it Screwtape compared how men and women take this term to be two different ideas. For women unselfishness means "chiefly taking trouble for others", men on the other hand take it to mean "not giving trouble to others". Thus the sexes are separated in this ideal. A woman also thinks of doing good offices, and a man of respecting other people's rights. Both sexes, however, as Screwtape states know that they must display a degree of charity. Going further in rules, the two sides do as the other would want, ignoring their own feelings.
Screwtape says to his nephew to prevent what the letter has said, is to keep with some degree of mutual falseness. Don't let the sexes know that they are being unselfish toward one another. If they do notice these it will lead to "love", and this is not wanted.
1 comment:
I also liked this letter and the concept behind its text. By being unselfish, we are able to let people see who we really are. I was a little confused towards the end of your explanation but that may have been because the letters get a little confusing as well.
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