The True Nature of Evil
This was an essay written for my senior English class on a theme in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
Many of one’s first experiences with evil were in the movies of one’s childhood. Particularly with Disney movies, one saw evil as this entirely separate thing from good- with the distinction only made clearer by a sinister sounding song and scary visuals whenever the villain was on screen.
Sometimes how evil is portrayed changes a bit, such as how Hades in Hercules has a sarcastic sense of humor, but regardless, evil was a person.
A single entity that thought, did and said bad things that made the world a more awful place.
However, a glimpse at villains in the real world quickly shows that that is not how evil actually works. There have most certainly been nameable and recognizable villains in history, but the real power and terror of their evil is not found in who they were- but in the actions and attitudes they inspired in others. As explored in C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, the true nature of evil is radically different from that of cartoon villains in where it thrives, how it works, and where it comes from.
In The Screwtape Letters, the story is a series of letters written from a head demon to a junior tempter. While these characters and much of the book are steeped in Christian theology, its remarks about the nature of evil are relevant even outside of the spiritual realm.
One does not need to believe in Jesus to know that humans are capable of both great and terrible things.
While everyone may not believe that evil has a nameable source, such as in Christianity, one can still apply Screwtape’s thoughts on evil to one’s understanding of humanity as a whole.
The first point Screwtape has about evil is that it is more prevalent when it is unnoticed and unchecked. Much of Screwtape’s point is that what sounds evil is not always what actually allows evil to thrive. Even though the reader never hears from Wormwood, Screwtape’s letters to him suggest that Wormwood defines evil much like a Disney villain would. It is objective, simple, and obvious. War is evil, murder is evil, and creating as much havoc as possible is evil.
However, Screwtape argues the opposite. When World War II breaks out, Screwtape urges Wormwood to not consider this a victory. Screwtape is actually distressed by the war because he knows that in times of great distress and havoc, people are actually inspired to do the most good.
Hospitals are built, relationships are strengthened, and people look for deeper answers to life’s questions- often in the arms of spirituality and their ultimate enemy, God.
In contrast, Screwtape argues that the safest path to hell is uneventful and mundane, not chaotic. Sometimes when people are never tested or challenged is actually when they are more likely to be things we would consider evil: hateful, bigoted, or arrogant. In addition, evil’s breeding ground is not only in destruction but sometimes in inaction. Sometimes true evil is not doing something, but doing nothing. Evil is just as much in the heart of someone who enjoyed watching Jewish prisoners commit suicide as the person who created concentration camps in the first place.
Evil can sit just as much as it can stand.
All evil starts somewhere, and Screwtape is more than happy to explain where he believes the best place to start is: the mind. Screwtape spends whole chapters explaining to Wormwood how to gently, silently, and almost unnoticeably alter the man’s thoughts. To become annoyed with his mother’s quirks, to judge those around him, and to ever so slightly begin to consider himself better than those around him.
Here one finds one of the most interesting truths of evil- it is often quiet and unassuming at first.
The true voice of evil is found in small lies that feed off people’s insecurities, weaknesses, and faults to become hurtful actions, damaging words, and destructive personalities. This is incredibly different from the maniacal laughter we associate with cartoon villains.
Evil is a concept that one does not always want to think about, but it is something that is prevalent in the world. In order to answer the millions of questions one has for someone who does hurtful things, hates others, or encourages others to hurt others, one must first understand the true nature of evil.
The Screwtape Letters serves as an interesting perspective on how evil is more like a disease than a cartoon villain. It slowly comes into people’s hearts and twists what was once good into something bad, or turns what was already mildly nasty into something revolting.
It infects and, just like a disease, is most successful when it is left unchecked and unfought.
However, evil in the world has also served to reveal the true nature of good in the world- small acts that make the world a better place through kindness, generosity, and understanding.
If mankind truly wants to overcome evil, Screwtape’s letters remind us that one simply must keep fighting it.
