Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
The renowned British author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other well-loved classics, C. S. Lewis, also a scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, and Christian apologist, ingeniously reimagines the tale of Cupid and Psyche. Till We Have Faces is a masterful analysis of envy, betrayal, loss, blame, grief, guilt, and conversion that is told from the perspective of Psyche’s sister, Orual. Lewis reminds us of our frailty and the significance of a higher force in our lives in this final, most accomplished, mature novel.
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
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C.S. Lewis reinvents the traditional myth of Cupid and Psyche in this timeless tale of two mortal princesses, one attractive and the other repulsive, to create a great work of modern fiction. This is the tale of Orual, Psyche’s elder, ugly, and resentful sister, who loves her dangerously and possessively. To Orual’s chagrin, the god of love Cupid loves Psyche, which sets the tormented Orual on a path of moral advancement. The struggles between sacred and profane love are highlighted against the backdrop of Glome, a primitive, pre-Christian society, as Orual discovers that we cannot comprehend the intentions of the gods “until we have faces” and honesty in our souls and selves.
This rendition of the Psyche myth is fascinating. Lewis’s deep exploration of classical literature was prompted by his academic training, and the richness of the details is one of the things that makes it such a brilliant book. Oriel, Psyche’s sister, is the protagonist. So everything is known from her perspective. It has undergone a makeover fit for Apuleius. I am aware that some oppose its conclusion. However, the plot and resolution reference the Book of Job. And both speak to how I personally walk with God. I heartily endorse this book. And it is worthwhile to read numerous times.
C. S. Lewis’s novel Till We Have Faces is a masterpiece. Lewis has rewritten the Myth of Cupid and Psyche, and it is exceptionally well-written and entertaining like all of his previous fiction. It’s a wonderful tale that delicately and lovingly illustrates the absurdity of ideas that question God’s justice or kindness. Lewis appreciated the power of myth, just like his pals Tolkien and Williams, and this particular myth has an autobiographical point to convey about having clear thinking. This story’s plot, like some of his previous works, ends before what we might have expected to be a satisfying resolution…
