Saturday, April 26, 2008
Letter 26
Letter 26 focuses on the ideas of unselfish behavior and love. Screwtape discussed the issues with sexual desire and fulfilling the others wishes. This was an interesting argument; Screwtape mentioned that it is only when influenced by "erotic enchantment" that a person will fully give in to the wants of others, forgetting their own desires. Screwtape goes on to say that once the enchantment dies, the "giving" thus wains as well. This was quite disturbing in the fact that it is quite possible that people do things in hopes of being rewarded themselves. Take for example, charity. Screwtape mentions that most people, when sexual excitement ceases, will not give into the wishes of the other, that the giving that was once there was merely a product of sexual attraction. Is Screwtape right on this? are we all objects of desire that are subject to "charity" because of physical attraction? Are we less deserving of charity once our looks fade? Is there any hope in the world that someone somewhere will be charitable to their significant other once their sexual desires fade? I really think this is what we should be striving for. After all, isn't that what love is really about, romantic or platonic?
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I feel like when you are first in a relationship with a person, you are kind of overwhelmed with all these new feelings and it seems like you would do anything for the other person. However, over time, these new feelings kind of start to fade as the idea of being in a new relationship kind of grows older. I feel like this is the make or break point of the relationship - if it is going to work out, you need to continue being unselfish and willing to make it work, rather than just submitting.
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