Foggy Book Club discussion
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The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters-July 2019
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Chapters 21 - 24
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In the heat of composition I find that I have inadvertently allowed myself to assume the form of a large centipede. I am accordingly dictating the rest to my secretary. Now that the transformation is complete I recognise it as a periodical phenomenon. Some rumour of it has reached the humans and a distorted account of it appears in the poet Milton, with the ridiculous addition that such changes of shape are a "punishment" imposed on us by the Enemy. Honestly... this is why the audiobook is best. Hearing John Cleese lose his temper at Wormwood and then admit he has now assumed the form of a centipede? Priceless.
And once again I get to appreciate the hilarity of the demon's names with Slumtrimpet in chapter 24. What a name.
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But I didn't really understand why he turned into a centipede, and I wish that the workings of the demons had been explored more, like how all that works because I felt like the whole getting the patient to go to hell thing got very repetitive, and Wormwood was so obviously an idiot lol
I actually kind of wish there was just an entire book about well... THAT to be honest (the workings of the demons and their world, et cetera). Which, I do not think was the point at all. lol I think it goes to show I am a lover of all thinks fantastical when that's where my mind went. My thought on the centipede was that the more "corporal" a shape is (complex, etc.) the more difficult it is to manifest, possibly. And by losing his temper by Wormwood's betrayal he turned into a more basic, primitive, shape? (His kind of lame excuse is part of why I think this, when he has to turn to dictating the rest.) That's how my mind worked it out, I'm likely entirely wrong.
It reminded me a bit of Mr. Centipede from James and the Giant Peach who had a boot for every single foot. Haha.... And I haven't read that since I was 7.
Hello, what are your thoughts on these chapters?