Show Notes
Because Wormwood's patient has made two new friends who are "great laughers," Screwtape advises Wormwood on the causes of human laughter and the usefulness of each in leading the patient away from the Enemy.
More from The Screwtape Letters
Wormwood's patient has died, and, much to Screwtape's dismay (at losing a soul) and delight (at the pleasure of Wormwood's punishment), the patient is with the Enemy.
Confronted with the reality that Wormwood has not made effective use of cowardice in subverting the Enemy's hold on Wormwood's patient, Screwtape encourages Wormwood to take advantage of fatigue as an assault on the patient's perception of what is "real."
Screwtape confirms that the Germans are going to bomb the area where Wormwood's patient lives and discusses the ramifications of encouraging the patient's cowardice.
Screwtape explains to Wormwood the importance of time in corrupting souls against the Enemy and impresses on Wormwood the counterintuitive need to keep his patient alive through the war.
Finding that Wormwood has allowed his patient to be aware that he is distracted during his prayers, Screwtape instructs Wormwood on how to undermine the patient's belief in answered prayers.