Christian Holmes- Outside Reading 2

            In chapter 6 of “The Screwtape Letters” Lewis writes about how the main character of the story (apart from the demons in Hell) is facing the possibility of being drafted to fight in the Second World War. The demons at work within the main character attempt to use fear and angst as a means to separate the man from God and instill a feeling of frozen helplessness, “There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human’s mind against the Enemy.” This suspense and anxiety cuts to the core concepts of existential philosophy. Kierkegaard held that fear and anxiety were results from facing the terror of freedom. Man freezes in the face of his freedom out of fear of failure. In a similar way, the demons are using fear of death, war, and suffering to freeze the main character and separate him from the freedom of God. This chapter reveals some of Lewis’ existential influences and shows how existential ideas of fear and anxiety influence his work.

           

            These existential themes are also found in contemporary films as well as Lewis’ writings. “Eternal Sunshine on a Spotless Mind” has acted as a sort of parable of existentialism. Throughout the film, the possibility or chance of failure is around every turn and corner. There is an inevitability of pain, suffering or hardship. It is only one when the main characters embrace this possibility that they are able to live freely and be liberated from their angst. The parable is fulfilled with the lesson that with freedom comes the chance of failure. It is once we accept the possibility of that failure and in spite of it, choose to take action and live life boldly, that we are freed. This liberation from angst can be seen both in the writings of C.S. Lewis and “Eternal Sunshine on a Spotless Mind”.