Till We Have Faces

Rating:
Summary: This book is well worth reading.
Review: C.S. Lewis' book Till we Have Faces is a fantastic literary achievement that shows how important point of view actually is. We are all familiar, I'm sure, of the Greek myth of Psyche and Cupid. The myth in a nutshell says that Psyche was married to Cupid, but she could never know to who it was she was married. Psyche was extremely happy, although she never saw her husbands' face. She lived in a big palace, and was pretty much set for life. Psyche's sisters, however, came to visit her one day and saw her big home and her happiness, and they became extremely jealous. They decided to ruin Psyche because that is what all good sisters do. They convince Psyche to turn on the lights that night to see who her husband is. She does and becomes doomed to wander the Earth aimlessly. She later is forced to do impossible labors for Cupid's mother, who is jealous of her beauty. Eventually Psyche becomes reconciled with Cupid and she becomes deified. Then they live happily ever after. C.S. Lewis version of this story casts a very different light on the story when it told from Orual's, one of Psyche's sisters, perspective. This is why this book is so interesting. In C.S. Lewis version we learn that Orual's intentions are really quite pure, and that she inadvertently brings about Psyche's downfall. She then blames herself for years for bringing such misery upon the sister she loved so dearly. So by simply changing the point of view of the story, Lewis creates a character who is sympathetic rather than spiteful. It is this message of looking at things from different perspectives that is one of the main themes in this story.

The other theme of this story is that beauty, true beauty, is found on the inside. I have wondered why Lewis chose to name this book Till we Have Faces, and I am still not sure of the significance of it. It is possible that the whole theme of beauty is what this title suggests. When we are beautiful on the inside, then it shows in our countenance and our faces. Our faces then reflect what we are, and people see us in that way. It is interesting that until Orual veils her face, she is considered ugly, but once she does veil it, she is considered to be very beautiful because she then allows her true, beautiful self to take over. In this way, people really don't see her true face until she veils her ugly one.

This book is a great read. It is full of symbolic elements that are interesting to try and interpret. Lewis is a great author, and this book lived up to all of my expectations for it. If you do plan on reading it, plan a huge block of time when you can read the entire thing, because once you start it, you won't want to put it down. I really enjoyed it because it made me think. C.S. Lewis is a terrific author, and he does not disappoint with this book.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic, thoughtful book.
Review: I loved this book, and believe it should truly be on English syllabi everywhere. C.S. Lewis has woven another wonderful tale in the tradition of the Chronicles of Narnia, but for a much more sophisticated audience. This was a book I could not put down until I had finished so that my essays went unfinished, and I hardly slept while I was reading it. 313 pages after I began, I realized that my time had flown by and I was finished. This is truly delightful to read, and it also raises many literary and philosophical questions. Lewis retells the myth of Psyche and Cupid, but changes the perspective to that of Cupid, whom he names Oural, and so changes the story. Told constantly of her ugliness, Oural lives a life of loneliness. Without comfort from her golden-haired sister, she turns to her Greek tutor for intellectual discussion and fatherly love that she does not receive from her true father the King. Later in life, Psyche is born to the step-mother. An almost overly-perfect child, Psyche is raised mostly by Oural. During this raising, Oural comes to have a deep love for Psyche. Changing her very core of being to a love for her sister, she then faces only bitter pain when Psyche is torn from her grasp forever. Her bereavement sets up a questioning of the implications of true love. Oural's motive's seem almost selfish at times as she tries to do what is best for the Psyche that she becomes fated never to see again. The direct empathy for Oural's vicarious suffering is masterfully portrayed so that I could not help but feel pangs of sympathy for Oural's plight. Her love raised Psyche, and then that love led to her losing the near goddess and destroying both of their happiness. Besides questioning the interplay between love, happiness, and the trials of life, there are more issues brought up. For one, Lewis tells the story from a woman's perspective. Oural is a very real, complex character, and it is interesting that Lewis could have done such a good job imitating a woman's voice. One of the ways he does this is to make Oural fairly masculine. Ugly as a brick, she eventually learns to fence, and subsequently becomes queen. However, as a queen, she remains man-like, leading her armies to war and through various journeys. Gender and love were intriguing facets of the book, but perhaps the main focus is on Oural's relationship with the Gods. She finds a basic conflict that enumerates the problems that religious men and philosophers have debated throughout the millennia. Her native traditions and upbringing teach her that there are many gods, animistic in nature. Unhappy gods, they demand appeasement through sacrifices and daily rituals. However, these views conflict with the teachings of her much-trusted tutor and friend. He refutes the myths and legends about the gods as uncultured fancies, and turns her thoughts to the logic of Greek learning. Layered upon this dual mesh of beliefs are the approaches that are taken to religion by the characters around her. Some choose to ignore the gods, others are dedicated to serving them, while still others believe strongly in them, but choose to seek as little interference as possible. Another conflict comes with the god who interferes with Psyche, who seems to be viewed as the all-high god, someone above even the many gods who reside in the land and provide fertility or omens. Thus, a sort of monotheism is acknowledged that continues to clash with the other ideas, providing much material for debate. Unable to reach any definitive conclusion about the nature of the gods, but providing good insights, Oural begins a letter of complaint to the Gods. Unsure of why she has not been told exactly how she should have acted to prevent the constant pain that she eventually comes to live with, Oural bitterly recounts her tale and her suffering woe. Despising the gods for their distance, and for having taken Psyche from her, she writes until the end of her life. However, before she dies, she sees a vision, wherein she presents her arguments to the gods, and receives her answer. She becomes another beautiful Psyche in the process, after finally having found the face that she has sought for so long. The ending must be read, so I will not even attempt to explain the rich complexities that Lewis has woven into the triumphant and mesmerizing conclusion. Although I am in the habit of finding new books to read, this is one of the few books that I will read again, and I am sure to find even more subtle insights into the human condition and the manner of our lives.

Rating:
Summary: A Revelation of who we really are
Review: Another one of Lewis' great explorations. I am continuously drawn to the creative way Lewis explores mythologies/literary traditions with a Christian twist. His subtle way of extrapolating truth from the often pegged "irredeemable" narratives of the non-Christian (a.k.a. pagan) world is quite refreshing. His thought processes are beautifully un-cluttered by "Churchianity." I was especially pleased with the intimate detail of the relationship between Psyche and her "god" and found the whole concept of the invisible palace a very clever twist on the original. I also thought it was a very interesting parallel with the modern church which seems to present itself as more of an Orual than a Psyche in its self-proclaimed "duty" and pursuits (although I doubt Lewis intended the likeness). Lewis had the audacity to present implications that would make some folks squeal with discomfort...especially in his era. He does a magnificent job of revealing the true face and frailty of the human condition with his descriptions of the frequent and subtle "revelations" of beauty Orual grasps, fleetingly, through her veil but quickly dismisses as "irrelevant' in light of the "true nature" of the gods. Orual exists in fear and antagonism with the gods, a stark contrast (also seen in the physical differences between the sisters) to Psyche's childlike embrace. Beyond all things, this book reveals the most important aspect of the nature of our being in relation to our duty. If we believe we are "ugly" and without intrinsic worth, we see the gods as demanding and punative. If, however, we see ourselves as having been made for a tanscendent, "romantic" existence (as Psyche so wonderfully describes on the eve of her sacrifice), our god becomes intimate and loving, meeting our every expectation and desire, minimizing the pain of our journey until we reach the pinnacle of our existence ("god"hood--the transmutation into ultimate being).

Once more, his fiction world explores a reality previously outlined in one of his non-fiction pieces: "The Four Loves."

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Summary: For those in pain who cry; "The gods are unjust!"
Review: 'Til We Have Faces' is the sleeper novel of the century. Better than any self-help book for those who are more sinned against than sinful, better than any pop-psychology text, Til We Have Faces addresses the difficult questions of God, justice and life's meaning with underlying compassion and incisive perception. C. S. Lewis re-works the ancient Cupid and Psyche myth. He retains the mythological setting, but this time tells the tale from the point of view of a sister of Psyche; Orual. This 'ugly' sister resents the gods for the injustices of her physical unattractiveness and her consequentially loveless life... and after a lifetime of angst and loss, finally learns a liberating and joyous truth. Lewis' deft handling of the story allows him to grapple with the anguish of lovelessness and the value of the soul; timely themes for our era, obsessed as it is with physical beauty and superficial materialism. The novel satisfies at many levels: a good story; an anticipation of 'the beauty myth'; a Jungian treatise; a neo-Platonic manifesto... an articulation of the very human yearning for love, justice and meaning. An important book, a beautiful book; something for those who are between their first and second enjoyments of fairytale and fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: An Overlooked Classic
Review: There's no doubt that "Till We Have Faces" is Lewis' most profound book. Its prose is masterful: spare, stark, the best writing Lewis ever did. He creates memorable, fully human characters, especially in Orual, daughter of Trom King of Glome. She is ugly, brutalized by her father, friendless until love enters her life through two characters: her Greek slave tutor and her youngest sister, Psyche. The novel becomes an examination of loves true and false, of manipulation of love, and of the power of grace to redeem and love the unloved and unlovely. I've read this novel at least a dozen times; it never grows stale. You needn't know the original myth to enjoy the book. I only wish more readers knew about this book--even many Lewis fans are unaware of this one. It will move your heart and make you think.

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Summary: A Different Take on Lewis...
Review: I have a confession to make...I am not a big fan of Lewis. I think as far as intelligent & clear-headed thinking - especially on difficult faith issues - he certainly had a gift. However, I think he makes (made) things too black & white without a real, first-hand understanding of the strength of emotion, disillusionment, and difficult experiences when dealing with faith. This is true at least until the end of his life when was "defeated" in theological debates by a female atheist, he married a divorced woman (something he had earlier condemned), and then he lost his wife tragically. (The movie Shadowlands explores this marriage and its effects on him.)

These events rattled Lewis to the core, and for awhile he lost all confidence in his former theological proclaimations (except that God is good). It is my understanding that Lewis wrote "Till We Have Faces" after this huge shake-up in his life. This book represents an understanding he came to after almost all of his faith foundation had been smashed and he had to rebuild it. And, I think, this new level of depth really manifests in this work. While I'm not a fan of Lewis in general, I think this book is absolutely phenomenal.

What Lewis has done, as many reviewers have mentioned, is to retell the story of Cupid & Psyche. And he chooses to tell it from the perspective of Psyche's older (and supposedly evil) sister Orual. For the entire first part of the book (labelled Part I), Lewis takes you through a fantastic, confusing, emotional, biting story. Unlike his simplistic themes in the Chronicals of Narnia, Lewis relates a very twisted account of love & jealousy through complex characters, relationships, and landscapes. And as he does so, he allows the reader to become fully sympathetic to Orual and her position...even though she instigates some unfortunate situations.

However, while it is tempting with Lewis to draw trite lessons and observations, I encourage you to not do so. I encourage you to let yourself be confused and wonder at the purpose at Part I. For, in Part II he brings it all together very powerfully. Not only does his explain the story, but I think he delivers one of the most disabling blows I've ever read in a novel. I don't want to give away the ending, but Orual's own gasping revelation as she tries to justify her bitterness was simply phenomenal. And, when considering Lewis' likely similar bitterness regarding his short-lived marriage, I feel that this all came directly from his heart.

A one-of-a-kind title that I would recommend to anyone willing to grasp with faith and potentially ugly revelations about ourslves.

Rating:
Summary: A Myth Retold
Review: The widely beloved author C. S. Lewis has a devoted following of readers, especially in regard to his works The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, etc. but many have never even approached his fourth and final novel, Till We Have Faces. This is unfortunate because Till We Have Faces simply has more substance as a novel than the Space Trilogy (excepting Perelandra) in the ways of the human soul in conflict. The novel is modeled after epic, in the true meaning of the term, mythology that retells Apuleius'erotic version of the marriage of Cupid and Psyche as included in his The Metamorphoses. Lewis structures his novel as a narrative presented from the point of view of the elder of the wicked sisters of Psyche. Lewis has this sister, Orual is her name, deliver her story as an accusation to the gods for having stolen Psyche from her. In this work Lewis quite often, sometimes subtly, sometimes not, gives tribute to the many classical influences that shaped his life and writings. Knowledge of Dante's Purgatorio may not be critical to understanding the major conflict of the story, but it certainly helps.
Anyway, without revealing too much as well as for the sake of brevity, Lewis has created one of the most powerful and heart wrenching sagas yet written that attempts to tackle the questions concerning perverted love, inadequate love, and sacred love and the difference between the sacred and profane. Lewis presents arguments between the thesis of paganism(blood, sacrifice, mystery), the antithesis of intellectual paganism(rationalism), and finally the synthesis, Christianity. It begins rather confusing to most but if you stick with it, the novel has a very rewarding conclusion and an interesting "twist" ending that Lewis himself attributed to his conversion to Christianity.
As high-brow as this may sound, this book is targeted to a wide audience and is very accessible ,yet can be read repeatedly with new insight, new depth, discovered by even the most discerning of readers. Fans of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as well as of Lewis should definitely try this mythology and find out why the gods refuse to answer until we have faces.

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book Ever Written!
Review: This books is amazing. It offers faith to the sceptic and traces Lewis' own path of belief. It follows the reader through so many stages of trust and religion. It lies at the core of Lewis and will lie at the core of you.

Rating:
Summary: my personal favorite
Review: this was quality, i like how it really gets you to think about it yourself and doesnt just point by point tell you what the author wants to portray in his work, which is why i wont point by point tell you what i learned. i read this book in a 24-hour period, taking only necessary breaks for sleep and work and so forth, it was that addictive. i identified with the characters and learned with them. this is real piece of art. it's too bad it is hardly heard of any more. read it with an open mind for learning.

Rating:
Summary: C.S. Lewis at his best
Review: This is truly one of the most moving and epic stories I have ever read. Orual and Psyche can come to represent any one of us in our everyday lives. A journey of moral development, coping with jealousy, and sibling love and rivalry. This is possibly the greatest of Lewis's works. Anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia is sure to love Till We Have Faces