How Does Screwtape Use Language In Chapter 8

In chapter 8, Screwtape talks to Wordworm about his knowledge of the Enemies' ways and different attacks. Also throwing some shade towards the training college that Wormwood is a part of. With this Screwtape uses numerous different types of language to be able to get what he wants, and to keep Wormwood on the right path. As we know language/words could entirely break someone down or bring them up. We are also able to use words to persuade and more importantly manipulate beings into doing what we want them to do. This factor is very important when talking in terms of Screwtape letters. Since they are trying to gain food it is very important that they take the right path and ensure the capture of this food. Screwtape shows good word choice to

Our first example of this is in the first paragraph of chapter 8, “I always thought the Training College had gone to pieces since they put old Slubgob at the head of it, and now I am sure”(Lewis 37.) At the beginning of chapter 8, Screwtape talks about how the demon ‘Training college’ has gone to so-called pieces. This theme of Screwtape knowing more than the teachers is repeated throughout the book. We are also able to see this theme near the end of the chapter when Screwtape says, “But of course the troughs afford opportunities to our side also. Next week I will give you some hints on how to exploit them,”(Lewis 41.) Screwtape shows that he knows ways around the Enemy and how to exploit his ways. Wormwood will need to navigate through this time of no letter before knowing these exploits. This will keep Wormwood interested in learning about these exploits. So then he will follow Screwtape's words to be able to learn what Screwtape is talking about. In theory manipulating Wordwood to follow Screwtapes words. With this Screwtape is able to get his way by controlling

As we know Screwtape has a significant amount of experience in the demon world knowing many tips and tricks. One example of this is, “Now it may surprise you to learn that in His efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks…”(Lewis 38.) In the beginning of the quote Screwtape explains that it will be surprising with the information that he is informing Wormwood about. With this we are able to assume that Screwtape isn’t new to these ideas and is sharing his knowledge with Wormwood. Throughout this chapter Screwtape is able to inform Wormwood about the Enemies power and ability he has over all people. We are able to better see this when Screwtape states, “You must have often wondered why the Enemy does not make more use of His power to be sensibly present to human souls in any degree He chooses and at any moment.”(Lewis 39.) As we have seen above Screwtape starts off the sentence with “You must have often wondered.” We can assume from this that Wormwood does not know much about the demon realm and needs help navigating it. With Screwtape proving his past experiences by telling Wormwood, he is able to gain trust from Woodworm due to his higher level of knowledge and copious amounts of experience. Throughout this chapter we continuously see the repeating trend of lending knowledge to Wormwood, due to the overwhelming amount