One-line Summary:

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis is a thought-provoking retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, exploring themes of love, identity, and the nature of the divine.

The Story:

Till We Have Faces takes place in the kingdom of Glome, ruled by an oppressive king and his beautiful daughter, Orual. The story is narrated by Orual, who recounts her life from her childhood to adulthood. Orual’s life is deeply intertwined with that of her half-sister, Psyche, who is rumored to be loved by the gods.

As the sisters grow older, Psyche’s beauty becomes legendary, and the people of Glome begin to worship her as the embodiment of the goddess Ungit. This angers the gods, and they send a divine decree demanding Psyche be sacrificed to appease them. Orual, consumed by her love for Psyche, devises a plan to save her sister from this fate.

Orual and Psyche journey to the mountain where Psyche is to be sacrificed, but Orual is unable to witness the actual sacrifice and is left alone. She returns to Glome, believing her sister to be dead. However, Psyche is not dead but has been taken to a hidden palace where she is visited by the god of love, Cupid. Psyche falls in love with Cupid, but their love is forbidden.

Years later, Orual, now queen of Glome, is bitter and filled with resentment towards the gods. She writes a book, titled “Till We Have Faces,” in which she accuses the gods of cruelty and injustice. Orual believes that the gods have taken away her happiness and destroyed her life.

The Transformation:

Throughout the story, Orual undergoes a profound transformation. She realizes that her bitterness and anger have blinded her to the truth. She begins to question her own motives and actions, recognizing that her love for Psyche was possessive and selfish. Orual’s journey becomes a search for self-discovery and redemption.

As Orual confronts the gods, she is forced to confront her own flaws and the limitations of her human perspective. She learns that the gods have been working behind the scenes, guiding her life and shaping her character. Orual’s perception of the divine is challenged, and she begins to understand that the gods’ actions are not always comprehensible to mortals.

The Nature of Love and the Divine:

Till We Have Faces explores profound themes of love and the nature of the divine. Lewis delves into the complexities of love, highlighting the difference between possessive love and selfless love. Orual’s love for Psyche is initially possessive, driven by her own desires and needs. However, as she undergoes her transformation, Orual begins to understand the true nature of love, which involves sacrifice and selflessness.

The novel also raises questions about the nature of the divine. Lewis challenges the reader to consider the limitations of human understanding when it comes to the divine. He suggests that the gods’ actions may not always align with human expectations and that their ways are often mysterious and beyond mortal comprehension.

Key Takeaways:

• Love should be selfless and sacrificial, not possessive.
• Our perception of the divine is limited, and we must be open to the mystery and incomprehensibility of the divine.
• Self-reflection and self-awareness are essential for personal growth and transformation.

“I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?” – C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces

In Till We Have Faces, C.S. Lewis weaves a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of love, the limitations of human understanding, and the transformative power of self-reflection. Through the retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Lewis invites readers to question their own perceptions of love and the divine, ultimately challenging them to seek a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.