On Tuesday of last week, our class had the pleasure
of having Dr. Silverman join us for discussion. Silverman cracked open the
conversation with an introduction to Lewis’ the Four Loves. We embarked on a
journey to the four levels of love, beginning with Affection. In relation to Till We Have Faces, we discussed the relationship between Orual and
Bardira, as well as Orual and the Fox. I argue that Bardia and Orual share an
affection-level love due to the basic interaction between them. It is clear
that they respect one another, but there didn’t seem to be any attempt to help
the other person better themselves. Orual and the Fox, however, would have been
an example of the Friendship love. We discussed Friendship as the least natural
of the loves, in that it serves the least purpose pragmatically. However, it is
an important level of love which, if cultivated correctly, can produce great
fruit. From here, we discussed Eros—erotic/passionate love. This is most
clearly seen through the relationship between Psyche and Cupid. Their love is
controlled and careful—since Eros is the most disruptive love and the most
powerful. Finally, we discussed Agape-Karitas—the desire for the good of the
other. This is the most cherished love because it is inherently
self-sacrificial. This is best demonstrated in Psyche’s submission to her
sister’s orders, rather than in Orual’s supposed self-sacrifice to save Psyche.
Orual’s “sacrifice” was innately selfish, since she only wanted Psyche to
return to her. Yet Psyche’s actions were truly self-sacrificial because she relinquished
her desires in favor of what her sister asked.
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