Distortion of the Good

Till We Have Faces

November 30, 2016

Orual had a clear love for her sister, Psyche. She loved her so much it made her physically ill to think of her being sacrificed. She loved her so much that she risked everything journey up the mountain to see if she was alive. She loved her so much that the thought of harm coming to her was incomprehensible. Yet, that love becomes distorted with fear. She fears that her relationship with Psyche will change. She fears that Psyche is being abused by a man who lives in the mountain. She fears because she sees Psyche in rags even though she says she is at the foot of a palace. As easy as it is to condemn Orual for that fear and condemn her actions, fear for those we love is an identifiable feeling. If we believe something to be true and to be good, we naturally want those we love to believe it to. If I believe that Christianity is true and Jesus is the key to eternal life, then I want those I love to believe that too. However, I think there is a difference in wanting someone to believe something because it is good and true and wanting someone to believe in something because you fear what would happen if they do not. Fear corrupted Orual’s relationship with Psyche. This is evident in their conversation, in the hurt that crosses Psyche’s face when she realizes what Orual will make her do, in the coldness that enters her voice which is so different from the warm, loving relationship they had before. Fear distorts the good and beautiful.