Summary
C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces, published in 1956, is a masterful retelling of the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche. Set in the pre-Christian kingdom of Glome, this novel explores themes of love, jealousy, and the complex relationship between mortals and gods. Lewis considered this work his most mature and accomplished fiction, crafting a narrative that delves deep into the human psyche and spiritual longing.
The story is primarily told from the perspective of Orual, the ugly older sister of the beautiful Psyche. Through Orual's eyes, readers witness a tale of possessive love, misunderstanding, and eventual redemption. Lewis's unique approach to the myth allows for a profound examination of faith, doubt, and the nature of divine love, making Till We Have Faces a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. The novel's rich symbolism and complex characters continue to captivate readers and scholars alike, cementing its place as a significant contribution to 20th-century fiction and mythological reinterpretation.
Plot
Till We Have Faces retells the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Psyche's older sister Orual. The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Glome, where Orual and her beautiful half-sister Psyche are princesses. When the people of Glome begin worshipping Psyche as a goddess, she is sacrificed to appease the jealous goddess Ungit. Orual later discovers Psyche alive and living in an invisible palace, married to the God of the Mountain.
Suspicious and jealous, Orual convinces Psyche to disobey her husband's command not to look upon his face. As a result, Psyche is exiled and forced to wander. The God of the Mountain appears to Orual and declares that she too shall be Psyche, which Orual spends years trying to interpret. Orual becomes Queen of Glome and rules successfully for many years, though she remains bitter towards the gods.
While traveling abroad, Orual hears a distorted version of Psyche's story that paints her as deliberately ruining her sister's life out of envy. This prompts Orual to write her own account as an accusation against the unjust gods. However, after experiencing a series of visions, Orual comes to realize the truth of her own actions and motivations.
In her final vision, Orual meets Psyche again and sees that her sister has completed impossible tasks with divine help. The God of the Mountain appears and tells Orual, “You also are Psyche,” revealing that the phrase was one of mercy all along. Orual dies shortly after, having made peace with the gods and gained understanding of herself and her past actions.
Themes
The nature of divine love vs. human love
Self-deception and the journey to self-awareness
Faith and doubt in the unseen
Jealousy and possessive love
The conflict between reason and faith
Beauty and ugliness (inner and outer)
The limitations of human understanding of the divine
Setting
Till We Have Faces takes place in the ancient kingdom of Glome, a fictional barbaric state on the outskirts of the Hellenistic world. The story is set in a pre-Christian era, likely around the time of classical Greece, as there are references to Greek culture beginning to influence Glome. Lewis creates a vivid, historically grounded setting to lend authenticity to his retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth.
The kingdom of Glome serves as the primary location, with much of the action occurring in and around the royal palace. Other key settings include the sacred mountain where Psyche is left as a sacrifice, and the mysterious invisible palace where she lives with her divine husband. Lewis provides detailed descriptions of Glome's geography, mentioning its proximity to a river and describing distances in relatable terms.
While rooted in a specific time and place, the novel's setting also has a timeless, mythic quality. This blend of the historical and the mythological allows Lewis to explore universal themes of love, faith, and the relationship between humans and the divine. The liminal nature of Glome - caught between barbarism and Hellenistic civilization - provides fertile ground for examining clashes between different worldviews and belief systems.
Characters
Orual: The protagonist and narrator. Oldest daughter of King Trom of Glome. Unattractive but intelligent, she becomes Queen of Glome after her father's death. Her possessive love for her sister Psyche drives much of the plot. Orual struggles with jealousy, bitterness, and questions about the nature of the gods throughout her life.
Psyche: Orual's beautiful younger half-sister. Beloved by the people of Glome and eventually sacrificed to the God of the Mountain, who makes her his bride. Psyche's faith and love contrast with Orual's doubt and possessiveness.
The Fox: A Greek slave who serves as tutor to the princesses. He provides a rational, philosophical perspective and acts as a father figure to Orual. The Fox is a follower of Stoicism.
Bardia: The captain of the palace guard. He trains Orual in swordsmanship and becomes her trusted advisor when she is queen. Orual harbors unrequited feelings for him, though he remains faithful to his wife.
King Trom: Orual's father and the king of Glome. A harsh and abusive ruler. He has two sentences for minor characters.
Redival: Orual's other sister, between her and Psyche in age. Vain and spiteful. She plays a minor role in the story.
Ungit: The primitive goddess worshipped in Glome, equivalent to Aphrodite/Venus. Her cult demands blood sacrifices.
The God of the Mountain: Ungit's son, equivalent to Eros/Cupid. He takes Psyche as his bride.
Quick facts
Till We Have Faces was C.S. Lewis's last novel, published in 1956, and he considered it his most mature work.
The book is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Psyche's older sister Orual.
Lewis had been working on versions of this story for over 35 years before finally publishing the novel.
It is set in the fictional kingdom of Glome, a primitive city-state bordering ancient Greece.
Lewis wrote the book in collaboration with his wife, Joy Davidman.
The original working title was “Bareface” before Lewis changed it to Till We Have Faces.
J.R.R. Tolkien considered it Lewis's best work of fiction.
Unlike most of Lewis's other fiction, this book is not explicitly Christian in its themes.
The novel is divided into two parts, with a shift in perspective and tone between them.
Lewis incorporated elements of Greek philosophy, particularly Platonism, into the story.
About the Author
C.S. Lewis was one of the most influential Christian authors and scholars of the 20th century. Born in Belfast in 1898, he became a professor of English literature at Oxford and later Cambridge. Though raised Christian, Lewis became an atheist as a young man before returning to Christianity in his early 30s, partly due to the influence of his friend and fellow author J.R.R. Tolkien. This spiritual journey deeply shaped his later writings.
As a novelist, Lewis is best known for The Chronicles of Narnia, a beloved series of children's fantasy books with strong Christian themes. He also wrote science fiction novels for adults, including the Space Trilogy. His fiction often explored religious and moral ideas through allegory and symbolism. Beyond fiction, Lewis was a prolific essayist and Christian apologist, writing books like Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters that presented theological concepts for a general audience.
Lewis's academic work focused on medieval and Renaissance literature. His book The Allegory of Love (1936) was highly influential in reviving scholarly interest in medieval allegory. He was also a member of the Inklings, an informal literary group at Oxford that included Tolkien and other notable writers. Their regular meetings to share and critique each other's work had a significant impact on Lewis's writing.
Though he died in 1963, Lewis's influence has only grown in subsequent decades. His books continue to sell millions of copies and have been adapted into films and stage plays. Lewis societies dedicated to studying his work exist around the world, and he remains a revered figure in both literary and Christian circles. His ability to present complex ideas in an accessible way, combined with his vivid imagination, have ensured his enduring legacy as both a scholar and a storyteller.
