Chapters 3-4: Till We Have Faces

Welcome back to the show! Today, Esther (age 14), Adalyn (age 15) and myself are diving into Chapters 3 and 4 of C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces, and honestly, this is where the story really starts to click for us. We are moving past the initial setup, and the characters are finally starting to show their true colors—or, in some cases, the masks they wear to hide them.

In this episode, we unpack why this "retelling" format is so powerful; it forces us to ask if we’ve only ever heard one side of the story, and what happens when we finally listen to the other side. We also tackle the looming mystery of the "accusation against the gods" and try to figure out who—or what—is actually responsible for the desolation in the land.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Sibling Dynamic: We break down the stark differences between the sisters. We discuss Redival’s immodesty and her tendency to stir up trouble , and explore why Orual’s position in the family feels so much more complex—especially when she starts to sound disturbingly like her father.
• The "Psyche" Problem: Is Psyche truly a healer, or is her naive attempt to heal the village actually a source of danger?. We debate whether she acts as a messianic figure or just a sheltered princess.
• Orual’s Inner Conflict: We talk about why we admire Orual’s sharpness and intelligence, even while acknowledging her struggle with anger and the fear that she might one day become the very thing she despises.
• The Mythic Shift: We explore why Lewis might have inverted the roles of the sisters compared to the original myth, and how that changes our emotional connection to the characters.

It’s been fascinating to see how these characters move from mythic archetypes to real, complicated people. Pull up a chair and join our conversation as we look at why these ancient choices feel so hauntingly relevant to our lives today.

Join us next time for chapters 5 & 6!