Till We Have Faces Analysis

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The novel Till We Have Faces by C.S Lewis is a modern work of fiction based on the famous Greek myth “Cupid and Psyche,” however, the plot is relayed through the perspective of Orual: the ugly stepsister, who lives in the kingdom of Glome. Orual and Psyche are raised by their father, and guided by Fox, a wise old slave. Psyche is introduced into the novel as a scapegoat. Since she is so beautiful and receives a lot of attention, she is held responsible for man’s failure to worship the gods. As a result, the kingdom of Glome begins to crumble: plagues curse the land, livestock dies, and there is a lack of grain due to a drought that has outlasted any other. She is considered the poison tainting the land, so the elders proclaim that “We must find the Accursed. And she must die by the rite of the Great Offering” (Lewis 54) because they believe they must sacrifice her to the gods to restore peace to the city. As a result of Orual’s loving relationship with Psyche, Orual ambitiously tries to save her younger sister, but unfortunately, she falls ill and is unable to accomplish …show more content…
When Orual hears that her beloved sister has been selected to be the sacrifice to the gods, Orual says to her father, “It is fit that one should die for the people. Give me to the Brute instead of Psyche” (Lewis 70). Orual demonstrates not only heroism, but her love and loyalty to her sister. Comparably, in The Hunger Games, a government representative uses ballots to select who will take part in the 75th annual hunger game, and Prim, Katniss’s younger sister’s name, is drawn. Overcome with fear and love for her sister, Katniss heroically volunteers to take her sister's place. She is more physically and mentally prepared for the dangerous challenge, and is willing to risk her own life to protect her sister because of the allegiance she has to