The True Self

(language alert) Over 40 years ago someone told Bill Cosby that "cocaine is wonderful because it intensifies your personality," to which he replied "But what if you're an asshole?"

There is much sentimental nonsense spouted about finding our True Selves® by people who seem convinced - based on no evidence visible to those around them - their own TS is going to be lovely. I have deep suspicions mine, frankly, is not. I am rereading Till We Have Faces in preparation for the conference on October 11-12, and much discussion in the newer commentaries on the book reflect the modern idea of how wrong it is that Orual puts on a false self. Yet near the end (minor spoiler alert) she discovers that it is her true self that is the real problem, and the false selves only attempts to deal with that, dishonest in varying degrees. There is a CS Lewis quote which is popular on the internet. Out of context, it is indeed quite inspiring.

“Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean; that's the whole art and joy of words.”

Yet one wonders if those quoting it have actually read the book. It is from one of her wise, but ultimately false teachers, The Fox, who represents Greek Wisdom. Orual describes it as a glib saying.

When the time comes to you at which you will be forced to utter the speech which has lain at the center of your soul for years, which you have, all that time, idiot-like, been saying over and over, you'll not talk about the joy of words.