After reminding Wormwood that he is not to let his patient become aware of Wormwood's existence, Screwtape deals with the issue of whether to encourage the patient to become a pacifist or a patriot.

Wormwood's patient finds out that he is eligible for military service, and Screwtape coaches Wormwood on the nuances of using fear to turn the patient away from the Enemy.

Wormwood is excited about the prospects of suffering provided by war, but Screwtape cautions him against immediate gratification and overconfidence.

Wormwood's patient is praying. Screwtape advises Wormwood on the tools available to him to misdirect the patient from actually engaging the enemy while praying.

By exploring the relationship between Wormwood's patient and the patient's mother, Screwtape offers advice on how Wormwood can use relationship annoyances to divide people and even sabotage their prayers.

Wormwood's patient has become a Christian. Screwtape advises his nephew of all the unique opportunities this affords Wormwood to turn his patient away from the Enemy.

Screwtape cautions his nephew against using arguments to convince his "patient" that materialism is true.

C.S. Lewis establishes the satirical, fictional nature of this book by addressing the reader directly, disavowing any knowledge of the origin of the subsequent letters between Screwtape (a senior demon) and Wormwood (his nephew).