Eng 1123 - the Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

The Great Divorce:

Choose Eternity in Heaven or Hell

ENG1123

Research Paper

10 November 2006

C.S. Lewis's book The Great Divorce is a fictional story in which Hell and Heaven are described as literal, physical places. The narrator is a man who is in Hell (or what will eventually become Hell) and is taking a bus to Heaven. The entire story is about this man as well as others who have a choice to make, a choice whether to stay in heaven or return to hell. Although the book is a work of fiction, it depicts Mr. Lewis's beliefs in an afterlife, and that it is a person's choice whether to accept the gift of salvation; thus spending eternity in Heaven or Hell.

I. Hell

A. The physical aspect of Hell

B. The emotional aspect of Hell

C. Purgatory

II. Heaven

A. The physical aspect of Heaven

B. The emotional aspect of Heaven

III. Choice

A. Before death

B. After death

The Great Divorce

As the story begins, the narrator is describing his surroundings as he goes along. He describes a city with deserted streets and very few people around. All the homes and shops are empty. The sidewalks are dirty and paint peeling from walls. He states that he had been wandering for days, and that it was always raining and always twilight, just before sunset. (Lewis 1). The physical description of this town produces a sad, lonely image, "grim and joyless" (Wikipedia; The Great Divorce). As the story goes on the reader is led to believe that the man has been in the city for a very long time, yet he has met no one. Farther along in the story the writer explains that most people have been there for a very long time, and because they are extremely quarrelsome, they eventually move farther and farther from each other. (Lewis 10). The narrator's interaction with other phantom-like beings, or "ghosts"(Lewis 22), later on in the story describes how people, in their effort to be as far away from each other have created such a vastness of space that it would take years to get back if they even wanted to.

It is taught in Christian religions that Hell is a physical place in the afterlife where there is complete absence of God, light, or any goodness. Not only is it the physicality of the place that makes it "Hell", but it is also the complete and utter aloneness. The confusion and anguish in a person's mind causes intense mental pain and agony. The Holy Bible talks about how the body and soul can be destroyed in Hell. (Matthew 10:28). "Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering." (Wikipedia, Hell).

It seems as though the narrator accidentally comes upon a group of people at a bus stop. (Lewis 1). The impression is that the group of people was not sought out, but more happened-upon. The people are waiting to go somewhere. None of them seems to know exactly where it is they are going, only that they feel the need to get on the bus. Here at the bus stop the reader can get a clearer perception of the anti-social and paranoid behavior of the people there. "All of them are angry and argumentative, however, seemingly unable to tolerate each other's presence; they quarrel, assault each other or drop out of the line declaring that they didn't want to go anyway at the slightest provocation." (Ebon Musings). The people seem drawn to each other, then immediately regret the decision and concoct excuses and incite arguments to justify moving away. This double mindedness seems to be part of the agony to be endured. There are similarities in our reality today. People seek out social settings and environments, but eventually become involved in some sort of disagreement or drama that leads to them disassociating from that group. From a Christian and biblical standpoint, this is the fallible human nature that man was born into. (Romans 7:5).

Finally, the bus arrives, a bright shiny vehicle driven by an unidentified man who "seemed full of light". (Lewis 3). One analysis states that the driver may represent Jesus or the Holy Spirit. "Some readers also sink in awe before Lewis's angelic Driver and take him for the Holy Spirit or Christ."(Lindskoog). Once on the bus, there is some interaction between the narrator and some other people. From these interactions, the reader gets a sense that there is something that they wish to keep hidden, or that they would rather not talk about. Apparently, they believe that darkness will eventually come. That the twilight will eventually turn to night, but they do not want to, or are afraid to talk about it. This indicates that the town might actually be a sort of Purgatory. It is a temporary waiting place where one spends an undetermined amount of time until their sins are forgiven. (Wikipedia; Purgatory). "The gray town is Hell only for those who elect to stay there, and for those who leave it, it was never Hell, but Purgatory". ( Lewis 63).

Eventually, the bus comes to a stop in the foothills of heaven. It is a lush, grassy meadow. There are streams, rivers, and waterfalls. There are many flowers and trees. There is dew on the grass, as it is perpetually the pre-dawn hour, with the sun peeking over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. This place is a paradise. Much like Heaven is described in the bible. (Revelations 4).

The people soon realize that they have a problem. They can see that they are like "phantoms" or "ghosts" without substance. (Lewis 21). From this point on, the author refers to them as Ghosts. Just the opposite, this place was very substantial. The