TGD - Student Essay 1

        How do you picture Heaven? Most imagine golden streets, angels playing harps and vast land surrounded by clouds. In The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, however, we see Heaven, Hell and the human soul portrayed very differently than one might think.

        Hell, portrayed in The Great Divorce, is where Lewis begins his story and it is not the Hell we usually imagine. In this version of Hell there are no fires and burning lakes, but an eternal torment entirely changed. Instead of being horrifying Hell it a grey land that the ghost souls can control. If they want something they can just imagine it and it becomes theirs. However, even though they acquire all they thought was wanted, the souls are never fully pleased or fulfilled. The ghosts lend to build their own empires of (?) away from each other and they find no reason usually to be anywhere but themselves. At the bus stop we see how much they argue and fight. Another interesting idea presented in Hell by Lewis is an escape of choice. The ghosts have a choice to story in Hell or go up to Heaven via the bus, they all have scattered opinions on what exactly they want to do, but most in the end traveled to Heaven and then returned to hell because they would not give up their own desires or sins to be in Heaven.

        Lewis not only reinvents Hell, but Heaven as well, when the ( ) the bus arrives at their destination the ghosts encounter Heaven as strange, Heaven is still a glorious place but it is also a hard place. For the ghosts weak body heaven is nearly impossible to walk through. The simples of tasks such as picking up an apple becomes extremely difficult. In Heaven the ( ) that went to Heaven when they passed on earth became these giants that lived in this rigorous land and were to help the ghosts. The ghosts had to pass hardship and mountains to become a part of the Heaven. Even the water was like a solid object. Altogether, heaven is a place much more solidified and whole compared the Hell.

        Lastly, the human encounter of Heaven and hell it also different to popular belief. In Hell, the ghosts enjoyed their torment. They wouldn’t describe it as torment because they were in a way confused. Even though they got what they wanted, happiness was not in them. Somehow, though the ghosts didn’t seem to care. Hell was like a drug for the ghosts. They thought it was good and pleasing, but it just hurt them. Heaven encountered from a ghost’s view was far worse than Hell. Everything was big and scary and they had great fear. This fear cast most of them back to Hell. To get a ticket in Heaven it was a lot harder than one thought, but the idea was still simple. All they really have to do was to give it all up and follow God, but as ghosts from hell they had hardened hearts. In Heaven it became almost a battle between good and evil. Furthermore, the ideas of Heaven and Hell were basically switched. It was easy to stay in Hell and follow in your own ways while it was hard to stay in Heaven and follow the wars of the Lord. Most would imagine it to be the opposite.

        Through The Great Divorce Lewis shared an idea with us. He showed us that Heaven and Hell were: not what we thought of them to be. As well as the places of Heaven and Hell he also showed how the spirit responded in each. In conclusion, the reader learned that Heaven and Hell may not be how we think and that it will be a lot more difficult to get into Heaven as one previously thought.