The Great Divorce Study Guides

The idea that Hell is self-chosen, and Heaven is open to anyone willing to surrender pride and sin.

The Great Divorce explores what idea?

"There are only two kinds of people: those who say to God 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says 'Thy will be done.'"

Key phrase from The Great Divorce?

A refusal or acceptance of grace.

What do the Ghosts represent?

Salvation is not forced—it must be chosen.

What does Lewis emphasize about salvation?

Sarah Smith vs. Pam (the mother ghost).

Example of True Love vs. Possessive Love?

True love reflects God's nature; possessive love is rooted in control and selfishness.

What do true love and possessive love reflect?

Heaven is more real (solid, weighty) than Hell.

How is Heaven described compared to Hell?

Ghosts appear insubstantial (lacking strength and solidity) in contrast to the Bright People.

How do Ghosts appear compared to Bright People?

Sarah Smith shows that earthly fame is meaningless compared to heavenly love.

Example of Heavenly vs. Earthly Glory?

A reflective, somewhat passive traveler who begins in the "Grey Town" and takes the bus to the foothills of Heaven.

Narrator description?

Represents the ordinary human soul seeking clarity; functions as the "everyman" through whom readers experience the journey.

Narrator symbolic meaning?

The Scottish writer and theologian who serves as the narrator's guide in Heaven.

George MacDonald description?

Functions as a Virgil-like figure; embodies reason, theology, and wisdom.

George MacDonald symbolic meaning?

Bridges allegory and theology, interpreting the spiritual significance of events for the narrator.

George MacDonald literary function?

Proud ghost who insists on his rights.

The Big Man description?

Pride & self-righteousness.

The Big Man symbolic sin/flaw?

Refuses grace, believes he is owed Heaven.

The Big Man key episode/lesson?

Cynical, distrustful.

The Hard-Bitten Ghost description?

Skepticism & bitterness.

The Hard-Bitten Ghost symbolic sin/flaw?

Dismisses both Heaven & Hell as illusions.

The Hard-Bitten Ghost key episode/lesson?

Intellectual skeptic.

The Intelligent Man (Materialist Ghost) description?

Materialism & disbelief.

The Intelligent Man (Materialist Ghost) symbolic sin/flaw?

Cannot accept what transcends empirical science.

The Intelligent Man (Materialist Ghost) key episode/lesson?

Theologian attached to intellectualism.

The "Cultured" Episcopal Ghost description?

Pride in intellect & relativism.

The "Cultured" Episcopal Ghost symbolic sin/flaw?

Obsessed with theological debates, not truth itself.

The "Cultured" Episcopal Ghost key episode/lesson?

Painter who clings to art for self-glory.

The Artist Ghost description?

Idolatry of art.

The Artist Ghost symbolic sin/flaw?

Refuses to let beauty point to God.

The Artist Ghost key episode/lesson?

Complaining, bitter.

The Grumbler (Woman Ghost) description?

Ingratitude & resentment.

The Grumbler (Woman Ghost) symbolic sin/flaw?

The Grumbler (Woman Ghost) key episode/lesson? Becomes consumed by negativity until no self remains.

Ingratitude & resentment

Obsessed with self-pity.

The Woman with the Tragedy description?

Obsessed with her dead son.

The Mother Ghost (Pam) description?

Embarrassed, ashamed.

The Shame-Filled Ghost description?

Accompanied by a red lizard (lust).

The Lustful Ghost description?

The redeemed souls who try to persuade the Ghosts to accept grace.

The Bright Spirits

Murderer who found forgiveness.

Len description?

Ordinary woman revealed as radiant in Heaven.

Sarah Smith (from Golders Green) description?

Husband clings to manipulation and pity.

Her Dwarf Husband and the Tragedian description?

Variously encourage the Ghosts.

Other Spirits description?

The idea that truth is subjective; linked to the Episcopal Ghost's flawed theology.

Relativism

Author, Historical, Cultural, Literary—framework for analyzing a text.

Four Pillars

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals truth (e.g., the weak Ghosts vs. strong Spirits).

Paradox

The use of concrete images to represent abstract ideas (e.g., painful grass).

Symbolism

A story in which characters/events stand for moral, spiritual, or political meanings (The Great Divorce as a whole).

Allegory

Represents Hell—self-isolation, despair, endless choice without fulfillment.

The Grey Town

The chance to leave Hell and approach Heaven (divine mercy).

The Bus Ride

Represent redeemed souls, more real than the Ghosts.

The Solid People

Painful to Ghosts because they are less real—symbol of the difficulty of adapting to holiness.

The Grass and Environment

When surrendered, becomes a powerful stallion—sin transformed into glory.

The Lizard (lust)

True heavenly greatness from hidden earthly love.

Sarah Smith's Procession

A place where a student struggles to walk on hard grass, symbolizing a lack of spiritual substance.

Bright Country

A teacher who explains why people reject Heaven due to their clinging to sin and pride.

George MacDonald

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'Thy will be done.'"

George MacDonald quote

Clarifies free will as central to Lewis's vision of salvation.

George MacDonald lesson

Insists he has his 'rights' and refuses Heaven because he feels he deserves better treatment.

The Big Man

Pride blinds him to grace; Heaven cannot be earned, only accepted.

The Big Man lesson

Dismisses both Heaven and Hell as scams, claiming the system is 'rigged.'

The Hard-Bitten Ghost

Cynicism and distrust prevent openness to truth and joy.

The Hard-Bitten Ghost lesson

A bishop who debates theology endlessly but refuses Heaven due to valuing intellectual pride over truth.

The Episcopal (Cultured) Ghost

Relativism and 'endless questioning' without faith become barriers to salvation.

The Episcopal (Cultured) Ghost lesson

Talks to a Spirit about art, wanting to paint scenes of Heaven for admiration.

The Artist Ghost

Idolatry of art—seeking fame over truth—leads him away from God.

The Artist Ghost lesson

Obsessed with her son Michael, demanding God return him to her.

Pam (Mother Ghost)

Possessive love becomes idolatry if it is not rooted in God.

Pam lesson

False humility and despair can be as destructive as pride.

The Shame-Filled Ghost lesson

The Dwarf Husband drags around the Tragedian puppet, demanding pity.

Frank (Dwarf and Tragedian)

Self-pity and emotional manipulation destroy true love.

Frank lesson

Allows an angel to kill the red lizard of lust on his shoulder.

The Lustful Ghost (with the Lizard)

When sin is surrendered, it is not destroyed but redeemed and transformed into strength.

The Lustful Ghost lesson

Wanders alone in his mansion in Hell, blaming others for his failure.

Napoleon

Blame and self-justification trap souls in isolation.

Napoleon lesson

True greatness lies in hidden, ordinary love, not worldly success.

Sarah Smith lesson