The Ghosts of The Great Divorce

The Big Man: Sin

Thinks he’s better than others

The Big Man: Attempts

Murderer asks for forgiveness, and tells him that “none of that matters now”

The Big Man: Decision

Refuses to accept “charity”, and says that if he “had his rights” he would be in heaven

The Big Man: Lesson

It’s not about the sins, It’s about giving up pride to accept heaven

The Big Man: Quote

“But I don’t see myself going in the same boat as you see? Why should I? I don’t want charity”

The Bishop: Sin

Lost sight of the important things in favor of details

The Bishop: Attempts

His “dear boy”, dick, comes to convince him to go to the mountains

The Bishop: Decision

He could not be “useful” in heaven, He needed to write a paper for his theological society in hell

The Bishop: Lesson

Don’t lose sight of the main thing by looking for all the hyper-theoretical details. God is not just a purely spiritual concept.

The Bishop: Quote

“But my dear boy, I believe already. We may not be perfectly agreed, but you have completely misjudged me if you do not realise that my religion is a very real and a very precious thing to me”

Ikey: Sin

Greed

Ikey: Attempts

Voice tells him to learn to eat the apples instead

Ikey: Decision

Never considered heaven

Ikey: Lesson

Economy is not a heavenly thing

Ikey: Quote

“He gave up the idea of a pocketful: two would have to do. He gave up the idea of two, he would take one, the largest one. He gave up that hope. He was looking for the smallest one”

The Hard-Bitten Man: Sin

Suspicious of everything

The Hard-Bitten Man: Attempts

He had the chance to see heaven

The Hard-Bitten Man: Decision

It’s a scam, and it might rain

The Hard-Bitten Man: Lesson

Have an open mind

The Hard-Bitten Man: Quote

“They’re all advert stunts. All run by the same people. There’s a combine, you know, a world combine”

The Well-Dressed Woman: Sin

Vanity

The Well-Dressed Woman: Attempts

Solid Person tells her that after an hour she would not care, and sends a stampede of unicorns

The Well-Dressed Woman: Decision

She “can’t” because she refuses to be seen like this

The Well-Dressed Woman: Lesson

Don’t only care about your looks

The Well-Dressed Woman: Quote

“Do you really suppose Im going out there among all those people like THIS?”

The Grumbling Woman: Sin

Grumbling

The Grumbling Woman: Attempts

If there was a spark under the ashes the solid people would blow until there was a fire

The Grumbling Woman: Decision

Becomes a grumble

The Grumbling Woman: Lesson

Let go of the past

The Grumbling Woman: Quote

“…not after the way she treated me… that was one of the most dreadful things that happened to me”

The Artist: Sin

Can’t let go of painting

The Artist: Attempts

Spirit tells him to look and see first

The Artist: Decision

He must go make publicity in hell

The Artist: Lesson

Even a good thing can be bad if it stops you from having something better

The Artist: Quote

“How soon do you think I could begin painting?”

Robert’s Wife: Sin

Control Freak

Robert’s Wife: Attempts

Spirit tells her to let go and experience joy

Robert’s Wife: Decision

POOF

Robert’s Wife: Lesson

Life your own life, not someone else’s

Robert’s Wife: Quote

“The ingratitude! It was I who made a man of him! Sacrificed my whole life to him!”

Pam, the Mother: Sin

Selfish Sorrow out of Love

Pam, the Mother: Attempts

Reginald tells her that true love is loved through God

Pam, the Mother: Decision

She does not believe in a God that keeps her son away

Pam, the Mother: Lesson

Love of God comes before “love” of anything else

Pam, the Mother: Quote

“No one has the right to come between me and my on. Not even God”

Ghost with the Lizard: Sin

Lust

Ghost with the Lizard: Attempts

Angel asks if he may kill the lizard

Ghost with the Lizard: Decision

Let the angel kill the lizard

Ghost with the Lizard: Lesson

Cut out what is evil in your life

Ghost with the Lizard: Quote

“Why didn’t you kill the damned thing without asking me— before I knew? It would all be over by now if you had”

Frank, the Dwarf: Sin

Using pity as a weapon

Frank, the Dwarf: Attempts

Lady tells him to let go of the chain

Frank, the Dwarf: Decision

Poof, because she didn’t need him

Frank, the Dwarf: Lesson

Don’t use pity as a threat against joy

Frank, the Dwarf: Quote

“I believe I’m fairly quick at recognizing where I’m not wanted. “Not Needed” was the exact expression if I remember rightly”