Christianity In C. S. Lewis The Great Divorce

Words: 1867
Pages: 8

The purpose of life for a born-again Christian is to help spread his or her beliefs with those that do not have them, to help them understand why Christianity is the one true faith. C.S Lewis shares this purpose. Lewis’s novel The Great Divorce is a Christian allegorical novel portraying his beliefs, with an overall theme of salvation. The story is told through a nameless narrator and the conversations he has with surrounding characters. The main supporting character in the novel is George MacDonald, a Scottish minister and author that Lewis idolized. The story poses many theological questions that are either explained or left completely open ended. The lack of answers provided as well as some seemingly immoral circumstances in the novel undermine …show more content…
There is a woman named Sarah Smith that encountered the Ghost of who used to be her husband. The ghost carries around a sort-of puppet, called The Tragedian, which speaks for him. The Tragedian expresses his worry for Sarah, believing that she missed him. Sarah says that she is fine without him and is actually very happy. The Tragedian becomes very sad as Sarah insists that she no longer loves or needs him. He eventually disappears and she walks away with a chorus following her. The narrator asks MacDonald if it is really okay for Sarah to feel no remorse for all the things she just told the Tragedian. MacDonald says that things are better if Ghosts don’t trouble the Spirits (Lewis 121-136). Just as the Ghosts are unaware of the joy the Sprits have, the Spirits are unaware of the sorrow that the Ghosts have. This is why the Spirits never rescue those damned to hell, they immediately stopped caring once they became saved. “Lewis hoped flashes of godliness may be glimpsed, entertained, and ultimately seriously pursued,”says Tiffany Grace, the author of “C.S. Lewis: The Anti-platonic Platonist." Lewis attempts to bring godliness to the reader, but does so by undermining basic moral