An overview providing the key plot points and themes of C.S. Lewis’s allegorical novel, The Great Divorce, offers a condensed understanding of its narrative structure and theological implications. Such a synopsis distills the journey from a drab, rainy version of Hell to the borders of Heaven, highlighting the encounters between ghostly inhabitants of Hell and solid, radiant spirits from Heaven, and the choices they face regarding repentance and acceptance of divine grace.
The value of grasping the essentials of the novel lies in its ability to illuminate Lewis’s perspective on the nature of good and evil, free will, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. The narrative explores the concept that Hell is a state of mind chosen by individuals clinging to their self-centered desires and grievances, while Heaven represents a reality requiring humility and self-sacrifice. Historically, the work builds upon and reimagines themes present in Dante’s Divine Comedy and other allegorical journeys, offering a 20th-century Christian perspective on eternal salvation.