C.S. Lewis′s The Great Divorce
Take one of the Analysis Questions or your work on the Socratic List (Worldview Wrap- up) and pick something that sparked your interest. What would you like to write about? Write a thesis, introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion based one ONE MAIN idea. This is a literary analysis essay, meaning that you will prove an opinion that you have of the text. Your opinion will be centered on the why or the how of a concept, characterization, event, or literary element. (I actually have the full rubric I will send to the writer chosen) Also, writer must speak English as their FIRST language and have read the book AND understood all its religious nuances. [unique_solution]You need to know a bit about your bible in order to do this one even though it is an English class. The school is a Christian school. It′s for an 11th grade advanced placement class. I′ve written the first paragraph which answered the question ″What rules govern human society and/or relationships in the story? The second paragraph answers the question, ″ Are human relationships the source or occasion for good or evil in the story? What good things do they produce? What evil things?″can be re-worked if necessary. I′ve included it below: I can rework the copy into MLA format so don′t worry about that. A. According to the novel, God doesn′t indiscriminately appoint people to Heaven or Hell; people wind up being where they choose to be. The bus driver tells his passengers they don′t have to return to Hell; they can stay in Heaven as long as they want. The ageless giant of a man called George MacDonald, the narrator′s mentor and teacher, said, ″All that are in Hell choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.″ Rules that govern Human society in Grey Town are nonexistent. People carry on and live their godless lives without interference from others – and if that life involves sin, then so be it. They live a sinful life without any regrets, doubts, guilt, or remorse. On the other hand, ″Heaven″ has Biblical law that reminds us to treat and care for one another with respect and dignity. But, there are no rights as pointed out to us by our friend in Chapter 4: ″I′m only telling you the sort of chap I am. I only want my rights. I′m not asking for anybody′s bleeding charity.″ ″Then do at once. Ask for the Bleeding Charity. Everything is here for the asking, and nothing can be bought.″ B. The Grey Town′s inhabitants are unable to tolerate one other and keep moving further and further out into the edges of the expansive town to be away from everyone else. Since they have no physical needs, necessity does not force them to be together to build a functioning society. It is further explained that the average damned soul will never meet any of the interesting historical personalities that dwell there, because by now they are so far away from everyone else – millions of miles – that it would take forever to find them. No good can come of this self-isolation. When the Ghosts, or Grey Town inhabitants, meet the Solid People, there is pure joy expressed and whether or not the Ghosts decide to seize the opportunity and free themselves of sin is another thing. The Solid People have nothing but love for their new visitors and are spiritual guides to help them reach the mountain. By denying the Solid People′s help, the Ghosts are insisting on Heaven on their own terms and one by one turning away from the Truth the Solid Person has to offer.