Andrew Lynch’s Reviews > The Great Divorce > Status Update

Ch 11:Pam,mom Ghost,struggles to see son ghost Michael,mom love must transform to love of God.bro Reginald says feelings,even love or desire,harmful if self-centered;rise to fullest/eternal form if sent to God.sees ghost w/ lizard,means corrupt desire,angel kills/transforms into horse,base impulses powerful/beautiful if purified.grief,love,desire aren’t lost,must be guided for true spiritual/eternal fulfillment

Ch 10:ghost spoke to Spirit Hilda ab husband Robert.says forgives Robert,refuses to see him,says pushed/control him and sacrificed for his success.complains he was ungrateful/miserable,story reveals she dominated life/wanted recognition.offers take charge of him again w/ full control,says he needs her.emotional,admits need to control,even to get revenge.dissapears,shows pride/desire of control prevent entering Heaven

Ch 9:met George MacDonald,his guide,explains Heaven and Hell.ghosts from hell visit have chance to stay in Heaven,refuse for stupid reasons,refuse joy.Hell is state of mind people choose,Heaven is solid reality of Gods goodness.saw ghosts,cant let go of attitudes—complain,lecture Heaven ab Hell,spread misery,care more ab rep than joy.ex:famous artist rather go back to defend rep on Earth than stay/experience Heaven

Ch 7:narrator uncomfortable around water giant.ghost asks if he plans to go back.narrator not sure,asks if ghost will,ghost says its propaganda,same people run both places.narrator prefers here,thinks people get used to it,get stronger.ghost says its lie,story ab war between places the official version,no proof.ghost leaving,asks narrator to come,narrator stays.says at least doesnt rain,ghost warns if it did,it hurts

Ch 6:narrator walks on water,struggles w/ currents/terrain.sees stunning area with hills,waterfall,lake,magnificent tree w/ golden apples.sees ghost Ikey,trying to get to tree,avoiding obstacles.Golden apples fall,hurt ghost,he wants them all,can carry only small one.angel above waterfall warns him,cant take apples back to hell,must learn to eat them here.ghost pauses,carefully stays on painful journey,left from view

Ch 5:2 lions stare at other,start playing.narrator finds river,bright spirit Dick talking with ghost.knows ghost from before.Dick says Grey Town is Hell,encourages ghost to go toward Heaven.discuss religion/belief,Dick says ghost is close to Heaven,must change thinking.ghost wants promised better life,Dick cant promise.talks more faith/God, then goodbyes.narrator walks on hard river,falling,then slowly makes progress

Ch 4:bright “solid people” walk toward ghosts.Len,approaches ghost,knew on Earth,invites him further up mountains w/ his help since he sinned(murder).ghost can be more real,have joy.no deal,ghost defensive/arguing,says has right to opinions,complains lots.Len patiently encourages to stop arguing,just accept offer,ghost wont change attitude.ghost frustrated, says will go home,leaves,wont admit he might be wrong

Ch 3:lands on grassland,some struggle/complain.cool/bright air like summer morning,land much larger.people are transparent ghosts.grass/objects are tough.sees hes also phantom.ghost hides in bus,big ghost asks driver when they must return,can stay however long.one complains others are not appreciating.sees beautiful cliff,sunrise stuck.figures begin approaching from far,2 ghosts scream/run,narrator stays with others

Ch 2:boy talks,hard life,jumped in front train,led him to the Grey Town.wont return on bus w/ others,will stay.reading interrupted,intense but harmless mayhem.appears next to Intelligent Man,says in Grey Town they argue and move,town spreads apart.says he can rebuild economy bringing back goods from trip.man who disagrees heard them.bus rises,bright light,opens window,smart Man shut it,mirror appears on wall

Ch 1:1st person narrator, stuck in rain and night town,stands at bus stop, unsure why but drawn.some people leave,moves forward few spots, impressive bus arrives,gossip about driver.People rush to board,plenty of space,narrator sits apart from the crowd.boy sits next to him,complaining about others and trying to show him writing,then the narrator notices bus has lifted off the ground, flying high above the town