History YMMV / TheGreatDivorce

* CryForTheDevil: The description of [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair Napoleon in Hell]] can be quite a TearJerker.

-->''"But could one dare-could one have the face-to go to a bereaved mother, in her misery -when one's not bereaved oneself? . . ."''

** Pretty much endemic to the residents of Hell because it's the (main) reason why so many Ghosts get stuck there-they can't see past their own egos long enough to admit that they even need help, much less that it would take God to transform them in any eternally meaningful or beneficial manner.

* ValuesDissonance: May [[UnfortunateImplications be unintended]], but the overly materialistic (or mercantile) ghost is named "Ikey"-- a common and not entirely kindly nickname for a [[GreedyJew Jewish man.]]
** As with most of Lewis's work, this is an unapologetic AuthorTract. As such, if you believe in Christianity, this is a heartwarming account of God's unconditional love and how even the worst person can find salvation. If you're ''not'' a Christian, then the book will likely come off very differently- see AlternateCharacterInterpretation above.

** In the beginning of the story, there's a bus, which drives damned from Hell to Heaven if they wish. The bus is operated by unnamed driver. Later, in Heaven, George [=McDonald=] notes that only God can go to Hell to save sinners. Now, who is this Driver?

* AlasPoorVillain: The description of [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair Napoleon in Hell]] can be quite a TearJerker.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: It's easy to see [[GodIsEvil God as evil]], when there's no logical reason for the creator to offer to take those Hell ghosts to Heaven ''he knows beforehand'' can't ever be saved. Rather, the arguing, the pain and bitterness the damned feel, appears more like the trip was all orchestrated to give the Bright Ones closure for those who wronged them in life.
** By the same token, the Bright One's joyous dismissal of those who remain in hell can easily come off as simply cold and ruthless, and indeed briefly does in-universe. The narrator ''is'' given a justification for this mindset, but how well that justification actually works probably depends on how accepting the viewer is towards Christianity.

** As with most of Lewis's work, this is an unapologetic AuthorTract. As such, if you're ''not'' a Christian then the book can come off very differently then intended- See AlternateCharacterInterpretation above.

** By the same token, the Bright One's joyous dismissal of those who remain in hell can easily come off as simply cold and ruthless, and indeed briefly does in-universe. The narrator ''is'' given a justification for this mindset, but how well that justification actually works [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment probably depends on how much you accept Christianity IRL]]

* TearJerker: The possessive mother's pleas are heart-wrenching, even if we aren't meant to side with her. Alternately, that's just the point: it is said she still has a chance of salvation because her love hasn't completely turned into self-interest – therefore, she is still a partly sympathetic figure.

* ValuesDissonance: Maybe unintended, but the overly materialistic (or mercantile) ghost is named "Ikey"-- a common and not entirely kindly nickname for a [[GreedyJew Jewish man.]]

-->''"No, no. Son, that's no office of yours. You're not a good enough man for that. When your own heart's been broken it will be time for you to think of talking.''

* ExtremelyShortTimespan: possibly. Not only because [[spoiler: in the end it turns out to have been AllJustADream]] - but also [[spoiler: in story]], this could be [[GeniusBonus referencing]] one of the more obscure bits of Christian theology. If so, then the whole story takes place in one night: the night from Holy Saturday evening to Easter Sunday morning; when after dying on Good Friday, Christ descended into hell to get the damned [[DeliveranceFromDamnation out]] before rising from the dead at Easter. Then again, time may not work like that at all in story:
--> This moment contains all possible moments.

** That's actually explored in-story by the Hard-Bitten Ghost - who basically says heaven and hell [[AncientConspiracy conspire]] to make everyone miserable, and are not really at war at all. The narrator nearly has a HeroicBSOD over it just before meeting George [=MacDonald=], who (finally) explains [[SelfInflictedHell what]] is going on.
** And while Lewis doesn't answer to the question of determinism (that is divine predetermination of individual people to damnation or salvation) in the story, he does so elsewhere - roughly paraphrased: that since God sees all times simultaneously, it's "now" for Him and at the same time "already when someone will have done something"; so it's not so much predetermining someone to do something as just watching them do it from a perspective where they themselves can't see it yet. It's safe to assume that Lewis had the same view when writing this story: yes, God can "already" see how the ghosts will decide - but that is no reason not to offer them the choice. Since there's the same problem with free will in general - if all ends are already known, then why not just act accordingly and skip the part where someone ''thinks'' they have a choice about anything? - there is no fundamental difference between letting someone decide this for themselves and letting someone decide anything else for themselves. Even if it's ultimately futile and their decision is known in advance. So you are really asking if human beings have free will at all (or just think they do), and why - which is the same question in story as out of it. If the author had thought no, there wouldn't be a story, after all. Plus, not having free will / a choice ''no matter how that choice turns out'' (which is sort of the point of "free") would be needlessly cruel - in story and out of it.

** That's actually explored in-story by the Hard-Bitten Ghost - who basically says heaven and hell [[AncientConspiracy conspire]] to make everyone miserable, and are not really at war at all. The narrator nearly has a HeroicBSOD over it just before meeting George [=MacDonald=], who (finally) explains what is going on.

** That's actually explored in-story by the Hard-Bitten Ghost the narrator talks to just before meeting George [=MacDonald=] - who basically says heaven and hell [[AncientConspiracy conspire]] to make everyone miserable, and are not really at war at all. The narrator nearly has a HeroicBSOD over it.

** That's actually explored in-story by the ghost the narrator talks to just before meeting George [=MacDonald=] - who basically says heaven and hell conspire to [[GodAndSatanAreBothJerks make]] everyone miserable, and are not really at war at all. The narrator nearly has a HeroicBSOD over it.

** And while Lewis doesn't answer to the question of determinism (that is divine predetermination of individual people to damnation or salvation) in the story, he does so elsewhere - roughly paraphrased: that since God sees all times simultaneously, it's "now" for Him and at the same time "already when someone will have done something"; so it's not so much predetermining someone to do something as just watching them do it from a perspective where they themselves can't see it yet. It's safe to assume that Lewis had the same view when writing this story: yes, God can "already" see how the ghosts will decide - but that is no reason not to offer them the choice. Since there's the same problem with free will in general - if all ends are already known, then why not just act accordingly and skip the part where someone ''thinks'' they have a choice about anything? - there is no fundamental difference between letting someone decide this for themselves and letting someone decide anything else for themselves. Even if it's ultimately futile and their decision is known in advance. So you are really asking if human beings have free will at all (or just think they do), and why - which is the same question in story as out of it. If the author had thought no, there wouldn't be a tory, after all. Plus, not having free will / a choice ''no matter how that choice turns out'' (which is sort of the point of "free") would be needlessly cruel - in story and out of it.

** And while Lewis doesn't answer to the question of determinism (that is divine predetermination of individual people to damnation or salvation) in the story, he does so elsewhere - roughly paraphrased: that since God sees all times simultaneously, it's "now" for Him and at the same time "already when someone will have done something"; so it's not so much predetermining someone to do something as just watching them do it from a perspective where they themselves can't see it yet. It's safe to assume that Lewis had the same view when writing this story: yes, God can "already" see how the ghosts will decide - but that is no reason not to offer them the choice.

* ExtremelyShortTimeFrame: possibly. Not only because [[spoiler: in the end it turns out to have been AllJustADream]] - but also [[spoiler: in story]], this could be [[GeniusBonus referencing]] one of the more obscure bits of Christian theology. If so, then the whole story takes place in one night: the night from Holy Saturday evening to Easter Sunday morning; when after dying on Good Friday, Christ descended into hell to get the damned [[DeliveranceFromDamnation out]] before rising from the dead at Easter. Then again, time may not work like that at all in story: