El Gran Divorcio: Un Sueno

Por C. S. Lewis

Un fantástico viaje entre el Cielo y el Infierno
En El Gran Divorcio, C. S. Lewis de nuevo utiliza su formidable talento para contar fábulas y alegorías. En un sueño, el escritor se sube a un autobús una tarde lloviznosa y se embarca en un increíble viaje por el Cielo y el Infierno. Este es el punto de partida para la profunda meditación sobre el bien y el mal.
""Si insistimos en quedarnos con el Infierno (o incluso la Tierra) no veremos el Cielo: si aceptamos al Cielo no podremos quedarnos ni siquiera con el más pequeño e íntimo souvenir del Infierno.""

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: HarperCollins
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 29 abr 2014
• ISBN: 9780062347022

C. S. Lewis

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics in The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Vista previa del libro

1

Al parecer, estaba en la cola del autobús, a un costado de una calle larga, sórdida. Terminaba la tarde y llovía. Había paseado durante horas por otras calles sórdidas, siempre bajo la lluvia y siempre a la luz del último atardecer. El tiempo parecía detenido en ese instante triste cuando sólo unas pocas tiendas han encendido la luz y aún no hay bastante oscuridad para que sus escaparates luzcan alegres. Y tal como la tarde no terminaba de avanzar hacia la noche, así mis pasos no terminaban de llevarme a las zonas mejores de la ciudad. Por más lejos que fuera sólo hallaba decaídas casas de alojamiento, pequeñas tabaquerías, acumulaciones indistintas de las cuales colgaban afiches destrozados, bodegas sin ventanas, estaciones de carga sin trenes, pequeñas librerías del tipo de las que venden las obras de Aristóteles. Nunca me topé con nadie. A excepción del grupo en la parada de autobús, toda la ciudad parecía vacía. Creo que por eso me incluí en la cola.

De inmediato tuve un golpe de suerte. Apenas me situé en la fila, una mujer pequeña, blanca, que debía estar delante de mí, le dijo a un hombre que parecía acompañarla, muy bien entonces. No voy, por ningún motivo. Allá tú. Y dejó la fila. Por favor, no te creas, dijo el hombre, en tono muy digno, que me importa ir. Sólo he tratado de agradarte. Lo que yo sienta es, por supuesto, algo sin la menor importancia. Lo entiendo perfectamente. Y adecuando palabra y acción, también se marchó. Vaya, pensé yo, hemos ganado dos sitios. Quedé ahora junto a un hombre de muy baja estatura, ceñudo, que me miró de modo demasiado desfavorable y manifestó, en voz innecesariamente alta, al que tenía al lado, estas son las cosas que a uno lo hacen pensar dos veces sobre este viaje.

¿Qué cosas?, gruñó el otro, persona grande, carnosa. Bueno, dijo el breve, ésta no es la sociedad a que estoy acostumbrado, por cierto. ¡Oh!, dijo el grande, y luego, mirándome, no le tolere ninguna broma, señor. Usted no le tiene miedo, ¿verdad? Como viera que yo no hacía el menor movimiento, se volvió hacia el breve y dijo: ¿No estamos a su altura, verdad? Un momento después golpeó al breve en el rostro y lo envió, despatarrado, a la cuneta.

Dejémoslo descansar, dejémoslo descansar, dijo el grande, a nadie en particular. Soy un hombre normal y corriente, eso soy, y debo hacer respetar mis derechos como todo el mundo, ¿o no? Como el breve no manifestaba ninguna intención de volver a la fila y muy pronto se marchó cojeando, me acerqué, con cierta prudencia, al grande y me congratulé de haber ganado otro puesto más. Casi al mismo tiempo, dos jóvenes que estaban delante de él se marcharon del brazo. Se los veía tan de pantalones ceñidos, esbeltos, risueños y de voz ligeramente aguda que no pude asegurarme de su sexo, pero era evidente que preferían su mutua compañía y no la oportunidad de un asiento en el autobús. Nunca entraremos todos, dijo una voz femenina algo quejumbrosa, unos cuatro puestos más adelante. Le cambio el sitio por cinco libras, señora, dijo alguien. Sentí sonar las monedas y luego un grito femenino mezclado con carcajadas del resto de la gente. La engañada saltó de su lugar en busca del que la había timado, pero los demás inmediatamente apretaron filas y la dejaron fuera…Así que, por una cosa u otra, la cola adquirió proporciones razonables mucho antes de la llegada del autobús.

Era un vehículo maravilloso, resplandeciente de luz dorada, heráldicamente coloreado. El conductor parecía lleno de luz y sólo utilizaba una mano para conducir. Agitaba la otra delante del rostro como para apartar el vapor grasoso de la lluvia. Un gruñido surgió de la fila apenas lo vieron. "Parece que lo pasa bien, ¿eh? Apuesto que…Querido, ¿por qué no se comporta con naturalidad? Se cree demasiado importante para mirarnos…¿Quién se cree que es?…

Todos esos dorados y esas púrpuras. Un desperdicio. ¿Por qué no gastarán ese dinero en las propiedades y casas de por aquí? ¡Dios! Me gustaría darle con todo en el oído." El aspecto del conductor no me parecía digno en absoluto de tales expresiones, a menos que la gente reaccionara por su aspecto de autoridad y su aparente decisión de realizar su trabajo.

Mis compañeros lucharon como gallinas para introducirse en el autobús, aunque había sitio sobrado para todos. Fui el último en subir. El bus quedó a medio llenar y opté por sentarme atrás, lejos de los demás. Pero un joven despeinado se me sentó al lado. Apenas lo hizo, el bus empezó a moverse.

—Creí que no le molestaría que me siente con usted —dijo—, porque he notado que experimenta lo mismo que yo con toda esta gente. No alcanzo a imaginar por qué han insistido en venir. No les gustará nada cuando lleguemos allí; estarían mucho más cómodos en casa. Pero no es lo mismo ni para usted ni para mí.

—¿Les gusta este lugar? —le pregunté.

—Tanto como les gusta cualquier cosa —respondió—. Han tenido cines, pesca, y negocios de papas fritas y propaganda y cuanto han querido. La asombrosa falta de cualquier tipo de vida intelectual no les preocupa. Apenas llegué aquí noté que debía haber un error.

Tenía que tomar el primer autobús, pero me dediqué a tratar de despertar a la gente; qué tontería. Me encontré con algunas personas que había conocido antes e intenté organizar un pequeño círculo, pero todos parecían haberse hundido hasta el nivel de esta zona.

Incluso antes de llegar aquí tenía mis dudas sobre un hombre como Cyrill Blellow. Siempre creí que estaba trabajando en una lengua falsa. Por lo menos era inteligente: era posible escucharle alguna crítica digna de ser oída, aunque fuera un fracaso en el aspecto creador. Sin embargo, ahora sólo parece quedarle mera autocompasión. La última vez que intenté leerle algo de lo mío…

Espere un minuto, me gustaría que usted mismo lo viera.

Advertí, con un estremecimiento, que estaba sacando del bolsillo un grueso atado de papel escrito. Murmuré algo sobre que no tenía los anteojos y exclamé:

—¡Vaya! Pero si hemos abandonado la tierra…

Era verdad. A varios cientos de metros bajo nosotros, medio ocultos por la lluvia y la niebla, podían verse los techos húmedos de la ciudad, esparcidos sin interrupción hasta donde alcanzaba la vista.

2

No quedé mucho tiempo más a merced del poeta despeinado: otro pasajero nos interrumpió la charla. Pero antes de que eso sucediera ya había aprendido bastante sobre el poeta. Al parecer era un hombre a quien se había aprovechado singularmente poco. Sus padres nunca lo estimaron y ninguna de las cinco escuelas a que asistió parecía haber previsto nada adecuado para un talento y carácter como el suyo. Para empeorar las cosas, era justamente el tipo de niño para el cual los exámenes parecen funcionar con el máximo de injusticia y absurdo. Sólo cuando llegó a la universidad empezó a reconocer que todas esas injusticias no eran un azar, sino los inevitables resultados de nuestro sistema económico. El capitalismo, además de esclavizar a sus trabajadores, les rebajaba el gusto y les vulgarizaba el intelecto. De allí provenía ese sistema educacional y la falta de reconocimiento del genio. Este descubrimiento lo convirtió al comunismo. Pero vino la guerra y la alianza de Rusia con los gobiernos capitalistas; una vez más se halló aislado y debió entonces pasar a objetor de conciencia. Las indignidades a que se vio sometido en esta etapa de su carrera, confiesa, lo amargaron. Decidió que serviría mejor a la causa si se iba a América. Pero América muy pronto también estaba en guerra.

En ese instante, de súbito, descubrió que Suecia era el hogar de un arte decididamente nuevo y radical. Pero sus distintos opresores no le habían dado precisamente facilidades para viajar a Suecia.

Problemas de dinero. Su padre, que jamás progresó más allá de la más atroz complacencia y vulgaridad mental de la época victoriana, le entregaba una pensión que por lo inadecuada rayaba en la insolencia. Una joven, además, lo había tratado muy mal. La había creído dotada de personalidad civilizada y adulta, pero de repente manifestó una verdadera masa de prejuicios burgueses e instintos monógamos. Le disgustaban sus celos y posesividad; le disgustaban los celos y los afanes posesivos en general. Al final resultó hasta mezquina con el dinero. Fue la gota que rebasó el vaso. Había saltado bajo un tren…

Me sobresalté, pero no lo advirtió.

Incluso entonces, prosiguió, la mala suerte continuó persiguiéndolo. Le enviaron a la ciudad gris. Pero fue un error, por supuesto. Ya descubriría, me dijo, que todos los pasajeros estarían conmigo en el viaje de regreso. Pero él no. Iba a quedarse allí. Se sentía completamente seguro de que se

Comentarios para El Gran Divorcio

[daphneh-2 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Love it but bad ending.

[m_dow · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

My absolute favorite part is the moment when Sarah Smith of Gulder's Green appears. Lewis makes Beatrice human, and thus more gloriously holy than ever she appeared in the Earthly Paradise.

[bezoar44 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

C.S. Lewis is a fine propagandist - more that in this short novel than an apologist. But the power of his allegory - in this, in the Screwtape Letters, in the Narnia Chronicles, in the Out of the Silent Planet series - feels deeply manipulative. Here, a man climbs aboard a bus in a gray, miserable city with a variety of unhappy passengers. When they reach their destination, it becomes clear that the characters are on the outer fringes of Heaven, and will be welcomed in, if only they can bring themselves to admit their total inadequacy and shame and cast their lot with God: "If you will accept [shame] - if you will drink the cup to the bottom - you will find it very nourishing: but try to do anything else with it and it scalds." In the literary form of an allegory or fable, it's perfectly legitimate for an author to set up the world of the story any way they like. But, the chief problem with this as a mode of argument is that it is compelling only if you accept that it is. I have the same problem with Paolo Coelho's fable, the Alchemist - but here, the effect is worse. The choice whether to accept the ground rules of the fable is, in fact, a different choice than the choice presented within the fable to Lewis's characters, but to a reader trying to find a common frame of reference with an author, it is easy for the two choices to superimpose and merge. I think Lewis intends them to; that is how this work functions - as a kind of tautology - to save souls (or, as I think Lewis might put it, to bring readers to an emotional place where they can choose to invite God in - they definitely must make the choice themselves). To pile on the pressure, many of Lewis' characters are straw men (or straw women) - not ordinary complex people, but people who are morally weak in simplistic and unsympathetic ways.All of that would be fine - not every book is for everyone. But there is an aspect of Lewis' writing that really raises my hackles: the implication that this book is in fact for everyone - that it must be - because everyone has to accept their shame and inadequacy before they can be saved. What's deeply missing from this worldview is a sense of the multiplicity of grace; that's it's not up to us, (if we're being truly serious) to decide it is too late for a fictional character or a real person to be saved in a cosmic sense - we just can't know that. It's striking that Lewis is perfectly prepared to rule some speculation out of bounds - for example, what actually happens after we die, which he raises twice explicitly to deny it as a legitimate topic of discussion - while simultaneously insisting on a specific vision of how grace operates, and making characters pop out of existence when they deny it. My gut and my faith tell me Lewis is wrong; I certainly hope he is. My rating reflects my sense that this is a work of better than average quality, although I dislike it.

[erikssonfamily · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Lewis' depiction of heaven and hell represent spiritual stages within a person's life. Written as an antithesis to Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," Lewis argues that good and evil must be separated. Reality dictates this separation. All are not bound for heaven mainly because many have rejected good. Although physically depicted in the book, truth and goodness are often painful. "The Great Divorce" isn't Lewis' understanding of the literal heaven and hell; rather, it is presented as a dream.

[literati238 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Lewis has an uncanny discernment of human nature and an eye for intent. I think this book is at once funny (darkly), sad, and horrific. The reckoning of souls and the unwillingness of humanity to choose wisely brings to life the realities of eternity and calls us to self-examination.

[word.owl · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This book lent itself well to the audio format--the voices were all well done and engaging. I especially loved the Scottish brogue of George MacDonald, and can't quite imagine ever reading the print version without that voice in my head.

As for the concept, another wonderfully imaginative book from C. S. Lewis. I wish I had read this when I was a teenager and had a lot of difficult questions about faith--Lewis is perennially good at tackling them. He continues to demonstrate to me that sometimes fantasy is the only good way of doing this and providing any kind of meaningful, if mystical, answer--which is sometimes the realization that we may never know the answer while we're here on Earth. The ending was a little cliche, but it somehow fit this book well and remained satisfying. All in all, it didn't *totally* blow me away, but it was excellent.

[iudita_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Lewis sure loves a good allegory! For a less developed but more engaging read with a similar theme, try The Celestial Omnibus by E.M. Forster.

[JuanLovisa · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Gran texto que invita a la reflexión a la luz de un grande

[justagirlwithabook · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book is part of my C.S. Lewis collection. I went through a huge phase where I was just obsessed with anything and everything by him. While I don't agree with all of his theology, I do love his writing style and the things he has to say about faith. He was a good one.

[eschator83 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

The book is a wonderful image of Heaven, despite the unfortunate title, which refers instead to the multitude of weaknesses and issues that humans can cling to (and cannot repent and divorce) rather than to seek the Model that Jesus gave us. The book describes a dream of leaving earth and traveling to Heaven, where Lewis sees old acquaintances. Highly recommended, you will enjoy thinking of Heaven this way,

[heidiangell · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I've read many of Lewis' works and find his religious bent interesting. As a not particularly religious person myself, though having grown up in a very strictly religious home, I still find his work quite interesting, particularly in that it reflects much of what I have also observed about people's behaviors (never mind my religious beliefs.) The Great Divorce does not disappoint in that respect. Often those who think that they are better than, or less sinful, or more morally upright, or whatever thing we use to prop ourselves up in comparison of "Others" are often the ones outsiders look upon as being not very good people.

Although I enjoyed the Screwtape Letters more, The Great Divorce is much along that same vein, not pointing the finger at the obvious sinners (such as myself) but providing a reflection for those who are striving to be righteous and do not see their sins, or minimize them for the sake of their religious pride. Even for those who are not religious, we can see ourselves doing the same if we look deep within. And at a time where people seem so determined to be divided by their moral/ religious/ political causes, this is a good read to remind us to look inward first and to ask ourselves if our behavior is just, or just to prop ourselves up?

[medievalgirl-1 · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

One of the few Lewis books I can honestly say I did not like.

The rather obscure and and confused conclusions of the book make for a rather unrewarding read.
Most troubling however, were the implied beliefs in purgatory and universalism on the part of the author.

Such apparenly drastic deviation from scripural teaching and doctrine on the part of such a respected and influential Christian author could be shocking, to say the least.

Due to this, 'The Great Divorce' is not a book I would recommend.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

In this slim allegorical tale, Mr. Lewis illustrates the idea that "no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God" in a very concrete way. Over and over we see "ghosts" who are bid to enter heaven but will not if it requires them letting go their earthly attachments. I especially liked the introductory passage by the author and how he conceives of this idea. Lots to think about.

[kirklowery · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I'm not a great fan of allegory...

[a.j.lumaren · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Some very interesting theological ideas and a brilliant allegory.

[gdill-1 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I tried to get into this literary classic and just couldn't quite understand it. It came highly recommended to me by a friend of mine because he knew I had just read and enjoyed Rob Bell's, "Love Wins". Apparently Lewis and Bell think similarly on issues relating to Heaven, Hell, and the afterlife. But, there was just too much use of allegory and symbolism in "The Great Divorce" that I couldn't bring myself to finish it simply for a lack of understanding on my part. If I can't understand a book then I don't see the sense in continuing to read it. And, so I reluctantly stopped reading this one about halfway through. If you have no problem understanding allegory, then I recommend this book. But, if you are like me and find it difficult to understand allegory, then save yourself the time and read Love Wins instead.

[bongo_x_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

An interesting book, even though there are many things I don’t agree with in it. It’s overly preachy, full of straw man arguments, and generally full of the idea that you should never question or stray from strict Christian dogma or you are a damned fool. Other than that it has some good, thought provoking ideas that you can take in ways the author may not have intended. It is very short, and that’s a good thing, I wouldn’t have wanted too much of it.

[bill5bradford · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Lewis' story of a bus trip from hell to heaven is one of Lewis' most quotable books, and contains a number of fascinating insights into human nature. The book is perhaps best summed up in the quote, "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it." It is one of those books you can easily read from cover to cover in one night.

[lhlady_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This classic Lewis book was fascinating, interesting, and moving.

[duffdaddy-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A fable about what it means to get to heaven. Done very well with the imagery of a "solid" heaven. Lewis did a good job of describing Hell not as a demon-filled inferno; rather as a dreary town where no one gets along and no one is happy. Kind of reminded me of the novel "Hell". Especially meaningful were the scenes where the phantoms would not shed their earthly vanities for the chance of heaven. I also liked Lewis' interaction with George MacDonald - his self-proclaimed inspiration. Jack never disappoints.

[kobooks · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Very interesting and thought provoking! Lewis' dream fantasy of what Heaven is/will be like and what keeps someone (and allows another) from entering it. Addresses what role sin plays in our lives and how God and Hell coexist.

[rachelpenso · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is another one of those books I really enjoyed long ago, but I think my opinion may have changed since then.

[venqat65 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I've read this book many times and given many copies of this book away as well. In my opinion, this book is wonderful. It truly shows just why some people would prefer hell over being with the Lord---it does a great job of illuminating all the sinful traps that we can get caught in and end up turning away from accepting the Lord's greatest gift to us. Eye-opening and insightful. I think it is as good as the Screwtape Letters, if not better!

[sean191 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Always thought-provoking, C.S. Lewis delivers again. A short tale about souls in Hell getting one last chance at redemption. They visit Heaven, but it's surprisingly not as straightforward as you would think for these souls to make their choice between Heaven and Hell. Not as good as the Screwtape Letters, but still worth a read, plus at just over 100 pages, it's a quick read.

[ctpress_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Few can stir the imagination as C. S. Lewis. Here he is at his best drawing for us images of heaven and hell to ponder upon. The point he makes is a sobering one: The people in hell really do not want to go to heaven. They somehow believe God is trying to rob them of something. They want to control there own lives. And God says: 'Thy will be done'.

[sherrykaraoke · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

One of my favorites for many years, this is the greatest allegory of Heaven and Hell ever written.

[mull9292 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

SO MUCH we can let keep us from the divine or even just our own hopes and dreams.

[afderrick · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A great book. I flew through this book in about three days and could've gone through it more quickly had I the extra time. The Great Divorce was written as man who found himself in this town and then went up to this other country. It ended up that the town he started in was Hell and the country he was in later was Heaven. It was very neat to see the conversations that went on of how people who were in Hell would choose to remain there simply because of their lack of desire to sacrifice everything of themselves and rely soley on God. A neat book that I would recommend to others to read

[yahonk_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This is my favorite fiction book of all time, hands down. Lewis' talent for articulating spiritual truths in fiction is amazing, as evidenced in his other works, like Narnia. However, The Great Divorce is on a whole different level. I think Lewis has forever altered my perception of the union of Heaven and Hell.

[artnking_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

The essense of the human condition captured in a great story. The most re-read book in my library.