TGD Preface: Now, what do you suppose….?

Chapter Quote

“If we insist on keeping Hell (or even Earth) we shall not see Heaven. If we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.”

Chapter Summary

In the preface Lewis refers to “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” by William Blake. Lewis says that while it is tempting to “marry” Heaven and Hell, we cannot turn evil into good without renouncing something. According to Lewis, to get to Heaven we must let go of our attachments; even our right hand or right eye: “You cannot take all luggage with you on all journeys...If we insist on keeping Hell…we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven, we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.” Lewis says that whatever we give up on Earth will have been utterly insignificant compared to Heaven. Additionally, Earth will be seen as a preliminary region of either Heaven or Hell. Lewis ends by emphasizing that this story is simply an “imaginative supposal”, and is not meant to be interpreted as strict Christian theology.