Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In these three works the former concept is thoroughly discussed. These books revolve around the question of death and how it can affect people’s lives currently. A common theme amongst these books is the depressing, dull picture of a life that is not lived in surrender to God Almighty.
In The Sunset Limited, Cormac McCarthy outlines White’s desire to escape into a world of nothingness. White is educated, but ironically Black has a more realistic picture of the world. White lived an easier life than Black, but Black chose to be happy. In this story, Black’s life was simple, whereas White’s life was more complex and fast-paced. Black possessed …show more content…
While Ivan had a materially good life until he contracted his illness, Tolstoy begins the story in this specific way to demonstrate the ultimate meaninglessness in material gain. Farther along in the story, Tolstoy reveals the difficulty and bitterness in Ivan’s marriage. In a comparable way presented in The Sunset Limited, Tolstoy shows that material gain does not equate to happiness. In addition, both writers show that selfishness does not produce long-term satisfaction. In The Sunset Limited, White refused to open himself up to others, and in The Death of Ivan Ilyich Ivan’s purpose in life revolved around material gain. However, unlike the White and Black, Ivan was blatantly confronted with a choice. Obviously, White made the choice to delight in his potential death and entering an abyss of nothingness; however, Tolstoy presented Ivan’s choice as one that he would have to make. This question looming in Ivan’s heart tormented him before his death because he understood the weight of the decision, whereas White was so isolated in himself that he allowed his mind to glorify dying without surrendering to Christ. A key distinction here is the amount of people these two men surrounded themselves with. White isolated himself from all interpersonal connections and only associated with a few colleagues; however, Ivan had his …show more content…
S. Lewis employs a similar method used by Tolstoy and McCarthy. He shows the miserable state in a selfish life, but he also realistically shows the sacrifice required for surrender. Lewis shows the petty misery in a life lived in favor of one’s idols, in comparison to a life lived in surrender to God almighty. Lewis expounds further upon concepts briefly discussed or alluded to in the other two works: Lewis shows that surrender is a costly gain. Rightfully, he shows the beauty and fulfillment found in pursuing God almighty; however, he shows that to find this fulfillment, one must die to the sinful desires of their flesh. This picture of the gospel and the one Lewis narrates reminds me of the process of pruning. If one loves the look of a certain plant without pruning, that person can allow the plant to remain the same; however, that plant may suffer and eventually die if unneeded branches are left on the plant. The same applies in one’s relationship with Christ. Certain idols in the hearts of men could potentially inhibit a relationship of eternal satisfaction with God. The process of removing those idols by surrendering them to God is difficult because it is a pruning of the heart. However, by God’s grace and for his glory, repentance and surrender leads to immense growth in one’s relationship with God: growth that could not occur without the uncomfortable process of pruning. In the Great Divorce, the ghosts who return to the gray town are the ones
In The Sunset Limited, Cormac McCarthy outlines White’s desire to escape into a world of nothingness. White is educated, but ironically Black has a more realistic picture of the world. White lived an easier life than Black, but Black chose to be happy. In this story, Black’s life was simple, whereas White’s life was more complex and fast-paced. Black possessed …show more content…
While Ivan had a materially good life until he contracted his illness, Tolstoy begins the story in this specific way to demonstrate the ultimate meaninglessness in material gain. Farther along in the story, Tolstoy reveals the difficulty and bitterness in Ivan’s marriage. In a comparable way presented in The Sunset Limited, Tolstoy shows that material gain does not equate to happiness. In addition, both writers show that selfishness does not produce long-term satisfaction. In The Sunset Limited, White refused to open himself up to others, and in The Death of Ivan Ilyich Ivan’s purpose in life revolved around material gain. However, unlike the White and Black, Ivan was blatantly confronted with a choice. Obviously, White made the choice to delight in his potential death and entering an abyss of nothingness; however, Tolstoy presented Ivan’s choice as one that he would have to make. This question looming in Ivan’s heart tormented him before his death because he understood the weight of the decision, whereas White was so isolated in himself that he allowed his mind to glorify dying without surrendering to Christ. A key distinction here is the amount of people these two men surrounded themselves with. White isolated himself from all interpersonal connections and only associated with a few colleagues; however, Ivan had his …show more content…
S. Lewis employs a similar method used by Tolstoy and McCarthy. He shows the miserable state in a selfish life, but he also realistically shows the sacrifice required for surrender. Lewis shows the petty misery in a life lived in favor of one’s idols, in comparison to a life lived in surrender to God almighty. Lewis expounds further upon concepts briefly discussed or alluded to in the other two works: Lewis shows that surrender is a costly gain. Rightfully, he shows the beauty and fulfillment found in pursuing God almighty; however, he shows that to find this fulfillment, one must die to the sinful desires of their flesh. This picture of the gospel and the one Lewis narrates reminds me of the process of pruning. If one loves the look of a certain plant without pruning, that person can allow the plant to remain the same; however, that plant may suffer and eventually die if unneeded branches are left on the plant. The same applies in one’s relationship with Christ. Certain idols in the hearts of men could potentially inhibit a relationship of eternal satisfaction with God. The process of removing those idols by surrendering them to God is difficult because it is a pruning of the heart. However, by God’s grace and for his glory, repentance and surrender leads to immense growth in one’s relationship with God: growth that could not occur without the uncomfortable process of pruning. In the Great Divorce, the ghosts who return to the gray town are the ones