A Hell of a Time: Difference between revisions

* In ''[[Paradise Lost]]'', the capital of Hell (Pandemonium) is portrayed as a somewhat glorious place - far more beautiful than anywhere on earth, but rather small for countless of millions of gigantic fallen angels. Thankfully they can change their size at will.

* In [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s ''[[Job: A Comedy of Justice]]'', God created Hell to be a bad place, but then Satan took over and turned it relatively nice. It's notable that the story features a [[God Is Evil]] plot that is itself subverted by revealing that God and Satan "take turns" playing the Good and Evil deity role and they're merely junior members of a vast [[Celestial Bureaucracy]].

* In the novel ''[[Waiting on the Galactic Bus]]'' by Parke Godwin, Heaven and Hell (or "Topside" and "Downstairs" as the characters refer to it) are pretty much the same, shaped only by the minds of the souls ("post-life energy") who inhabit it. Also, people tend to end up in the version they expect to. In the sequel, ''The Snake Oil Wars'' Topside is run by one of the two immortal alien brothers accidentally responsible for human evolution, and Downstairs is turned over to Jesus (Yeshua) and Judas (Yes, ''that'' Judas).

* The Hell in the novels of [[Edward Lee]] is one of the "only a nice place to the evil" sorts. The Mephistopolis, as they call it, is a big [[Dystopia]]n city with a government and economic classes. A Satanist, Nazi, mass murderer, fallen angel, tyrant, serial rapist, etc. has a much better chance of getting into Hell's privileged upper class than a suicide or a drug dealer.

* In the novel ''Jitterbug Perfume'', the afterlife is briefly explored by one character. Most people seem to just get shuttled off on some boats to have their souls reincarnated/"return to the source" or something. But those who pass the test (heart lighter than a feather) are sent to the eternal party boat full of philosophers, artists, interesting people, etc. One side of the boat has the word "Heaven" painted on it, the otherside says "Hell"; it's all a matter of perspective I guess (some people would see lingering around forever instead of "moving on" as a punishment I guess?)

 

* Toyed with in the first series of ''[[Blackadder]]''. After being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Edmund is charged with ensuring a nobleman leaves his lands to the crown instead of the church. He does this by explaining that Heaven is for people who like praising God and watering pot plants, while Hell is for pillage, adultery, and so on. Judging from the man's reaction just before dying, this is probably not true.

* In the infamous ''[[Twilight Zone]] episode'' "A Nice Place To Visit", this trope is actually [[Ironic Hell|used as a punishment]].

* Fred the Crab and Sam the Clam, who are friends, both die. Fred, who was virtuous, gets sent to Heaven; Sam gets sent to Hell. Fred gets issued a harp, which he's very good at playing with all his little legs. But eventually he gets lonely and wants to see Sam again, so he asks God if he can go visit Hell. God says yes, but he has to be back by midnight. Fred goes to Hell and finds out that Sam has a swinging nightclub. Fred plays the harp with them and they have such a good time that he almost loses track of time, and when he looks at the clock it's a quarter to midnight. He rushes back to Heaven and gets there right at midnight. "Wow, you just barely made it," says God. But then Fred says, "I have to go back! [[Feghoot|I left my harp in Sam Clam's disco]]!"

 

* In Jacques Offenbach's operetta ''Orphee aux Enfers'' (Orpheus in the Underworld), the gods hold a massive party in Hell. (Though its not the same thing as the Christian hell, in ancient [[Greek Mythology]], ''hell'' is practically a portmanteau synonym of afterlife.)

* In the third act of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''Man and Superman'', referred to as ''Don Juan in Hell'' when performed separately, Dona finds Don Juan and the Devil discussing philosophy, and is horrified that her guardian, the Commendatore killed by Don Juan, is present as well. He has quit heaven due to boredom and moved downstairs.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Religion Tropes]]

[[Category:Metaphysical Place]]

[[Category:Diabolical Plots]]

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