In The Great Divorce, what is the metaphor?

Metaphor:

“Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round…the Pity we merely suffer, the ache that draws men to concede what should not be conceded and to flatter when they should speak truth, the pity that has cheated many a woman out of her virginity and many a statesman out of his honesty—that will die. It was used as a weapon by bad men against good ones”

“Don’t you remember on earth—there were things too hot to touch with your finger but you could drink them all right? Shame is like that. If you will accept it —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.”