Pilgrim's Progress a Biblical Allegory

LITR 210-English Literature

Pilgrim's Progress a Biblical Allegory

According to English Literature Historian, Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most successful and well-know allegory printed. It was written by John Bunyan an English Christian writer while he was imprisoned in 1676 for advocating the Gospel without a license. With his representation, Bunyan set out to entertain and delight his audience. John Bunyan desired to enlighten the readers on an imaginative tale that had a medieval epic mission. His tale spoke about moral lessons as well as the understanding and appreciation of the role Christian. The Pilgrim’s Progress revealed the challenges, struggles, and the redemption that was promised to the faithful believers who followed the righteous path through their lives. It also showed the trials and suffering John Bunyan endured as well as the many hardship and difficulties he had with his faith. Bunyan used the pilgrim named Christian to illustrate the long journey that one must travel when seeking moral endeavors to reach a sacred place.

The tale starts with Christian a protagonist who leaves the City of Destruction, which is a city without any spiritual values. Christian represents the outlook of the human experience with his search for religious truth. His name stands for his faith. He sets out on a journey to the Celestial City, which is supposed to represent heaven. Christian meet the Evangelist first who tell him of the words of Christ and sets him on his journey to the Celestial City. He also advised him on the burden he must carry on his back which represents sins and the book in his hand that illustrated the Holy Bible. Two young men, Pliable and Obstinate, try to convince Christian that him mission is a bad idea. They both symbolize how people try to discourage a person on a mission to the Lord. After Christian travel, a bit with one of his neighbor’s Pliable they both fall in the Slough of Despond. The Slough of...