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Summary
The Pilgrim's Progress is a famous allegory in prose by John Bunyan, that has deservedly become popular with men of all ages and tastes. It is a book in which "the cultivated man cannot find anything to praise more highly and the child knows nothing more amusing".
The allegory, as usual, takes the form of a dream by the author. In it, he sees Christian, with a burden on his back and reading a book, from which he learns that the city in which he and his family dwell, will be burnt with fire. On the advice of the Evangelist, Christian flees from the city of Destruction, having failed to persuade his wife and children to accompany him. Part I describes the pilgrim's progress through an infinite variety of scenes notably the Palace Beautiful, the Valley of the shadow of Death, the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, to the Celestial City. Part II relates how Christian's wife, Christiana, moved by a vision sets out with her children on a pilgrimage and reaches her destination through various adventures. In it, Christian contends against dangers, natural and supernatural, on his way to the Italy City, Giant Despair in his dark castle, the ugly-looking devils in the Valley of Shadow, the demon Apollyon, the angels and arch angels who lead the way from the fearful River of Death to the shining gates of the Holy City all are elements of medieval romance.
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| The Pilgrim's Progress |
Critical Analysis
The Pilgrim's Progress has the archetypal theme of man's life as a journey, and treats of Christian's journey from the city of Destruction to Salvation and Heaven. It is one of the three great allegories of the world's literature. Its popularity is attested by the fact that it has been translated into seventy-five languages and dialects Its realism is its great merit. The houses, the landscape and the people are described realistically. It is allegorical.
"The book is remarkable for the beauty and simplicity of its language (Bunyan was permeated with the English of the Bible), the vividness and reality of its impersonations, and the author's sense of humor and feeling for the world of nature." For all these great qualities of the art of story-telling Bunyan has been claimed by some to be the pioneer of the modern novel.