The Pilgrim's Progress

The Pilgrim's Progress Summary | Plot Summary

Pilgrim's Progress catalogs the journey of Christian, a man who is seeking his salvation on a pilgrimage to Heaven. Along the way, Christian encounters many obstacles that test his faith as well as many characters that are useful in showing him the difference between right and wrong, from the perspective of Christian religious faith. After Christian attains his heavenly reward, his family completes a pilgrimage to join him. Told as a dream, this seventeenth century religious classic uses Bible verses mixed with allegorical characters to preach its evangelist message.

Christian sets out on a journey to save his soul. He leaves behind his friends and family in the City of Destruction and follows the advice of his spiritual guide, Evangelist, in order to reach the Celestial City. His first obstacle is the Slough of Despair, which he manages to overcome with the help of a kind stranger. Christian is admitted into the Wicket Gate, the official starting point of his journey to the Celestial City. Only those who are invited through this gate are eligible for entrance into the Celestial City.

Christian mounts the Hill of Difficulty, and reaches the house called Beautiful, where a group of four sisters examine his conscience and give him supplies for his journey. On his way down the hill, Christian faces more obstacles. He battles Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation. He continues through the Valley of the Shadow of Death before being reunited with his old friend, Faithful.

Evangelist warns Christian and Faithful about entering the town of Vanity, which hosts a year-long carnival called Vanity Fair, meant to tempt pilgrims to abandon their journeys. In this town, Christian and Faithful are beaten and imprisoned. They stand trial for their religious faith and their rejection of the legal and moral codes of the town. Faithful is tortured and killed, sending him directly to the Celestial City as a martyr. Christian manages to escape from prison and is joined by Hopeful as he continues his journey.

Christian and Hopeful choose to take a shortcut that lands them in the dungeons of Doubting Castle. They are beaten and starved by the Giant Despair and urged to commit suicide. Finally, they use a magic key called Promise to escape from the Castle. They two pilgrims continue on their journey until they reach the Delectable Mountains. Here, a group of shepherds give them a map to avoid traps along the way.

The two meet Ignorance, who has joined the path by a shortcut and believes that he will be admitted to Heaven without any invitation. The three of them continue on the journey until they reach a fork in the road. Instead of looking at the map given to them by the shepherds, the group follows a bad man who leads them into a trap. They manage to get out and walk through the Enchanted Ground, where they have been warned not to fall asleep. To entertain themselves, they discuss their religious visions. Christian and Hopeful have both had visions of Jesus Christ, while Ignorance relies on his own heart as a reason why he should be allowed to enter Heaven.

Christian and Hopeful reach the River of Death, where the depth of the river changes to reflect the doubt or faith of the person who enters it. At first Christian is overwhelmed by doubt and almost drowns in the river. Hopeful rescues him and helps him until they are confident enough that the river has become shallow enough to allow them to cross. They are received into the Celestial City and carried off into the clouds. Ignorance also approaches the gates, but is denied entry because he has no invitation or Biblical revelation to make him worthy of Heaven.

The second part of the story tells of the pilgrimage undertaken by Christian's wife, Christiana, and their four sons. The family is joined by a neighbor, Mercy, who is hopeful of finding salvation by accompanying the family on the pilgrimage. Her wish is granted when she is admitted at the Wicket Gate. The group is attacked on the first leg of the journey but rescued just in time. They receive one of their first warnings to bring a conductor to guide and protect them on their journey. The group meets the Interpreter and is shown another series of moral images to interpret and learn from. They are given a guide, Great Heart, to conduct them to the next stage of their journey.

Great Heart brings them to the house called Beautiful, where the group is shown all the things that Christian once was. One of the sisters who live in the house quizzes the boys on their religious education. Great Heart reappears to lead the group on the rest of the journey. They pass through the Valley of Humiliation and the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where Great Heart protects them from all the dangers and shows them the spots where Christian had his adventures. On their way out, they meet Honest, who accompanies them on their journey.

Their travels take them to Vanity, where all the sons are married off. The eldest son marries Mercy. More monsters are defeated and new members join the group. The journey continues to Doubting Castle, where the men of the group fight a battle that destroys the castle and the giant that lives in it. The group is reminded at various points about the fate of Christian during his pilgrimage. Finally the group arrives at the River of Death. The members of the group each receive a letter welcoming them into the Celestial City. The children of Christian and their wives remain on the living side to have children to continue Christian's legacy.