THE RESTORATION ERA

The Pilgrim’s Progress from this World to that Which Is to come: Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream

John Bunyan

First part

Christian leaves his wife and children behind in the City of Destruction. He passes through the Slough of Despond and under the wicket Gate (the way for the elect and the beginning to achieve to Heaven). Soon, he arrives to the Interpreter’s House. After being in the previous place, he receives the garb (clothes) and the certificate from some angels of having been elected. The next stop is the Beautiful Palace and after leaving the palace, he goes to the valley of Humiliation where he battles and defeats Apollyon (a demon). After traversing the Valley of the Shadow of the Death catching up his friend Faithful. Christian and Faithful arrives in Vanity-Fair and are suddenly arrested under a false charge of inciting a riot. Faithful is burnt and Christian miraculously delivered. Then, he has a new companion: Hopeful; they come to the Doubting Castle whose owner is the giant Despair who traps them and intends to kill them. But, the scape thanks to their faith and make their way to the Delectable Mountains. There, they are warned about the Flatterer and other threats, but he fools them so an angel has to rescue them but also punishes them for not being attentive about the warnings.

In the final part of the journey, they encounter Ignorance who has not passed under the Wicket gate. They arrive to a River in Beulah which means that to cross it is to die but it is the only way to reach Heaven; therefore, they fortunately resolve to cross it and are graciously welcomed. Ignorance cannot do it because he does not have a certificate and is sent to Hell. The author awakes from his first dream.

Second part

Christian’s wife, Christiana, starts a pilgrimage with her four sons and a young neighbour called Mercy to follow Christian’s footstep to achieve to Heaven. They also pass through the Wicket Gate, the Beautiful Palace, the Valley of Humiliation, the Valley of the Shadow of the Death, Vanity-Fair and the Delectable Mountains being guided and protected by Mr. Great-Heart. They meet Honesty and Feeble-Mind and kill giant Despair and rescue Mr. Despondency as well.

Finally, the sons triumphally enter to the City of Zion where they decide to stay in in order to grow the church on Earth.

John Bunyan

John Bunyan was born in Bedfordshire in 1628 and died in London in 1688. He was an English writer best remembered as the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress. In addition, he wrote nearly sixty titles, many of them expanded sermons.

He belongs to the period called Restoration since the restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II’s reign after the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Writing Style

The author presents a story to be easily understood especially when the message is extra important. The whole story is an allegory in which he uses metaphoric language with very simple sentences to point towards something more abstract or profound or hidden meanings.