Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which is to Come: John Bunyan

John Bunyan’s (1629-1688) book The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which is to Come is a Christian allegory (a story in which people, places and events represent abstract concepts). The Pilgrim’s Progress was first printed in 1678, but this version with pictures is from 1815.

John Bunyan was a wandering tinkerer and a nonconformist who spent many years in jail because he wouldn’t stop preaching even though he was told not to. While he was in Bedford Gaol, he wrote most of Pilgrim’s Progress. The book was a huge success right away. It went through 11 editions in the first ten years after it came out, and it may have sold 100,000 copies in the first 15 years. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, people in Britain thought it was a must-read for the whole family. It is said to be one of the 10 most-published books of all time.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is the story of Christian and his journey from the City of Destruction, which represents earth, to the Celestial City (representing heaven). Along the way, he meets people with names like Pliable, Obstinate, and Hopeful. As their names suggest, these people have certain traits that can help or hurt a Christian on their way to heaven. Bunyan mixes the language of the King James Bible with the everyday language of his time to write this work. The Pilgrim’s Progress is an early example of the novel as a journey of the self toward fulfilment. Later examples include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront, Vanity Fair by William Thackeray (whose title comes from Bunyan’s work), The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, and Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut.

Message of Pilgrim’s Progress

The necessity of reading is highlighted throughout The Pilgrim’s Progress because studying the Bible leads to redemption and happiness for the pilgrims. Pilgrims who have not studied and understood the Bible are seen as disappointments who will not be admitted to the Celestial City. For example, when Christian dismisses the decent lad Ignorant, he does so only because Ignorant is incapable of comprehending divine revelation as communicated by the Bible. In essence, he rejects Ignorant because he is unable to read. Another instance comes in the opening chapter, when the narrator falls asleep and first sees Christian, who is sobbing and clutching a book. The book is the Bible, and it pierces the heart of the believer who has strayed from its teaching. Pilgrims must study the Bible, but they must also believe its message and apply it to their daily lives. Even dying necessitates reading. When Christiana receives her call to the Master and departs from this world, she receives it in the form of a letter. She would never meet her maker if she couldn’t read it. Reading is not just a life skill; it is the ticket to salvation.

John Bunyan Facts

Some people say that his best-known book was the first English novel. Others have said that Bunyan’s best work, The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), is less of a “novel” and more of a religious allegory, which it is. While he was in Bedford gaol, Bunyan wrote the book (for preaching without a licence and refusing to attend the Anglican church service). The full name of the book is The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come; Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream. It tells the story of Christian’s journey from this world (the “City of Destruction”) to the next world, Heaven (the “Celestial City”). Christian, who feels like he has done wrong, must find freedom and forgiveness along the way. For example, he could avoid the temporary pleasures at Vanity Fair and find his way out of the Slough of Despond.

John Bunyan Beliefs

As a Puritan, Bunyan thought that it was okay to get faith from reading the Bible without going through the Church. He wouldn’t follow the Book of Common Prayer or go to Church of England services because of this. In the 17th century, religion and politics were very linked. People thought it was political to not follow the Church of England, which was the national church, and those who didn’t were thought to be trying to overthrow the monarchy. Because of this, Bunyan went to prison twice, the first time for 12 years and the second time for a few months.

Conclusion

The story he is about to tell, which is set up as a dream, is defended by the narrator. He says that he fell asleep in the middle of nowhere and had a dream about a man named Christian who was suffering from spiritual pain. Christian is told to leave the City of Destruction by Evangelist, who comes to see him. Evangelists say that the Celestial City, also known as Mount Zion, is the only place where people can find salvation.