Christiana Character Analysis in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Christiana is Christian’s wife. In the book’s first part, she mocks Christian’s faith and refuses to go on pilgrimage with him. In the second part, she repents and decides to follow him to the Celestial City, along with her four sons and her friend Mercy. Over the second half of the book, Christiana gathers various other pilgrims into the group, including Honest, Feeble-mind, and Valiant-for-Truth. Besides retracing much of Christian’s path along the narrow way, Christiana has a keen eye for spiritual symbolism and is genuinely curious about theological concepts. For example, at the Cross, she questions her guide, Mr. Great-heart, at length regarding the Christian doctrine of justification. She is also praised by Prudence for having given her sons good religious instruction. When she reaches Beulah, Christiana receives a letter summoning her to the Celestial City and crosses the River of Death after bidding each of her friends farewell.

Christiana Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The The Pilgrim’s Progress quotes below are all either spoken by Christiana or refer to Christiana. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon

Now said he, compare this Hen to your King, and these Chickens to his obedient ones. For answerable to her, himself has his methods which he walketh in towards his People; by his common call he gives nothing; by his special call he always has something to give; he has also a brooding voice for them that are under his wing; and he has an outcry to give the alarm when he seeth the Enemy come. I chose, my Darlings, to lead you into the Room where such things are, because you are Women, and they are easy for you.

Related Characters: Interpreter (speaker), Christiana, Mercy

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 207

Explanation and Analysis:

Like Christian did during his own pilgrimage, Christiana and Mercy receive spiritual instruction through symbols at the Interpreter’s House. However, Interpreter shows the women additional rooms that Christian didn’t see. Here, for example, Interpreter compares a hen’s variable calls to the different ways Christ addresses himself to human souls (Christ calls to people in general; to those who will be converted; to those under his protection; to those in spiritual danger). Interpreter claims that he uses more mundane, domestic imagery in order to help women relate to religious teachings more easily. Though this sounds condescending toward women, it’s worth noting Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mol

Now said Christiana, it comes to my mind what was said to us at the Gate, to wit, that we should have pardon by word and deed: by word, that is, by the promise; by deed, to wit, in the way it was obtained. What the promise is, of that I know something; but what it is to have pardon by deed, or in the way that it was obtained, Mr Great-heart, I suppose you know; wherefore if you please let us hear your discourse thereof.

Related Characters: Christiana (speaker), Mr. Great-heart

Page Number and Citation: 215

Explanation and Analysis:

When Christiana and her fellow pilgrims reach the spot where Christian’s burden fell from his shoulders, Christiana wants to better understand what happened there. In brief, she wants to understand how Christ brings about sinners’ salvation. In other words, it’s not enough for her to know that salvation is a promised fact; she wants to grasp the theology behind the promise. The greater significance of this quote, then, is what Christiana’s question prompts: Mr. Great-heart’s “discourse,” or discussion, of this doctrine. It isn’t necessary to grasp the intricacies of the explanation that follows; the point is that Bunyan portrays his Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Po

And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her Children, she asked leave of her to catechise them. So she gave her free consent. Then she began at the youngest, whose name was James.

PRUDENCE. And she said, Come James, canst thou tell who made thee?

JAMES. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. […]

Then said Prudence to Christiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your Children.

Related Characters: Prudence (speaker), James (speaker), Christiana

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 230

Explanation and Analysis:

Pilgrim’s Progress is firmly situated in the Puritan, or Reformed Protestant, tradition, which has historically featured the use of catechisms, or teaching aids in a question-and-answer format, to instill basic doctrines in children and adults. In this case, while staying in Palace Beautiful, Christiana’s children are quizzed in their catechism knowledge by Prudence, one of the women who lives there. The content of the questions and answers isn’t the most interesting thing about this passage (Prudence catechizes each of Christiana’s four sons, starting with basic questions for the youngest and progressing to harder ones for the eldest); it’s that Prudence Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta

Christiana Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The timeline below shows where the character Christiana appears in The Pilgrim’s Progress. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...telling it to go everywhere that the first part has gone, in order to tell Christiana’s story. If readers enjoyed Christian’s story, then they ought to welcome Christian’s wife and boys,... (full context)

In response to Christiana’s objection that she will not be well received because others have circulated counterfeit stories of... (full context)

It’s Christiana’s job now to introduce not only herself and her sons, but her friends Mercy, Honest,... (full context)

The narrator asks about Christiana and her sons, and Mr. Sagacity explains that although they resisted Christian at first, they... (full context)

The next night, Christiana dreamed that she saw a record of all her sins and some hellish creatures plotting... (full context)

Christiana eagerly begs Secret to take her and her children to the Celestial City, but he... (full context)

Before Christiana leaves, two of her neighbors knock at the door. They are puzzled to hear her... (full context)

Christiana tells Mrs. Timorous to leave rather than tempting her. But the other neighbor, named Mercy,... (full context)

Meanwhile, Christiana begins her pilgrimage. She invites Mercy to come along as her companion and servant. Mercy... (full context)

Christiana arrives at the Slough of Despond and hesitates, worrying that the bog’s condition is even... (full context)

Christiana introduces herself and her group, and the Keeper welcomes her inside, including the children, adding,... (full context)

Mercy explains that she, like Christiana, has come to the Wicket-gate seeking forgiveness of her sins. The Keeper of the Gate... (full context)

Christiana and Mercy sit in a parlor, rejoicing. Christiana admires the fervor of Mercy’s knocking. She... (full context)

...on their way. They pass through a garden which, unknown to them, belongs to Beelzebub. Christiana’s boys see some delicious-looking fruits growing there and, ignoring their mother’s scolding, they eat some.... (full context)

Christiana admits that they were too distracted by their newfound blessings to ask for a Conductor,... (full context)

Mercy laments that she’d foolishly believed they were past all danger. Christiana takes the blame, saying she should have shown greater foresight. She explains that before leaving... (full context)

Christiana, Mercy, and the boys arrive at the Interpreter’s House. They hear the people inside talking... (full context)

...the muck-raker is so focused on sweeping the straw and dust that he doesn’t notice. Christiana observes that the muck-raker is a man of the world, who considers only visible, earthbound... (full context)

...wall. The Interpreter asks them if there are any other spiders in this room. Tearfully, Christiana discerns the room’s lesson: that they are the other spiders, and their “venom” is worse.... (full context)

...easier to understand. As the group waits for supper to be ready, the Interpreter, at Christiana’s invitation, shares additional edifying sayings. (full context)

At supper, Interpreter invites Christiana to talk about her pilgrimage thus far. Christiana gladly recounts the story of her repentance,... (full context)

Great-heart, Christiana, Mercy, and the boys arrive at the Cross, where Christian lost his burden. Christiana asks... (full context)

Christiana is pleased with this explanation. She asks if it was understanding of this teaching that... (full context)

When Christiana and Mercy rejoice at Great-heart’s words, Great-heart points out that not everyone who witnessed Christ’s... (full context)

The women and boys refresh themselves, but when they get up to go, Christiana forgets her little bottle of reviving spirits and must send one of her sons back... (full context)

...arrived. The rest of Humble-mind’s family gathers around to greet them. After supper and prayer, Christiana and Mercy are housed in Christian’s old room, and they hear joyful music as they... (full context)

The next morning, Christiana says that Mercy laughed in her sleep last night. Mercy shares her dream. In it,... (full context)

After Christiana and Mercy get up, the women of the house, Prudence, Piety, and Charity, invite them... (full context)

...person of the Trinity contributes to his salvation. When James again answers correctly, Prudence commends Christiana for teaching her children so well. (full context)

About this time, while they are still at the Porter’s House, Christiana’s eldest son, Matthew, becomes sick with a terrible stomachache. An old doctor named Mr. Skill... (full context)

Matthew resists at first, but Christiana tastes one of the pills and assures Matthew that it’s as sweet as honey. After... (full context)

After they’ve been at the Porter’s House for a month, Joseph asks Christiana to send to the Interpreter’s House to ask that Great-heart be sent back to them,... (full context)

...forgot to give the women something, and she runs to get it. While they wait, Christiana hears the birds of that country singing psalm-verses. Then Piety returns with a drawing of... (full context)

...great darkness settles over them. They hear the noises and see the fires of Hell. Christiana pities Christian having had to face this Valley alone in the dark, realizing that nobody... (full context)

When Honest meets Christiana, he is overjoyed; he has heard of Christian’s honored reputation. After greeting the boys and... (full context)

...they’re warned of robbers ahead, though they see no sign of trouble. By this time, Christiana and her children have grown tired, so they stop at an inn run by a... (full context)

Gaius thinks that Christiana’s sons appear likely to carry on in their father’s footsteps, so he advises Christiana to... (full context)

...Holy-man, Mr. Love-saint, Mr. Dare-not-lye, and Mr. Penitent. The friends are delighted to learn that Christiana is Christian’s widow. Contrite explains that although the Fair makes life difficult, the people of... (full context)

...and the pillar of salt. They come to a meadow beside the Delectable Mountains, and Christiana has her daughters-in-law commit their little ones to the care of the shepherd who dwells... (full context)

...they argue about how best to proceed. They finally determine that Mr. Great-heart, Honest, and Christiana’s four sons will attempt to demolish Doubting Castle altogether. When the group knocks at the... (full context)

...It's a special glass that, from a certain angle, will show the face of Jesus. Christiana tells the Shepherds Mercy’s request, and they willingly give her the looking-glass. They also give... (full context)

After a while, an urgent message is brought for Christiana from the Celestial City. The letter is from Christian. He tells Christiana that her Master... (full context)

On Christiana’s last day of life, the road is filled with people accompanying her to the riverbanks.... (full context)

...City with glorious music. When the narrator leaves that place, it’s said that Christian’s and Christiana’s sons, with their wives and children, are still alive, adding to the growth of the... (full context)

Christiana Character Analysis

Christiana Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Quotes

Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House Quotes

Part 2: At the Porter’s House Quotes

Christiana Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress