Faithful Character Analysis in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Like Christian, Faithful comes from the City of Destruction. He and Christian meet and begin journeying together at the end of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Faithful has a conversation with Talkative about the transformative power of grace in the soul, correcting Talkative’s superficial and hypocritical views. When they reach Vanity Fair, Faithful and Christian are both targeted, abused, and humiliated for their refusal to purchase wares from the Fair. Though Faithful is permitted to defend himself at trial, he is cruelly executed thereafter. His faith and bravery encourage Hopeful and others to become pilgrims.

Faithful Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The The Pilgrim’s Progress quotes below are all either spoken by Faithful or refer to Faithful. 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

So soon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow, for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he served me so? He said, Because of my secret inclining to Adam the First: and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward, so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So when I came to myself again I cried him mercy; but he said, I know not how to shew mercy; and with that knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear.

Related Characters: Faithful (speaker), Adam the First/Moses, Christian

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 75

Explanation and Analysis:

[H]e said it was a pitiful low sneaking business for a man to mind Religion; he said that a tender conscience was an unmanly thing; and that for a man to watch over his words and ways, so as to tie up himself from that hectoring liberty that the brave spirits of the times accustom themselves unto, would make him the ridicule of the times. He objected also, that but few of the Mighty, Rich, or Wise, were ever of my opinion […] But at last I began to consider […] this Shame tells me what men are; but it tells me nothing what God or the Word of God is.

Related Characters: Faithful (speaker), Shame, Christian

Page Number and Citation: 78

Explanation and Analysis:

My Lord, this man, notwithstanding his plausible name, is one of the vilest men in our Country. He neither regardeth Prince nor People, Law nor Custom; but doth all that he can to possess all men with certain of his disloyal notions, which he in the general calls Principles of Faith and Holiness. And in particular, I heard him once myself affirm that Christianity and the Customs of our Town of Vanity are diametrically opposite, and could not be reconciled. By which saying, my Lord, he doth at once not only condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them.

Related Characters: Envy (speaker), Lord Hategood, Faithful

Page Number and Citation: 99

Explanation and Analysis:

Faithful Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress

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

...distance, and they outfit him with a sword and armor. The Porter tells Christian that Faithful, who’s also from the City of Destruction, has just passed by. (full context)

Christian sees Faithful a little distance ahead of him, runs ahead, and overtakes him. But Christian suddenly trips... (full context)

Faithful tells Christian about some of the obstacles he encountered on his journey. He evaded a... (full context)

At first, Faithful was tempted to accept Adam the First’s offer. Then he noticed written on Adam’s forehead... (full context)

Faithful further explains that he bypassed the Palace Beautiful, but that in the Valley of Humility,... (full context)

But that wasn’t Faithful’s only obstacle in the Valley of Humiliation. He also met a figure named Shame, who... (full context)

Christian and Faithful meet a tall man named Talkative, who is also headed to the Celestial City. Talkative... (full context)

In an aside, Christian tells Faithful that he knows Talkative. He’s from the City of Destruction, and despite his pleasant speech,... (full context)

From Christian’s words, Faithful understands that saying and doing are different things. Christian agrees—the “soul” of religion is in... (full context)

Faithful wonders how to get rid of Talkative. Christian tells Faithful to initiate a conversation with... (full context)

Talkative says Faithful is just laying a trap for him, and at any rate, they’re not going to... (full context)

Faithful then asks Talkative if his religion is only in word or also in deed. Blushing... (full context)

When Christian and Faithful are nearly through the wilderness, Evangelist catches up with them. They are glad to see... (full context)

Sure enough, soon Christian and Faithful enter a town called Vanity which is home to a huge Fair that runs throughout... (full context)

As soon as Christian and Faithful enter the Fair, they cause a commotion. Their clothing is strange; their speech, “the language... (full context)

...that the leader of the Fair brings the two men to be examined. Christian and Faithful explain where they’ve come from and where they are going, but the people of Vanity... (full context)

While in the cage, Christian and Faithful remain patient and kind, despite the insults hurled at them. Soon, the better people of... (full context)

While awaiting trial, Christian and Faithful recall Evangelist’s words and comfort one another. They agree that whichever of them dies will... (full context)

Faithful is permitted to speak in his own defense. In response to Envy, he states that... (full context)

After this, Faithful is scourged, stoned, and burned at the stake. After he dies, he is taken into... (full context)

...his way, he is joined by a man named Hopeful, who witnessed Christian’s suffering and Faithful’s martyrdom. Hopeful “rises out of [Faithful’s] ashes.” He tells Christian that other people from Vanity... (full context)

...in those things bought and sold at Vanity Fair. But after witnessing Christian’s sufferings and Faithful’s death, he realized that these things are worthless and that those who indulge in them... (full context)

Overwhelmed by his predicament, Hopeful talked with his friend Faithful, who explained that a sinner can only be justified by trusting in Christ’s righteousness and... (full context)

...them some stories of past pilgrims. Great-heart mentions some of the adventures of Christian and Faithful, pointing out the spot where they met Evangelist, who prophesied the troubles to come in... (full context)

...makes life difficult, the people of Vanity have become milder towards the pilgrims ever since Faithful’s death, and religion is not scorned as before. (full context)

...the group of pilgrims departs from Vanity. They pause in remembrance at the spot where Faithful was martyred. They pass the Hill Lucre, Demas’s silver-mine, and the pillar of salt. They... (full context)

Faithful Character Analysis

Faithful Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Part 1: Christian and Faithful Quotes

Part 1: Vanity Fair Quotes

Faithful Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress