The Pilgrim’s Progress
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1: The Author’s Apology Part 1: Fleeing the City of Destruction Part 1: The Slough of Despond Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate Part 1: The Interpreter’s House Part 1: The Cross Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful Part 1: The Valley of Humiliation Part 1: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 1: Christian and Faithful Part 1: Talkative Part 1: Vanity Fair Part 1: Christian, Hopeful, and By-ends Part 1: Demas and By-path Meadow Part 1: Giant Despair and Doubting Castle Part 1: The Delectable Mountains Part 1: Ignorance, Little-faith, and Flatterer Part 1: The Enchanted Ground Part 1: Fear and Backsliding Part 1: Beulah, the River of Death, and the Celestial City Part 1: Conclusion Part 2: Introduction Part 2: Christiana Part 2: The Wicket-gate Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House Part 2: At the Porter’s House Part 2: Matthew’s Illness Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Part 2: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 2: Honest and Fearing Part 2: At Gaius’s Inn Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity Part 2: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains Part 2: Valiant-for-Truth Part 2: The Pilgrims Cross the River
Themes
All Themes The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ The World vs. Christianity Obstacles on the Journey The Centrality of the Bible Women as Pilgrims
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Christian Faithful Hopeful Christiana Evangelist Pliable Mr. Worldly Wiseman Legality Good-will/Keeper of the Gate Shining Ones Simple Sloth Presumption Formalist Hypocrisy Apollyon Adam the First/Moses Talkative By-ends Giant Despair Shepherds Ignorance Temporary Mercy Feeble-mind
Symbols
All Symbols Burden Wicket-gate Roll / Certificate / Scroll
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allegory Allusions Ethos Flashbacks Foreshadowing Frame Story Genre Imagery Irony Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes Part 1: The Author’s Apology Quiz Part 1: Fleeing the City of Destruction Quiz Part 1: The Slough of Despond Quiz Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman Quiz Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate Quiz Part 1: The Interpreter’s House Quiz Part 1: The Cross Quiz Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful Quiz Part 1: The Valley of Humiliation Quiz Part 1: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Quiz Part 1: Christian and Faithful Quiz Part 1: Talkative Quiz Part 1: Vanity Fair Quiz Part 1: Christian, Hopeful, and By-ends Quiz Part 1: Demas and By-path Meadow Quiz Part 1: Giant Despair and Doubting Castle Quiz Part 1: The Delectable Mountains Quiz Part 1: Ignorance, Little-faith, and Flatterer Quiz Part 1: The Enchanted Ground Quiz Part 1: Fear and Backsliding Quiz Part 1: Beulah, the River of Death, and the Celestial City Quiz Part 1: Conclusion Quiz Part 2: Introduction Quiz Part 2: Christiana Quiz Part 2: The Wicket-gate Quiz Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Quiz Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House Quiz Part 2: At the Porter’s House Quiz Part 2: Matthew’s Illness Quiz Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Quiz Part 2: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Quiz Part 2: Honest and Fearing Quiz Part 2: At Gaius’s Inn Quiz Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity Quiz Part 2: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains Quiz Part 2: Valiant-for-Truth Quiz Part 2: The Pilgrims Cross the River Quiz
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The Pilgrim’s Progress

by John Bunyan

Feeble-mind Character Analysis

Feeble-mind is a weak but determined pilgrim whom Mr. Great-heart rescues from Slay-good the giant. Feeble-mind’s health is poor, and he often receives special help from other pilgrims. He is Mr. Fearing’s nephew. He hesitates to join Christiana’s group of pilgrims, fearing he’ll be a burden, but they promise to accommodate him. He becomes friends with Mr. Ready-to-halt.

Feeble-mind Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The The Pilgrim’s Progress quotes below are all either spoken by Feeble-mind or refer to Feeble-mind. 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
).

Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity Quotes

FEEBLE. Alas, I want a suitable Companion […] but I, as you see, am weak […] and shall be offended and made weak at that which others can bear. I shall like no Laughing, I shall like no gay Attire, I shall like no unprofitable Questions. Nay I am so weak a man, as to be offended with that which others have a liberty to do. I do not yet know all the Truth. I am a very ignorant Christian man. […]

GREAT-HEART. But Brother […] I have it in Commission to comfort the feeble-minded, and to support the weak. You must needs go along with us; we will wait for you, we will lend you our help, we will deny ourselves of some things both opinionative and practical for your sake, we will not enter into doubtful disputations before you, we will be made all things to you rather than you shall be left behind.

Related Characters: Mr. Great-heart (speaker), Feeble-mind (speaker)
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Page Number: 278
Explanation and Analysis:
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Feeble-mind Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The timeline below shows where the character Feeble-mind appears in The Pilgrim’s Progress. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
...is a flesh-eating giant, and they find him preparing to feast on a man named Feeble-mind. Great-heart says they have come to avenge the blood of pilgrims. After a long fight,... (full context)
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Just then, they receive word that a pilgrim named Mr. Not-right, who had been Feeble-mind’s companion, has been found dead, having been struck by a thunderbolt. Feeble-mind marvels that Not-right,... (full context)
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
...gives them a great feast, and he refuses the pilgrims’ payment. As they set out, Feeble-mind hesitates. Because he is weak, he fears he will be a burden to the rest;... (full context)
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Mr. Great-heart comforts Feeble-mind, reminding him that it’s his job to comfort and support the weak. The group will... (full context)
Part 2: The Pilgrims Cross the River
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Women as Pilgrims Theme Icon
...children after she is gone. She also says farewell to Honest, Ready-to-Halt, Dispondency, Much-afraid, and Feeble-mind, leaving each of them with encouraging words. (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
...When he goes to the bank of the River, he leaves his crutches behind. Mr. Feeble-mind, Dispondency, and Much-afraid follow after, with Much-afraid singing a heavenly song as she goes. Mr.... (full context)
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