Hyocrisy is a man who climbs over the wall of Salvation to access the narrow way, instead of entering the prescribed way, through the Wicket-gate. Christian warns him and Formalist that he is a thief in the Lord’s territory and thus will not be welcomed when he reaches the Celestial City. After taking an easy path to avoid the Hill Difficulty, he’s never seen again.
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Hypocrisy Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress
The timeline below shows where the character Hypocrisy appears in The Pilgrim’s Progress. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: The Cross
...two men scramble over the wall beside the narrow way: their names are Formalist and Hypocrisy. They explain to Christian that they’re taking a shortcut to Mount Zion. Christian argues that...
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Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful
...and Destruction. Christian refreshes himself at a spring and then climbs the hill. Formality and Hypocrisy take the other paths, assuming these routes are easier and are bound for the same...
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Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House
...arrive at the Hill Difficulty. Great-heart shows the women the by-ways by which Formality and Hypocrisy got lost. Even though the byways are chained off and filled with ditches, people nevertheless...
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