Mercy Character Analysis in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Mercy, a young woman, is Christiana’s neighbor. Mercy agrees to go on pilgrimage with Christiana out of concern both for her neighbor and herself. She is a tender-hearted and compassionate person; she is also rather shy, reluctant to speak about her spiritual experiences. She spends most of her spare time making clothes for the poor. Though Mercy has had a number of suitors, like Mr. Brisk, she refuses to marry anyone who doesn’t share her faith in God. Later, she marries Matthew on Gaius’s suggestion and has at least one child.

Mercy Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

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

Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this Valley as I have been anywhere else in all our Journey, the place methinks suits with my spirit. I love to be in such places where there is no rattling with Coaches, nor rumbling with Wheels. Methinks here one may without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the King has called him. Here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become like the Fishpools of Heshbon.

Related Characters: Mercy (speaker)

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 246

Explanation and Analysis:

In the first half of the book, when Christian passed through the Valley of Humiliation, he faced many difficulties, like fighting the demon Apollyon. (Note that “humiliation” is used in the archaic sense of “humility,” not of shame and embarrassment.) Mercy’s experience is quite different. In fact, the experience “suits with [her] spirit”—in other words, she feels at home. These sharply contrasting experiences suggest that Christians’ journeys differ depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Those who struggle with pride may need to undergo humbling conflicts; those who are temperamentally humble, on the other hand, will find parts of the spiritual 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. Mollitia e

Mercy Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress

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

It’s Christiana’s job now to introduce not only herself and her sons, but her friends Mercy, Honest, Fearing, and many others with whose stories the reader might find something in common.... (full context)

Christiana tells Mrs. Timorous to leave rather than tempting her. But the other neighbor, named Mercy, longs both to help Christiana and to consider her own soul’s well-being, so she stays.... (full context)

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

...Despond and hesitates, worrying that the bog’s condition is even worse than before, but she, Mercy, and the boys succeed in crossing it, making their way to the Wicket-gate. (At this... (full context)

...her inside, including the children, adding, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” However, Mercy remains outside, weeping. Christiana intercedes for her friend, explaining that Mercy wishes to come in,... (full context)

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

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

Mercy laments that she’d foolishly believed they were past all danger. Christiana takes the blame, saying... (full context)

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

...and the opposition she faced from neighbors and, later, the Ill-Favored Ones. When Interpreter invites Mercy to speak, she is shy and hesitant. Unlike Christiana, she has not experienced dreams or... (full context)

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

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

...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 fall asleep. (full context)

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

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

...after the pilgrims first arrived at the Porter’s, a suitor named Mr. Brisk begins visiting Mercy. Mr. Brisk is well-to-do and pretends to be religious, but he cares more about the... (full context)

The next time Mr. Brisk comes to visit and discovers that Mercy spends all her time making clothes for the poor, he is disappointed and decides that... (full context)

...points out a spot called Forgetful Green where Christian’s battle with Apollyon took place. However, Mercy observes that passing through this Valley makes her feel happier and healthier than ever. Great-heart... (full context)

...he is overjoyed; he has heard of Christian’s honored reputation. After greeting the boys and Mercy, he walks onward with the group, talking about a former companion named Fearing whom Great-heart... (full context)

...that Christian’s offspring will spread throughout the world. In fact, he suggests that Matthew and Mercy get married, so they do. (full context)

...that the pilgrims decide to stay here for a month, allowing time for Matthew and Mercy to get married. (full context)

Around this time, Matthew and Mercy get married. Gaius’s daughter, Phebe, marries James. Before the group travels onward, Gaius gives them... (full context)

Mercy asks permission to peek into the hillside entrance to Hell; she comes back trembling, praising... (full context)

Mercy Character Analysis

Mercy Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Quotes

Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Quotes

Mercy Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress