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

Mr. Worldly Wiseman Character Analysis

Mr. Worldly Wiseman, from the town of Carnal Policy, meets Christian as Christian is walking toward the Wicket-Gate. Mr. Worldly Wiseman denounces Evangelist’s advice to go to the Wicket-Gate because Christian will encounter all sorts of dangers and unpleasantness that way. Instead, he urges Christian to visit the village of Morality, where Legality or Civility will remove his burden for him. Christian initially follows his advice before Evangelist intercedes.

Mr. Worldly Wiseman Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The The Pilgrim’s Progress quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Worldly Wiseman or refer to Mr. Worldly Wiseman. 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 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman Quotes

But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially, since (hadst thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into […] Why in yonder Village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a Gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders […] he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens.

Related Characters: Mr. Worldly Wiseman (speaker), Christian, Legality
Related Symbols: Burden
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Worldly Wiseman Character Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Worldly Wiseman appears in The Pilgrim’s Progress. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Soon, Christian crosses paths with a gentleman named Mr. Worldly Wiseman , who is from the nearby town of Carnal Policy. Mr. Worldly Wiseman asks Christian... (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Mr. Worldly Wiseman says he is older than Christian. If Christian heedlessly follows Evangelist’s advice, stories testify that... (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Mr. Worldly Wiseman asks Christian how he got this burden. Christian explains that he got it by reading... (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Christian decides to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman ’s advice. He walks past the high hill that Mr. Worldly Wiseman had indicated, but... (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
...how he got diverted from his path so quickly. Christian shamefully recounts his conversation with Mr. Worldly Wiseman . Evangelist recites Bible verses about those who have turned aside from the path to... (full context)
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Evangelist reveals Mr. Worldly Wiseman ’s true nature. Mr. Worldly Wiseman, he explains, loves worldly doctrines because these allow him... (full context)
Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
...Christian to tell his story. Christian describes everything that’s happened to him so far, including Mr. Worldly Wiseman ’s diversion. Good-will tells Christian that nobody’s past misdeeds are held against them when they... (full context)
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