Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Pilgrim’s Progress, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ
The World vs. Christianity
Obstacles on the Journey
The Centrality of the Bible
Women as Pilgrims
Summary
Analysis
Bearing his burden with great difficulty, Christian runs along the narrow highway, which is bordered by a wall called Salvation. He runs until he reaches a Cross standing on a small hill; below it stands a Sepulchre. Just as he reaches the Cross, Christian’s burden falls from his shoulders. The burden tumbles into the Sepulchre and out of sight.
Though Christian was saved by Christ when he entered by the Wicket-gate, it seems that he does not lose the subjective (mental and emotional) burden of his sins until he reaches the Cross, which symbolizes Christ’s sacrificial death for sinners. When he sees the sign of Christ’s death on his behalf, Christian realizes he no longer needs to feel guilty or troubled, because he has been forgiven and redeemed by Christ.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Immediately, Christian is filled with joy. He gazes at the Cross for a while, amazed at his newfound ease. He even begins to weep. Soon, three Shining Ones appear and greet Christian. The first angel tells him, “Thy sins be forgiven.” The second angel takes off Christian’s rags and puts new clothes on him. The third angel gives Christian a sealed roll, telling him to look at it as he journeys, and to hand it in when he reaches the Celestial Gate. Christian leaps three times for joy and goes on, singing of his salvation.
Now that Christian’s burden has fallen away, he is happy for the first time in the story. This suggests that, in Bunyan’s view, sin is the biggest impediment to joy. The angels’ gifts signify Christian’s redeemed status—a change of clothes (he’s no longer characterized by his sin but by his redemption) and a roll or certificate, which symbolizes assurance of the salvation he’s received. Also, the number three is always significant in Christian allegory, evoking the three persons of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
As Christian goes on his way, he comes upon three sleeping men with chained ankles. Their names are Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. Christian wakes them and warns them to beware of Satan, but the three men think there’s no danger, and they settle back to sleep.
Simple, Sloth, and Presumption symbolize common attitudes about the spiritual life. These men are too oblivious, lazy, or arrogant to think that Satan could attack them, so they fail to heed Christian’s warning. Their proximity to the Cross suggests that even zealous new Christians can be susceptible to such attitudes.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Just then, 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 this violates the Lord’s expressed will. Formalist and Hypocrisy reply that this will be no problem—they can offer a testimony which an impartial judge will accept, and anyway, as long as they’re on the narrow way, does it matter how they got there? Christian warns them that they have entered without the Lord’s direction, and as thieves, they cannot expect his mercy at the end. Formalist and Hypocrisy go on their way, laughing. Christian goes on alone, often looking at the roll that one of the Shining Ones gave him for reassurance.
The name “Formalist” is a term sometimes used by the Puritans to denounce a merely outward religion, as opposed to religion of the heart. The Celestial City is sometimes referred to as Mount Zion, a biblical metaphor for Heaven. With this in mind, it’s clear that both Formalist and Hypocrisy (i.e., one whose practice of religion doesn’t match what he professes to believe) think it’s possible to reach Heaven by pretense. As long as they appear to have lived religiously, in other words, that should be enough to get them into Heaven. Christian warns them that their pretense will be found out.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Get the entire The Pilgrim’s Progress LitChart as a printable PDF.
