The Pilgrim’s Progress

Two neighbors, Obstinate and Pliable, decide to force the man to return. The man—now called Christian—tries to persuade the two to flee with him. Obstinate refuses, thinking Christian is crazy, but Pliable is intrigued and decides to accompany Christian to the Wicket-gate. Obstinate storms back home.

Christian and Pliable continue on their way, and Pliable asks Christian to tell him more about where they’re headed—can Christian’s book be trusted? Christian says yes, because it’s God’s book, and God cannot lie. He tells Pliable about the everlasting life, angelic company, and many thousands of souls that await them in heaven, according to his book. The Governor of that heavenly land freely gives these things to whomever asks him. Pliable is glad and wants to move faster; Christian explains he can’t, because of the burden on his back.

While crossing a plain, Christian and Pliable suddenly fall into a miry bog. This place is called the Slough of Despond. They both struggle in the mud, and Christian begins to sink because of his burden. Pliable gets angry; this isn’t the happy journey Christian had promised him. He fights his way out of the bog and returns home.

Christian, however, keeps struggling in the direction of the Wicket-gate. Eventually a man named Help appears and pulls Christian out of the Slough. When Christian asks Help why nobody has gotten rid of this dangerous bog, Help explains that it can’t be removed—the “filth,” or fears and doubts that accompany conviction of sin, naturally accumulate here.