The Pilgrim’s Progress: Part 2: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains Summary & Analysis

At last, the group of pilgrims departs from Vanity. They pause in remembrance at the spot where Faithful was martyred. They pass the Hill Lucre, Demas’s silver-mine, and the pillar of salt. They come to a meadow beside the Delectable Mountains, and Christiana has her daughters-in-law commit their little ones to the care of the shepherd who dwells here, who gently tends young lambs. The women commit their children accordingly and continue on their way.

When the group arrives at By-path Meadow, where Christian and Hopeful were led astray to Doubting Castle, they argue about how best to proceed. They finally determine that Mr. Great-heart, Honest, and Christiana’s four sons will attempt to demolish Doubting Castle altogether. When the group knocks at the gate, Despair and Diffidence arrogantly go forward to fight them. Diffidence is killed by Honest’s blow, and Great-heart, after much struggle, beheads Despair at last. Then they spend a week knocking down Doubting Castle.

Within Doubting Castle, they discover two prisoners named Mr. Dispondency and his daughter Much-Afraid, whom they take into their protection. The rest of the group breaks into celebratory music and dancing when they learn of the Giant Despair’s demise. They place the Giant’s head on a pillar for a monument and warning to others. The group then travels into the Delectable Mountains, where they are welcomed by the Shepherds. Mr. Great-heart says that the Shepherds’ warm welcome of the weak and infirm demonstrates that they are true shepherds and not false.

The next morning, the Shepherds show the guests the same places they’d shown Christian. They also tour some different places, including Mount Innocent, from which they see a man named Godly-man on whom dirt is constantly thrown, yet whose garment always becomes clean again. From Mount Charity, they see a man who makes clothes for the poor and whose supply of cloth is constantly renewed.

Mercy asks permission to peek into the hillside entrance to Hell; she comes back trembling, praising God for her deliverance. Later that day, Mercy (who is pregnant) feels a longing for a certain looking-glass that hangs in the Shepherds’ dining-room. She fears that if she cannot have the looking-glass, she will miscarry. It's a special glass that, from a certain angle, will show the face of Jesus. Christiana tells the Shepherds Mercy’s request, and they willingly give her the looking-glass. They also give each of the women additional gifts and jewelry.