The heavy burden that Christian carries at the beginning of his journey symbolizes his sin, as well as the guilt and dread of God’s condemnation that accompanies his sin. Christian’s burden is what initially prompts him to seek salvation. During the early stages of Christian’s pilgrimage, the burden slows his progress—causing him to sink in the Slough of Despond, for example. Yet, even when he’s warned of dangers ahead, Christian is undeterred, believing nothing is worse than his burden, and nothing is more important than the burden’s removal. When he enters the narrow way by means of the Wicket-gate (symbolizing Jesus Christ the as humankind’s savior), Christian receives Christ’s salvation, but his burden remains with him. It isn’t until he reaches the place of Deliverance, or the Cross, that the burden slides off his shoulders for good. This suggests Bunyan’s view that, even after Christ saves a sinner from his or her sins, the burden of guilt can remain with that person. But once Christian sees the instrument by which he was delivered from his sins—the Cross, on which Jesus was crucified—he is comforted, and he is never troubled by his burden again.
Burden Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress
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.
So I saw in my Dream, that just as Christian came up with the Cross, his Burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the Sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.
Burden Symbol Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress
