The Pilgrim's Progress - Critical Essay Sample

Introduction

The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian book written by John Bunyan. It is an allegorical book that explores the life of the conventional Christian. It represents a symbolic vision of the right person by the name Christian in his journey in Christ. It shows the trip that he made amidst tribulations and temptations. It is regarded as one of the most popular symbolic books which talk about Christianity. The book talks about the trials and tribulations that faced the protagonist, Christian. Throughout the journey, he met betrayal, but he never gave up as he continued with the trip. The book represents the journey of faith, what Christ went through to save the world. Christian is determined, and he can fight all the challenges and gets the victory at the end. The book is, and it represents the real life that Christians go through in life here on earth.

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The first difficulty that the Christian faces are the distress he has over the impending destruction of the city. At this moment he decides to leave without listening to his family after being advised by the evangelist. He goes through a difficult journey with a burden of sin on his back. He has to leave his home, wife, and his children after he was not able to persuade them to go 3with him. Christian comes across a place where there was a cross, and it is here that he learns of Christ's sacrifice for the sake of his sins and he is relieved of his burden. He is given a new robe, scroll, and a certificate which he was supposed to present at the gate in Celestial City. When traveling with Pliable at the beginning of the journey, they fall into an area that was swampily called Slough of Despond. In the event, Pliable saves himself and leaves Christian." Hence Pliable, making several difficult attempts, eventually struggled out of the mire on that side of the Slough which was closest to his own house" (19). He cries out for help, and in the struggle, he gets himself on the other side of the bog assisted by Help. Help heard him cry out for help and decided to help him "Then give me your hand. So Christian stretched out his hand, and Help lifted him out of the mire and set him on solid ground; then the pilgrim was exhorted to be on his way toward the Wicket-gate ahead..." (20)

The book, The Pilgrim's Progress is symbolic in many ways. It presents the journey made by Christian from the City of Destruction all the way to the Celestial City. The Celestial City stands for heaven in this case. Throughout the book, there are many allegories from the name that the characters have been given to the circumstances of the book. The story has two meanings, and the first meaning is just a little Christian adventure that is full intrigues and challenges. The book has a deeper meaning that explains why Christians must persevere when seeking the salvation of the soul and also to get the graces of God. The journey that Christian makes is a representation of spiritual journeys made by human beings from the time he or she is born all the way to death and the process of eternal life.

The author is trying to tell us how to tackle the trials that come throughout life. It can include having spiritual doubt and a lot of uncertainty regarding faith in God. In the process of human life there will always be the presence of bodily desires, temptations from the world, giving up and hopelessness as well as other afflictions. Throughout the book, Bunyan has used names that suggest the circumstances. For instance, the name Christian which points to Christ is the central character of the story. When the author says that he has a burden on his back, it represents the sins and also the author talks of the book in his hand which serves the bible. The journey represents a religious mission that a man makes to preserve his beliefs active and at the end get God's grace. Another allegory is in the instance where the Wicket-gate is unlocked by a caretaker named Good-Will which represents a more profound representation of Christ and his grace that will award people salvation through complications, trials, and temptations.

Conclusion

The lesson that John Bunyan is making across is that in the journey of salvation there will always be trials and temptations which will face someone. The tests are not meant to make someone give up, but instead, they are intended to make the person soldier on with the journey to salvation. "In the mission of salvation, people will feel lonely and overwhelmed, but the prize is worth." (45) Through the journey that Christian makes, we see that he comes across a lot of these trials. His family abandons him but he is determined, and he continues with the journey. Even when Pliable abandons him, he struggles, and he is helped by Help. It means that also when people that are close to we abandon us, we are supposed to continue with our journeys and soldier on. Bunyan is presenting vital lessons that can help us human beings in this life. Giving us the hope that with all trials and tribulations of the world. If we are determined, we will have the salvation and God's grace. Life will always challenge us with worldly pleasures and may other vices.

Works Cited

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim's Progress.Baker & Taylor, 1786.

Du Plessis-Hay, Michele. "The pilgrim's progress."Literator: Journal of Literary Criticism, Comparative Linguistics and Literary Studies 27.1 (2006): 223-226.

Owens, W. R. The pilgrim's progress.Oxford University Press, 2008.

Aaron, Melissa D. "The Pilgrim's Progress." Awakening Words: John Bunyan and the Language of Community (2000): 169.

Layard, G. S. "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS." The Academy and literature, 1914-1916 1704 (1904): 655-656.

Kaufmann, U. Milo. The Pilgrim's Progress and Traditions in Puritan Meditation. Yale University Press, 1966.Works cited

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim's Progress.Baker & Taylor, 1786.

duPlessis-Hay, Michele. "The pilgrim's progress."Literator: Journal of Literary Criticism, Comparative Linguistics and Literary Studies 27.1 (2006): 223-226.

Owens, W. R. The pilgrim's progress.Oxford University Press, 2008.

Aaron, Melissa D. "The Pilgrim's Progress." Awakening Words: John Bunyan and the Language of Community (2000): 169.

Layard, G. S. "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS." The Academy and literature, 1914-1916 1704 (1904): 655-656.

Kaufmann, U. Milo. The Pilgrim's Progress and Traditions in Puritan Meditation.Yale University Press, 1966.