The Pilgrim's Progress: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes (2024)

The narrator defends the story he is about to tell, whichis framed as a dream. He explains that he fell asleep in the wildernessand dreamed of a man named Christian, who was tormented by spiritual anguish.A spiritual guide named Evangelist visits Christian and urges himto leave the City of Destruction. Evangelist claims that salvationcan only be found in the Celestial City, known as Mount Zion.

Christian begs his family to accompany him, unsuccessfully.On his way, Christian falls into a bog called the Slough of Despond,but he is saved. He meets Worldly Wiseman, who urges him to leada practical, happy existence without religion. Refusing, Christianis sheltered in Goodwill’s house. Goodwill tells Christian to stopby the Interpreter’s home, where Christian learns many lessons about faith.

Walking along the wall of Salvation, Christian sees Christ’stomb and cross. At this vision, his burden falls to the ground.One of the three Shining Ones, celestial creatures, hands him arolled certificate for entry to the Celestial City. Christian fallsasleep and loses his certificate. Since the certificate is his ticketinto the Celestial City, Christian reproaches himself for losingit. After retracing his tracks, he eventually finds the certificate.Walking on, Christian meets the four mistresses of the Palace Beautiful,who provide him shelter. They also feed him and arm him. After descendingthe Valley of Humiliation, Christian meets the monster Apollyon,who tries to kill him. Christian is armed, and he strikes Apollyonwith a sword and then proceeds through the desert-like Valley ofthe Shadow of Death toward the Celestial City.

Christian meets Faithful, a traveler from his hometown.Faithful and Christian are joined by a third pilgrim, Talkative,whom Christian spurns. Evangelist arrives and warns Faithful andChristian about the wicked town of Vanity, which they will soonenter. Evangelist foretells that either Christian or Faithful willdie in Vanity.

The two enter Vanity and visit its famous fair. They resisttemptation and are mocked by the townspeople. Eventually the citizens ofVanity imprison Christian and Faithful for mocking their local religion.Faithful defends himself at his trial and is executed, rising toheaven after death. Christian is remanded to prison but later escapesand continues his journey.

Another fellow pilgrim named Hopeful befriends Christianon his way. On their journey, a pilgrim who uses religion as a meansto get ahead in the world, named By-ends, crosses their path. Christian rejectshis company. The two enter the plain of Ease, where a smooth talkernamed Demas tempts them with silver. Christian and Hopeful passhim by.

Taking shelter for the night on the grounds of DoubtingCastle, they awake to the threats of the castle’s owner, the GiantDespair, who, with the encouragement of his wife, imprisons andtortures them. Christian and Hopeful escape when they remember theypossess the key of Promise, which unlocks any door in Despair’s domain.

Proceeding onward, Christian and Hopeful approach theDelectable Mountains near the Celestial City. They encounter wiseshepherds who warn them of the treacherous mountains Error and Caution,where previous pilgrims have died. The shepherds point out travelerswho wander among tombs nearby, having been blinded by the GiantDespair. They warn the travelers to beware of shortcuts, which maybe paths to hell.

The two pilgrims meet Ignorance, a sprightly teenagerwho believes that living a good life is sufficient to prove one’sreligious faith. Christian refutes him, and Ignorance decides toavoid their company. The travelers also meet Flatterer, who snaresthem in a net, and Atheist, who denies that the Celestial City exists.Crossing the sleep-inducing Enchanted Ground, they try to stay awakeby discussing Hopeful’s sinful past and religious doctrine.

Christian and Hopeful gleefully approach the land of Beulah, wherethe Celestial City is located. The landscape teems with flowersand fruit, and the travelers are refreshed. To reach the gate into thecity, they must first cross a river without a bridge. Christian nearlydrowns, but Hopeful reminds him of Christ’s love, and Christianemerges safely from the water. The residents of the Celestial Cityjoyously welcome the two pilgrims. In his conclusion to Part I, thenarrator expresses hope that his dream be interpreted properly.

In the Introduction to Part II, Bunyan addresses the bookas “Christiana,” which is the name of Christian’s wife. This partof The Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of Christianaand her children’s journey to the Celestial City. The narrator recountshaving met an old man, Sagacity, who tells the beginning of Christiana’s story.She decides to pack up and follow Christian to the Celestial City,taking her four sons and a fellow townswoman named Mercy along asa servant. On the way, they cross the Slough of Despond but areblocked at the gate by an angry dog. The gatekeeper lets them through.Continuing on, the sons steal fruit from the devil’s garden, andtwo ruffians threaten to rape the women, but they escape.

The pilgrims are lodged in the Interpreter’s house. TheInterpreter orders his manservant Great-heart to accompany themto the House Beautiful. Mr. Brisk pays court to Mercy but soon stops courtingher because of her involvement in charity work. As a result of eatingthe devil’s fruit, Matthew falls ill but is cured by Dr. Skill. Thepilgrims descend into the Valley of Humiliation and cross the Valleyof the Shadow of Death. They encounter the giant Maul and slay him.After meeting the old pilgrim Honest, they take shelter with Gaius.The pilgrims continue on their journey and kill the Giant Good-slaythen rescue the pilgrims Feeble-mind and Ready-to-Halt. They lodgewith Mnason. Crossing the river of life, they kill the Giant Despairand greet the kind shepherds who welcome them into the DelectableMountains.

Christiana meets the great fighter Valiant-for-truth,who accompanies them. They cross the Enchanted Ground and meet thepilgrim Standfast, who has just spurned Madam Bubble, a beautiful temptress.The pilgrims are welcomed in the Celestial City. Christiana goesto meet her maker, the Master. The other pilgrims soon follow.