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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Pilgrim’s Progress, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ
The World vs. Christianity
Obstacles on the Journey
The Centrality of the Bible
Women as Pilgrims
Summary
Analysis
When Bunyan began to write, he didn’t expect to write a book “in such a mode.” He was writing about the Christian life in his own day, when he “fell […] into an Allegory” on the subject. He did not expect to show this book to anyone; writing it was just an activity to pass the time.
Bunyan’s Apology takes the form of a long poem. In this context, an “apology” is not an admission of wrongdoing, but an attempt to defend one’s ideas or method. Bunyan especially defends his allegorical method. He claims he didn’t set out to write this book; imprisoned for unauthorized preaching at the time, he was just keeping himself occupied.
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After his book was finished, Bunyan showed it to others. Some approved of the book and encouraged him to publish it; others didn’t like it. He finally decided to publish the book and see what happened. He uses various metaphors to defend his style and method of writing, like a fisherman trying many different means to catch an elusive fish, or a fowler whistling for a particular bird, losing another bird in the process.
Bunyan anticipates objections to his allegorical method, suggesting that it won’t be to everyone’s liking. For example, not every method of fishing or hunting catches every type of creature; different methods are geared toward particular creatures. In the same way, Bunyan’s writing style might not “hook” every type of reader, but nor is it intended to.
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Anticipating criticism, Bunyan argues that “feigned” words can cause truth to shine more brightly. He further points out that God’s laws were presented as “types” and “shadows.” The prophets, too, used metaphors, as did Christ and his apostles. The Bible is filled with allegories, and nobody would deny that it’s filled with truth.
Bunyan specifically anticipates objections to the use of allegory to convey religious teachings. His main argument is that the Bible does this, especially in the Old Testament, where laws and ceremonies served as “types,” or shadowy symbols, of Christ’s coming. And in the New Testament, allegory features heavily in Jesus’s teachings, or parables.
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Bunyan offers three more points to those who might be offended by his approach. First, he is free to employ allegory in his efforts to put forth the truth. Second, distinguished authors aren’t criticized for expressing truth through dialogue form, so God can surely use this “base” method, too. Third, the Bible contains many metaphors.
Bunyan points to other respected authors and books to defend his approach. Again, his strongest appeal is to the Bible, because it uses metaphors and allegory throughout, and these forms of symbolism do not detract from the communication of truth. Moreover, the Bible is viewed by Bunyan’s audience as the authoritative word of God; one cannot object to its use of allegory, so Bunyan’s allegory should be unobjectionable, too.
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Bunyan offers a brief summary of his book. It will, he says, make “a Traveller” of the willing reader. His “fancies” will be memorable, and his dialect will be entertaining. In short, if his reader desires both enjoyment and spiritual benefit, the reader should “lay my Book, thy Head, and Heart together.”
Bunyan invites his readers to become pilgrims as they read, taking his spiritual meanings to heart and benefiting thereby. He also suggests that his entertaining style will stick in readers’ minds more easily.
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