The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress

by

John Bunyan

The Pilgrim’s Progress: Part 1: The Enchanted Ground Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
As Christian and Hopeful continue on their way, they meet an Atheist traveling in their direction. When Atheist hears that they’re headed to Mount Zion, he laughs uproariously, calling them fools. He searched for the Celestial City for 20 years, he claims, and never found any evidence of it. That’s why he’s headed back the way he came. Christian and Hopeful believe that Atheist is wrong. They’ve glimpsed the Celestial City from the Delectable Mountains—and besides, they are supposed to walk by faith. They continue on their way, ignoring Atheist’s laughter.
Even within a predominantly Christian culture, Bunyan takes it for granted that there are nonbelievers around. Yet Christian and Hopeful take Atheist’s mockery in stride; it’s just one more expression of the world’s opposition. The statement that Christians “walk by faith, not by sight” comes from 2 Corinthians 5 in the New Testament. It means that pilgrims don’t get a full glimpse of Heaven during earthly life but that, unlike Atheist, they must exercise faith by continuing to progress toward Heaven.
Themes
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Next, they come to a place called the Enchanted Ground, where the air tends to make newcomers drowsy. Hopeful immediately gets sleepy and suggests to Christian that they deserve a nap. Christian reminds him of the Shepherds’ warning and recommends that they engage in conversation in order to stay awake. He suggests that Hopeful tell the story of his conversion.
Following the Shining One’s chastisement, Christian is more alert to the Shepherds’ warnings than he was before. Hopeful is more susceptible to the Enchanted Ground, showing that different pilgrims have different strengths and weaknesses.
Themes
Obstacles on the Journey Theme Icon
Quotes
Literary Devices
Hopeful explains that he used to take delight in those things bought and sold at Vanity Fair. But after witnessing Christian’s sufferings and Faithful’s death, he realized that these things are worthless and that those who indulge in them deserve God’s wrath. It takes a while, because he felt a burdensome conviction of his sins, yet he didn’t recognize the workings of God’s Spirit within him, and he didn’t know how to part with his old friends.
Hopeful is originally from Vanity Fair and used to be loyal to its customs. Christian’s and Faithful’s influence shows that faithfulness under persecution can sway others’ opinions. But Hopeful didn’t immediately become a Christian himself, as he didn’t understand the conflict being waged in his soul.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The World vs. Christianity Theme Icon
Over time, Hopeful was painfully reminded of his sins—when he met a good person in the street, or heard the Bible being read, or was reminded of death. Each time, he felt guilt and feared future judgment. He kept trying to reform his life but fell short. He also realized that, even if he succeeded in improving himself perfectly (which is impossible), he’d never be able to repay the debt of his former sins.
Hopeful’s struggle before his conversion likely draws on Bunyan’s own conversion story, which was marked by a long period of guilt over sin before arriving at a conscious belief in Christianity. Hopeful tried to address his guilt through better behavior, but this only seemed to deepen his despair over his sins.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
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Overwhelmed by his predicament, Hopeful talked with his friend Faithful, who explained that a sinner can only be justified by trusting in Christ’s righteousness and death. Hopeful made various objections, fearing that God’s forgiveness could not apply to him personally, but Faithful gave Hopeful a Bible and told him he must pray for God to reveal himself through it. He also instructed Hopeful in how to pray for God’s mercy on his soul. Hopeful did so, praying fervently, though at first he was discouraged because he did not seem to receive an answer.
It turns out that Faithful himself helped Hopeful out of his struggle (by sharing the truth of the gospel, as Bunyan would have put it). Hopeful explained that only Christ can rescue a person from sin and that a person must study the Bible and take this belief to heart. This reflects the Puritan emphasis on an individual’s standing before God and individual Bible reading.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
One day, however, while wrestling with the fear of Hell, Hopeful had a vision of Christ looking down on him from Heaven and telling Hopeful to believe. When Hopeful asked what it means for a sinner to believe, he heard Christ say, “He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and […] never thirst,” and he understood that believing in Christ means running to him. Hopeful wept as more Bible verses passed through his mind, deepening his assurance of Christ’s salvation. Hopeful could finally see the beauty of Jesus Christ.
Even after Hopeful heard Faithful’s testimony, he did not come to full faith immediately. In the 17th-century Puritan view, a person’s conversion was not necessarily instantaneous, but was sometimes marked by intense inner struggle. Yet when it comes, Hopeful’s conversion involves an intimate encounter with Christ, who recites John 6:35. It is also marked by familiarity with the Bible—suggesting that it isn’t enough for a person to read the Bible, in Bunyan’s view, but to internalize its teachings.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Quotes
After finishing his story, Hopeful glances back and sees Ignorance following behind them. Ignorance says that he prefers to walk alone. Christian engages him in conversation about his soul. Ignorance says he takes comfort in thoughts of God and Heaven and in the belief that he has left everything to pursue God. Ignorance’s heart tells him that he has reason to hope for Heaven. Christian points out that the heart can be deceitful, and that there can be a big difference between belief and reality. Ultimately, what matters is whether a person’s beliefs align with what the Bible says.
After giving the example of Hopeful’s conversion, Bunyan implicitly contrasts Hopeful with Ignorance, who does not possess the same kind of faith. In fact, Ignorance believes that his interest in religion, as well as his pilgrimage itself, will gain God’s favor and admit him to Heaven. Christian explains that a pilgrim shouldn’t look to their own heart to assure them of their soul’s fate, but to what the Bible teaches.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Christian goes on to explain the Bible’s teaching that nobody is righteous, and that the heart naturally produces evil thoughts. Ignorance says he cannot believe that his own heart is that bad. Christian says that the Bible teaches that humanity’s ways are wicked. It’s only possible for a person to think rightly of himself and God once he understands these biblical teachings. Ignorance protests that he believes in Christ, but Christian argues that this isn’t possible unless Ignorance actually sees his need for Christ. It isn’t enough, as Ignorance says, to believe that Christ justifies a sinner’s actions. Ignorance must believe that Christ justifies him, and that only on this basis can he be saved.
The Bible, according to Christian, teaches that the heart can’t really be trusted, because it is corrupted by sin. This is the biggest difference between Christian and Ignorance: Ignorance does not believe that sin has corrupted his heart that badly. Because of this, in Christian’s view, Ignorance cannot truly believe in Christ—because he does not see the depth of his personal need for Christ. He cannot, in other words, believe in Christ in an abstract, detached manner; the belief must be deeply personal.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon
Ignorance denies Christian’s argument—if it were true, he says, then people could live as they chose. Christian says that Ignorance doesn’t yet understand the nature of Christ’s righteousness. With a final urging, Christian and Hopeful part ways with Ignorance.
Ignorance continues to believe that human beings’ behavior is the most important factor in salvation. If not, he believes, then humans will feel at liberty to do whatever they want.
Themes
The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ Theme Icon
The Centrality of the Bible Theme Icon