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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
Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence accompany Christian down the hill toward the Valley of Humiliation, since it’s a challenging descent for someone like him. Then they give him some refreshments and send him on his way. Christian has only journeyed a short distance, however, when he encounters a fiend named Apollyon. Since he has no armor for his back, Christian resolves to stand and face the fiend.
The tricky descent suggests that a pilgrim must practice humility, and that this will come easier to some than to others. What’s more, building humility sometimes requires a process of struggle, as Christian learns when he meets the fiend. “Apollyon” is the name of a destroying angel in the apocalyptic Book of Revelation in the New Testament.
Themes
Quiz
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Apollyon, a hideous, scaly, winged creature, interrogates Christian. He observes that Christian used to be his subject and promises to give Christian rewards if he will submit to Apollyon again. Christian explains that he has sworn allegiance to a different Prince, who is far better. Apollyon points out that most of that Prince’s servants come to an unhappy end, and that the Prince never delivers them from their sufferings. Christian argues that the Prince’s servants expect a future reward.
It's implied that Apollyon is a servant of the devil—hence the fact that Christian was once his servant. Apollyon tries to sway Christian back to his side by insinuating that Christian’s new “Prince” (Jesus) allows his subjects (Christians) to suffer, while Apollyon will treat him better. Christian rejects this temptation by arguing that Jesus’s followers aren’t expecting earthly reward.
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Apollyon tries a different approach. He reminds Christian of all his mistakes and failings thus far, like sinking in the Slough of Despond, cowering at the lions, and secretly craving recognition for everything he does. Christian admits these things, but explains that the merciful Prince has pardoned him for them. At this, Apollyon flies into a rage and declares his hatred of that Prince and his servants. He attacks Christian with fiery darts, wounding him in several places. Christian resists for half a day, growing weaker and weaker.
Since promising Christian worldly rewards doesn’t work, Apollyon instead appeals to Christian’s insecurities by reminding him of his past and present sins. While Christian doesn’t deny these, he responds that Christ does not hold them against him—showing that Christian has grown stronger in his faith. Apollyon’s rage also suggests that attacking pilgrims’ weaknesses is one of his go-to methods. Thwarting this line of attack, therefore, is one of the best ways to resist the devil’s power.
Themes
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Apollyon knocks Christian to the ground, but just before he crushes Christian to death, Christian manages to grasp his sword and give the fiend a deadly blow, declaring that “we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us.” The wounded Apollyon flies away. Christian gives thanks to God for delivering him from the fiend. Then a hand appears, giving Christian some leaves from the Tree of Life, which heal his wounds. Christian continues on his journey, sword in hand.
Christian’s sword is associated with the power of the Bible, as his recitation of a verse from the Epistle to the Romans (“more than conquerors” through Christ) signals Apollyon’s defeat. This underscores the importance of knowing and applying the Bible in a pilgrim’s life, especially when fighting obstacles. Keeping his sword at the ready, Christian is better prepared for future obstacles.
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