The Pilgrim’s Progress
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1: The Author’s Apology Part 1: Fleeing the City of Destruction Part 1: The Slough of Despond Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate Part 1: The Interpreter’s House Part 1: The Cross Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful Part 1: The Valley of Humiliation Part 1: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 1: Christian and Faithful Part 1: Talkative Part 1: Vanity Fair Part 1: Christian, Hopeful, and By-ends Part 1: Demas and By-path Meadow Part 1: Giant Despair and Doubting Castle Part 1: The Delectable Mountains Part 1: Ignorance, Little-faith, and Flatterer Part 1: The Enchanted Ground Part 1: Fear and Backsliding Part 1: Beulah, the River of Death, and the Celestial City Part 1: Conclusion Part 2: Introduction Part 2: Christiana Part 2: The Wicket-gate Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House Part 2: At the Porter’s House Part 2: Matthew’s Illness Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Part 2: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 2: Honest and Fearing Part 2: At Gaius’s Inn Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity Part 2: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains Part 2: Valiant-for-Truth Part 2: The Pilgrims Cross the River
Themes
All Themes The Burden of Sin and Salvation through Christ The World vs. Christianity Obstacles on the Journey The Centrality of the Bible Women as Pilgrims
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Christian Faithful Hopeful Christiana Evangelist Pliable Mr. Worldly Wiseman Legality Good-will/Keeper of the Gate Shining Ones Simple Sloth Presumption Formalist Hypocrisy Apollyon Adam the First/Moses Talkative By-ends Giant Despair Shepherds Ignorance Temporary Mercy Feeble-mind
Symbols
All Symbols Burden Wicket-gate Roll / Certificate / Scroll
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allegory Allusions Ethos Flashbacks Foreshadowing Frame Story Genre Imagery Irony Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes Part 1: The Author’s Apology Quiz Part 1: Fleeing the City of Destruction Quiz Part 1: The Slough of Despond Quiz Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman Quiz Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate Quiz Part 1: The Interpreter’s House Quiz Part 1: The Cross Quiz Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful Quiz Part 1: The Valley of Humiliation Quiz Part 1: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Quiz Part 1: Christian and Faithful Quiz Part 1: Talkative Quiz Part 1: Vanity Fair Quiz Part 1: Christian, Hopeful, and By-ends Quiz Part 1: Demas and By-path Meadow Quiz Part 1: Giant Despair and Doubting Castle Quiz Part 1: The Delectable Mountains Quiz Part 1: Ignorance, Little-faith, and Flatterer Quiz Part 1: The Enchanted Ground Quiz Part 1: Fear and Backsliding Quiz Part 1: Beulah, the River of Death, and the Celestial City Quiz Part 1: Conclusion Quiz Part 2: Introduction Quiz Part 2: Christiana Quiz Part 2: The Wicket-gate Quiz Part 2: The Interpreter’s House Quiz Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House Quiz Part 2: At the Porter’s House Quiz Part 2: Matthew’s Illness Quiz Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Quiz Part 2: The Valley of the Shadow of Death Quiz Part 2: Honest and Fearing Quiz Part 2: At Gaius’s Inn Quiz Part 2: Feeble-mind and a Visit to Vanity Quiz Part 2: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains Quiz Part 2: Valiant-for-Truth Quiz Part 2: The Pilgrims Cross the River Quiz
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The Pilgrim’s Progress

by

John Bunyan

The Pilgrim’s Progress: Part 2: The Valley of Humiliation Summary & Analysis

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
After leaving the Porter’s House, the group descends the steep hill into the Valley of Humiliation, where Christian had fought Apollyon. The women enter the Valley with ease, so they don’t fear combat themselves—Great-heart explains that Christian’s troubles came as a result of his slippery descent.
The Valley of Humiliation isn’t haunted; the troubles pilgrims encounter there result from their own lack of humility. This is why Christian was forced to fight the demon. The women’s ease suggests that they are humble enough.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
The Valley of Humiliation is a beautiful and fruitful place. Christ once had his country estate here. It is a peaceful, solitary place well suited to contemplation.
The narrator suggests that Christ—who is noted in the Gospels to have sought solitude—lived in the Valley of Humiliation during his earthly life.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Great-heart points out a spot called Forgetful Green where Christian’s battle with Apollyon took place. However, Mercy observes that passing through this Valley makes her feel happier and healthier than ever. Great-heart says that he has led many pilgrims through this place who have said the same. He quotes from Scripture, saying that God looks “to him that is Poor, and of a Contrite Spirit.” They look at the disturbed stones, bloodstains, and stone monument marking the spot where Christian fought Apollyon.
Unlike Christian, who faced special challenges in this Valley, Mercy feels naturally suited to its humble atmosphere. Great-heart’s Bible verse (Isaiah 66:2) suggest that God is with the humble in a special way, which is why they find this place especially inviting.
Themes
Quotes
Literary Devices
Quiz
Test Yourself
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