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Symbols
The heavy burden that Christian carries at the beginning of his journey symbolizes his sin, as well as the guilt and dread of God’s condemnation that accompanies his sin. Christian’s burden is what initially prompts him to seek salvation. During the early stages of Christian’s pilgrimage, the burden slows his progress—causing him to sink in the Slough of Despond, for example. Yet, even when he’s warned of dangers ahead, Christian is undeterred, believing nothing is worse than his burden, and nothing is more important than the burden’s removal. When he enters the narrow way by means of the Wicket-gate (symbolizing Jesus Christ the as humankind’s savior), Christian receives Christ’s salvation, but his burden remains with him. It isn’t until he reaches the place of Deliverance, or the Cross, that the burden slides off his shoulders for good. This suggests Bunyan’s view that, even after Christ saves a sinner from his or her sins, the burden of guilt can remain with that person. But once Christian sees the instrument by which he was delivered from his sins—the Cross, on which Jesus was crucified—he is comforted, and he is never troubled by his burden again.
Burden Quotes in The Pilgrim’s Progress
The The Pilgrim’s Progress quotes below all refer to the symbol of Burden. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman
Quotes
But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially, since (hadst thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into […] Why in yonder Village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a Gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders […] he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens.
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Part 1: The Cross
Quotes
So I saw in my Dream, that just as Christian came up with the Cross, his Burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the Sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.
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Burden Symbol Timeline in The Pilgrim’s Progress
The timeline below shows where the symbol Burden appears in The Pilgrim’s Progress. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Fleeing the City of Destruction
...the protagonist of the rest of the story, Christian) holding a book and carrying a burden on his back. The man reads the book and weeps, crying aloud, “What shall I...
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...vents his grief to his wife and children. He explains that he’s overwhelmed by his burden. In addition, he has learned that their city is soon to be destroyed by fire...
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...approaches and asks what’s wrong. The man explains his fear of condemnation, due to the burden he carries. Also, he knows he must flee, but he doesn’t know where to go.
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Part 1: The Slough of Despond
...Pliable is glad and wants to move faster; Christian explains he can’t, because of the burden on his back.
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...Despond. They both struggle in the mud, and Christian begins to sink because of his burden. Pliable gets angry; this isn’t the happy journey Christian had promised him. He fights his...
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Part 1: Mr. Worldly Wiseman
...Christian explains that he’s going to the Wicket-gate in order to be rid of his burden, as per Evangelist’s advice. Mr. Worldly Wiseman condemns Evangelist’s counsel. The Slough of Despond, he...
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...death. Christian argues that, no matter what, none of these things are worse than his burden.
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Mr. Worldly Wiseman asks Christian how he got this burden. Christian explains that he got it by reading the Book he carries. Mr. Worldly Wiseman...
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...becomes frightened that the overhanging hill will fall on his head and crush him. His burden only grows heavier. Just as Christian is growing distressed, Evangelist finds him again.
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...her children, is in bondage herself. How can those in bondage free Christian from his burden? After Evangelist finishes speaking, Mt. Sinai erupts with fire and a curse.
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Part 1: At the Wicket-Gate
...Good-will also tells Christian that when he reaches the place of Deliverance (the Cross), Christian’s burden will fall off.
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Part 1: The Cross
Bearing his burden with great difficulty, Christian runs along the narrow highway, which is bordered by a wall...
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Part 1: Hill Difficulty and Palace Beautiful
...about the wonderful things he saw at the Interpreter’s House and the loss of his burden at the Cross.
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Part 2: From the Interpreter’s House to the Porter’s House
Great-heart, Christiana, Mercy, and the boys arrive at the Cross, where Christian lost his burden. Christiana asks Great-heart questions about this. She knows that sinners are pardoned both by word...
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...with this explanation. She asks if it was understanding of this teaching that caused Christian’s burden to fall from his shoulders. Great-heart says yes—it was this that made Christian understand why...
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