One of the books I most frequently reference, and recommend is the Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, a classic of Christian literature that has been much loved since its writing. Charles Spurgeon claimed to read the books once a year, and urged others to read it regularly also. Bunyan possessed an insight, and gift for communicating those insights simply. John Owen, a contemporary of Bunyan and the foremost puritan theologian, greatly admire the tinker’s ability to make profound truths accessible.
The story begins with a man living with his family in the City of Destruction. His life there is described in enough detail for us to see it isn’t much of a life, and our protagonist is beginning to see this as well. Eventually he is compelled to seek the Celestial City, leaving his family (who could not be persuaded to go with him) to walk a narrow road. A man named evangelist sets him on the path, and gives him a book to help him along the way.
Christian is followed by two men of the City of Destruction who try to convince him to turn back, but instead one of the two, named Pliable, is convinced to go with Christian. It is not long till Christian encounters the Slough of Despond, Pliable turns back, while Christian forges ahead only to become trapped in the boggy marsh. Help arrives to save Christian from the slough. Awhile later Christian is misdirected by Mr. Worldly-Wiseman to mount Sinai where Evangelist appears to lead him back to the right path.
Christian reaches the Wicket Gate where the narrow path begins, and asking about relief from the terrible burden he carries is directed toward the Place of Deliverance. Christian’s journey continues and he has many encounters along the way. I do not want to give too much away; the book is well-worth reading for anyone. I will advise that the second part of the work is often omitted, but should not be neglected.
In the Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan makes many insightful observations about the Christian life, life in general, and theology accessible by allegorizing. Despair becomes a giant, doubt a dungeon, despondency a slough, hope a key, the armor of God from Ephesians 6 becomes literal armor, and so on and so forth. The story depicts the inner realities as outer realities, things we can easily picture and relate to depict things without images which are harder to grasp. Not only does the general concept come across quite readily, but something of the feeling of the actual experience comes along with it. This is important in a work about life, for life is felt as much as it is understood.
John Bunyan had good deal of experience in life as detailed in his autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. He also had plenty of time to consider his life experience in prison. The whole narrative is very well crafted, seamlessly integrating a number of scenes into a coherent and cohesive plot. There is definite purpose to Christian’s journey, and to the work as a whole. This singular purpose makes the allegory fairly transparent. It isn’t hard to know what the Giant Despair is meant to personify. Nor is difficult to see the true nature of Vanity Fair. As we have said the general meanings come across quite readily.
Allegories have a two weakness. First, they need interpretation which leaves room for confusion. Secondly it is difficult to be precise. Bunyan provides some guidance to the correct interpretation, but it is not always included in reprints. It is clear that the original author intended his work to be read in light of Scripture, and for that holy book to govern the interpretation of his own. Unfortunately, the scriptures themselves can, and are misinterpreted, and so the problem persist.
T must be said that Bunyan allegory is quite transparent, and it would be rather difficult to miss the broader meanings. Allegory is not very popular in our day, and so the ways of reading it and understanding it are not well known. If we know what we are reading, and the rules which govern its interpretation there is a good chance we will gain by it. However, if we do not know the rules which govern a literary style, or genre we are like pilgrim without a guidebook.
So, what do we do with the Pilgrim’s Progress? I say we read it, but only after we have prepared to read it rightly by understanding the conventions of allegory, the intent of the original author, and something of the Bible: the last is necessary due to many direct references such as the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Apollyon, and Demas throughout the book. Even if it isn’t read for edification in the Christian faith, it should be read as classic of English literature.
Personally, I am not so enamored with this volume as Spurgeon was. I have reread it a number of times, and plan on rereading it a number of times more. I find that as life goes on the book holds more and more resonance, but it would be better if one knew the book well enough early in life that he recognized its contents in his experience’s. I admire the directedness of the work of fiction. I admire, as did John Owen, Bunyan’s ability to communicate simply and effectively.
Others have tried to emulate this masterful allegory, but their works lacked the intensity of focus that directed Bunyan’s original. C. S. Lewis penned, The Pilgrim’s Regress, a narrative of walking in circles attempting to map Lewis’s own journey of faith. It has a few good images in it, such as the depiction of sin; but overall, the cyclical nature of the path followed leads to confusing outcome, and the sorts of questions which have surrounded the author in recent years. Randy Alcorn has, Edge of Eternity a more linear allegory for modern times. Alcorn provides a few very powerful moments, his depiction of the Cross is truly brilliant, and his depiction of sin is very apt. However, the work lacks the directness of Bunyan and so is not quite as compelling. The Pilgrim’s Progress remains the best work, and is most worthy of your attention. I do not recommend Lewis pale imitation, but would recommend Alcorn’s.
I would also recommend that Christian writers and creators in all media reexamine the virtues of allegory in conveying truth. To this end I urge the study of the work, and also Bunyan’s The Holy War. Allegory is a more visual means of conveying truths, and we live in an increasingly visual culture. I’ll leave you with that thought for now.
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