Pilgrim's Progress Revisited

Christian and Hope leave the safety of the Palace Beautiful and descend into the Valley of Humiliation. There they meet Apollyon, a fierce enemy who claims that Christian once belonged to him and should return to the Township of Evil. He reminds Christian of every mistake he has made since beginning the journey - sinking in the bog, accepting Worldly Wise’s advice, and letting Busy Work delay him. Christian admits his failures but refuses to turn back, because the King he now serves has forgiven him.

Apollyon attacks. Hope’s arrows of love and Christian’s sword and shield hold him off, but the battle is long and painful. Both travelers are wounded, and Apollyon nearly overpowers Christian. Hope continues fighting beside him, and together they force their enemy to flee. They have survived, but they must enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death before their wounds have fully healed.

The next valley is darker and more dangerous. A narrow path runs between a deep marsh on one side and a fiery ditch on the other. Lost voices and terrible creatures surround the travelers, while flames leap across their way. When their weapons prove useless against these dangers, fear begins to overwhelm them. Hope slips toward the fire, and Christian drops his weapons so he can seize her and pull her back. They escape the valley alive, but they leave it without the armor on which they had depended.

Rain turns the road ahead into a miserable struggle. Christian notices a meadow beyond a fence and decides that walking there will be easier, though Hope reminds him that they have been told not to leave the path. Christian persuades her to follow. The pleasant shortcut soon leads them away from the road and onto the property of Giant Despair.

The giant captures them and locks them in the dungeon of Doubting Castle. He chains them, gives them nothing to eat, and repeatedly urges them to end their own lives. Christian begins to believe that there is no escape and blames himself for bringing Hope into danger. Hope refuses to surrender. She reminds him of everything they have already survived and encourages him to search the book for help.

As Christian opens it, a key marked Promise falls from its pages. The key unlocks their chains, the dungeon door, and every gate between them and freedom. Giant Despair chases them, but the rising sunlight weakens him and sends him stumbling back toward his castle. Safely outside, Christian and Hope place a warning by the fence so future travelers will know that the apparent shortcut leads to Doubting Castle.

They continue to the Delectable Mountains, where a traveler named Ignorance joins them. He has come from the County of Conceit and is certain that his own good intentions will take him to the Celestial City. He has bypassed the Place of Deliverance and still wears his old, stained clothing. When Christian and Hope explain that there is only one path and that the King has provided clean garments, Ignorance dismisses them as narrow-minded rule followers. His confidence briefly makes Christian wonder whether the journey truly needs to be so difficult.

From the mountains, Hope looks through a golden telescope and sees the Celestial City in the distance. Christian sees nothing at first. An Atheist arrives and laughs at both travelers, insisting that they have sacrificed comfort for a city that does not exist. Christian’s doubts deepen as he thinks about the suffering they have endured. Hope answers that hardship does not make the King or his city unreal. Like the air they breathe, some true things cannot be seen with ordinary eyes. She urges Christian to look for himself rather than trust the Atheist’s claims.

Christian looks again. This time he sees the golden clouds and the distant city. His faith restored, he rejects the Atheist’s invitation to abandon the road. The Atheist walks away, while Christian and Hope continue toward the river marking the end of their pilgrimage.

At the river, Evangelist appears with a summons from the King. Christian and Hope enter the water, though the crossing is frightening and the current threatens to pull them under. They encourage one another until they reach the opposite shore.

Ignorance avoids the crossing by paying Vain Hope to carry him over. Because he has arrived by another way, however, he possesses no summons. At the gate he expects his confidence and good deeds to be enough, but the guards will not admit him. He turns away in sorrow.

Christian and Hope present the summons they have been given. The gates open, crowns are placed upon their heads, and the travelers enter the Celestial City at last. Their dangerous pilgrimage ends in the home and rest for which they have been searching.