John Bunyan

Alice Hang
Dis 1B Fridays 11-12

Brief Bio:

Bunyan never got a degree. He was self-educated. He was granted freedom from the revolution. He did metal work. From 1664-1167, he was drafted into the war. He read the Bible for the first time after the war. No one told him how to read the Bible. He got his own ideas and absorbed so much that its language became his own. In 1653, he became a preacher and formed a Baptist congregation. From 1660 to 1672, Bunyan was imprisoned. In prison, he wrote a lot of books. He was arrested again in 1675 and that’s when he started writing “The Pilgrim’s Progress.”

“The Pilgrim’s Progress”
Pg. 2143-2151 of Volume C

Basically, it’s about a dream some guy has of a guy named Christian and his journey to the Celestial City. Christian fears doom and leaves his family and friends from the City of Destruction to find the place of salvation and great things. “Evangelist” tells him where to go. He goes through a swamp and gets stuck, but is rescued by “Help” and then he enters the Vanity Fair where he is beaten. Then, he crosses the River of Death with his companion “Hopeful.” Christian drowns in the deep river but Hopeful tells him that the river is a test for him to remember the times that God has forgiven him and channel that goodness by living life in God’s graces. Christian crosses the river and enters through the gates of heaven.

This is an allegory (extended metaphor). It uses simple and clear direct language and is meant for the common man to be moved by. The story is played out for you. It wants to say that RELIGION IS HERE AND NOW. WE MAKE HEAVEN AND HELL HAPPEN.