Does John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” have hidden biblical messages?

Does John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” have hidden biblical messages?

Does John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” have hidden biblical messages?





The story pilgrim’s progress is the second most influential Christian work of that era. Written by a lowly tinker, whose early years were, if anything, even more humble than the bard. (Heydt 2006, 47) John Bunyan’s personal struggles with faith and godliness inspired this vivid and imaginative tale of a pilgrim’s epic trek towards a distant promised land. (Heydt 2006, 47) Many people label this story an allegory, which is defined as a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. (Dictionary)
Are there hidden messages in this story? According to James Cook who wrote, “The gospel in the pilgrim’s progress John 14:6, there are no hidden messages. (Cook 2012, 1) He does state that the story is an allegory, basing his information on the ancient Greeks who use allegories in a lot of their writings. (Cook 2012, 1) In Bunyan’s story he presents his allegory “ in the similitude of a dream and commences with the famous line, “ and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and as I slept I dreamed a dream.” ( Hiller 2006,445) According to Margret Breen, Bunyan uses sexual hierarchy as a prelapsarian condition: man was made in God’s image, woman in man’s. (Breen 1992, 445) In this story we see Christian approaching the wicked gate, the gate represents Jesus Christ, who is the only way to salvation, John 14:6, says, “Jesus answered,” I am the way and the truth and the life,. No one comes to the father except through me.” ( Cook 2012,1) Christian starts his journey towards the celestial city, while he was walking in some fields and reading his book, he became greatly distressed, and as he read, he burst out crying and cried out, “what shall I do to be saved?” which can be read in the bible in Acts 16:30,31. ( Bunyan 1853, 13)
What can be seen is that Bunyan did not hide any messages in...

Similar Essays