Discussion Topic
Narrative techniques in The Pilgrim's Progress
Summary:
The Pilgrim's Progress employs various narrative techniques, including allegory, where characters and events symbolize deeper moral and spiritual meanings. The story is structured as a journey, with the protagonist, Christian, encountering personified virtues and vices. The use of vivid imagery and direct dialogue helps convey the moral lessons intended by the author, John Bunyan.
What narrative technique does the author use in The Pilgrim's Progress?
Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is a prime example of an allegorical narrative. An allegory is an extended metaphor used by the author to convey a particular message. ThePilgrim's Progress is an allegory on the faith journey of the individual Christian believer. All of the characters in the story have names that fit in with the overarching allegorical narrative. For example, the protagonist is called Christian; and he is spurred to embark upon his journey by Evangelist. These may seem like pretty obvious allegories, but their use allows Bunyan to keep things fairly simple and convey his underlying message more effectively.
Christian must leave the City of Destruction—which represents our fallen world—in order to reach the Celestial City—which is Heaven. But the faith journey of a Christian is never easy, and our hero often stumbles along the way. He falls into a bog called the
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
—which is Heaven. But the faith journey of a Christian is never easy, and our hero often stumbles along the way. He falls into a bog called theSlough of Despond but thankfully is saved. Again, the allegory is obvious; believers often fall into despair only to be saved by God's loving kindness.
An individual by the name of Worldly Wiseman tries to tempt Christian into leading a happy life without the burden of religion. No matter how devout they may be, religious folk often find themselves tempted by the pleasures of the world, which can all too easily divert them from their true path. The town of Vanity, with its infamous fair, also invites the pilgrims on life's way to stray from the path of righteousness.
How does the dream function as a narrative device in The Pilgrim's Progress?
Before the reader encounters the actual text of John Bunyan’s religious narrative, they discover that The Pilgrim’s Progress is being told to them under “the Similitude of a Dream.” This lets the reader know that the story they’re about to read is a dream rather than an account of real life.
The dream is a crucial narrative device, because it allows Bunyan to present characters and situations that depart from reality without slipping into the realm of simple fantasy. By acknowledging from the start that the narrative is a dream, Bunyan tells the reader that what’s happening shouldn’t be mistaken for real life but should be interpreted as an allegory for the difficulties of trying to live a good Christian life.
For instance, when Christian is hampered by the Slough of Despond, he is, in a sense, stuck in a swamp. Yet because this narrative is a dream, one needs to think about what the Slough of Despond symbolizes, to consider how low spirits can bring on inertia or sluggishness.
Again, Bunyan’s dream-narrative device helps the reader follow Christian’s adventures like a story while, at the same time, compelling the reader to think about how Christian’s journey represents the hardships of remaining faithful to one’s religion. In many cases, the metaphorical or allegorical importance of each setting in the narrative is made explicit. As with the Slough of Despond, the symbolism of the stops on Christian’s narrative can be found in the names themselves. The Hill Difficulty is about difficulty, just as the Vanity Fair is about vanity.