Pilgrim's Progress

Pilgrim’s Progress’s Setting

Pilgrim’s Progress has many detailed settings and events. Readers experience fights with dragons, roaring lions, and valleys filled with monsters. However, out of all the scenes, Christian’s encounter with the Worldly-Wiseman strikes attention best. Not only does he manipulate him, but a menacing hill almost crushes the pilgrim. Next, his teacher calls upon the skies, and magma spouts from its sinister peak.

The signature smell of cow manure would surely haunt Christian for days. The Slough of Despond’s mud weighs down his burden and chafes his skin. Likewise, the grit in his mouth absorbs what little hydration he has left. While his feet squelch with each step, their chattering puts his teeth on edge.
It reminds him of the lonely journey ahead. The road is vacant except a faint outline. Even though he devotes most of attention to keeping the swirling dirt out of his lungs and nose, the figure moves to meet him. He can finally distinguish the man’s features. His elegant clothes and haughty air seem to belong more in some castle’s ballroom than an abandoned street, but he beams at Christian. His sounds of displeasure earn an empathetic look. He greets Christian with civility and advises him to rid himself of his burden by climbing a nearby rise, Mount Sinai. Then he should consult his kind friend. The pilgrim considers the gentleman’s suggestion and exits the trail.

The mound, although already high, looms taller with traversed distance. It bends over Christian as it appraises the ant-like pilgrim. Like an earth’s tsunami, it trembles and strains. Now, flaming fingers beckon him closer as a whiff of copper and sulfur singe his eyebrows. Ash is flung into his open mouth, and he gags. He tries not to give into the invasion of smoke or be cowed by his heavier pack, but Christian’s chest fills with lead. He lurches backward from the craters of stone. Not far, footsteps pad towards him. Finding it odd the minuscule action creates this reverberating sound, he notices Evangelist.

Christian’s face heats, but he overcomes his shame and scurries to his mentor.
As always, the godly man smells of clean rivers and sweet honey, but a scowl interrupts his peaceful aura. Bracing himself, Christian suffers his scolding and words. Did he hear him say to travel to the wicket gate? Was he so easily tricked by a few kind phrases? Evangelist almost says more, but Christian’s humble apology cools his fury. The man decides the situation would be best remedied by God. Christian falls to his knees, and the ground’s pebbles prod his legs. The pilgrim trembles and stutters his failures, but Evangelist silences him with warnings. After the man says his part, he looks to heaven for verification. Lava drips down the mountain and a powerful voice roars. Because his eardrums feel close to bursting, Christian wails. Soon, he is on his way and determined to stay on the path.

This story contains flourishing description and vivid scenes. The character ventures through a fair filled with miscreants, a nefarious giant abducts him, and he uses a magic key to escape a brobdingnagian’s castle. The Worldly-Wiseman persuades him to rid himself of his cumbersome load by climbing to the peak of Mount Sinai and bargaining with the man at its top. Mother Earth threatens him with an avalanche. Finally, he encounters Evangelist
again.