The Analyses of the Pilgrim 天路历程的简要分析

The Analyses of Themes in the Pilgrim’s Progress英语教育1班Abstract: John Bunyan is one of the great writers and evangelists of the period of the English bourgeois revolution on the 18th century. The Pilgrim’s Progress is his masterpiece as a religious allegory. The Pilgrim’s Progress was written in the Bedford prison. Bunyan’s varied spiritual experience as his exclusive reading of the Bible in prison, furnished his sensitive imagination with profound impression and vivid images. He wrote them down. It has become one of the most popular books in the English language. According to telling of the spiritual pilgrimage of Christian, bearing the weight of the world, he encountered lots of difficulties to seek salvation for himself and others. These analyses of the Pilgrim’s Progress mainly focus on its themes: satirize the English society and human weakness in that society. Besides, in that time, the impact of religion is very significant. This thesis will devote its themes to analyze this famous book.Key Words:spiritual pilgrimage salvation themesIntroductionThe Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most famous classics of literature. It is an allegorical novel, describing a Christian’s journey through life to reach heaven. It reflects Bunyan’s Puritan concepts. Christian and Hopeful go through the risky Enchanted Ground to the Land of Beulah, where they prepare themselves to cross the River of Death on foot to Mount Zion and the Celestial City. Christian has a hard time with the company of Hopeful. Finally they get into the Celestial City which is the vision of an ideal society dreamed by a poor tinker.1.Spiritual salvation for mankindBegin with the author’s dream, in which the author tells how he “saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face turned from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back”. He tries to convince his family and neighbors of the dangers which threaten them and to ask them to accompany him in his search for salvation. But they think him mad and will not listen. So he decides to start out alone with his friend Pliable. They fly from the City of Destruction, meet with the perils（danger）and temptations of the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, and DoubtingCastle, face and overcome the demon Appollyon, and finally come to the Delectable Mountains and the Celestial City.Although no person believes him, he never changes his mind to pursue his salvation for mankind. So it is not hard to find that western people attach more importance to individual and freedom.2.A biting satire on the English societyOne of the most remarkable passages is that in which Vanity Fair and the persecution of Christian and his friend Faithful. They come to Vanity Fair. As they refuse to buy anything but Truth, they are beaten and put in a cage, and then taken out and led in chains up and down the fair, and at length brought before a court. Judge Hate-good summons three witnesses: Envy, Superstition and Pickthank who testify against him. The case is given to the jury, composed of Mr. Badman, Mr. No-good, and Mr. Malice, etc. Each gives a verdict against Faithful, who is presently condemned. Here Bunyan intends to satirize the state trails in the preliminary to hanging, drawing and quartering.3.Power of knowledgeThe pilgrim must advance spiritually as he or she advances geographically. The key factor is knowledge, which must increase as the pilgrim proceeds forward. Christian never makes the same mistake twice or meets the same foe twice, because he learns from his experiences. And the importance of reading is emphasized throughout The Pilgrim’s Progress because the pilgrims reach salvation and happiness by understanding the Bible. The pilgrims who have not read and do not understand the Bible are viewed as disappointments, who will not gain entry to the Celestial City. We can see the power of knowledge is significant.4.The value of CommunityBunyan emphasizes here that spirituality is best when it is communal. Christian does not end up in solitary bliss wandering alone in heaven but in the Celestial City filled with happy throngs of residents. His community is a large group of similar minded people. Christian learns in the end: spiritual existence should involve togetherness.ConclusionAccording to analyzing themes of the Pilgrim’s Progress, we have almost acknowledged its themes. As a typical puritan, Bunyan aspires extrication from the cruelty and reaches the heaven. The Christian finally gets into tranquil heaven after encountering so many miseries, which is the indication of the trend of appearing Bourgeois. They are struggling to take the place of the feudal autocratic systemgradually.The Pilgrim’s Progress is just like an elder Wiseman, he tells us a lot of truths and experiences of life which help us live a better life and enlighten our heart. He tells us man should have faith and an affirmative attitude towards life. And the Christian’s courage and persevering will incarnate the aggressive and indomitable spirit of the Bourgeois.BibliographyBunyan, John. Pilgrim’s Progress[M]. USA：Winston Company, 1933.侯维瑞. 英国文学通史[M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社, 1999.刘炳善. 英美文学简史[M]. 河南：河南人民出版社, 2006.魏晓红. 英美文学自主学习与实践[M]. 天津：天津大学出版社, 2011.。