Pilgrim's Progress
relationship between faith, progress, and wellness
images of despair/depression
physical violence
"I dreamed, and behold I saw a Man cloathed with Raggs, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own House, a Book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the Book, and Read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled: and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry; saying, what shall I do?" (11)
"but the night was as troublesome to him as the day: wherefore instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears" (11)
Evangelist: "Do you see yonder shining light? ... Keep that light in your eyes, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the Gate; at which when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do"
-light = direction and maybe stability
"Now among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force" (13)
-the names of these people are Obstinate and Pliable; nice opposing names
Christian to Obstinate: "I seek an Inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and it is laid up in Heaven, and fast there, to be bestowed at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it." (13)
-language that is used in a lot of covenants with god like "inheritance"; thinking of Abraham and many descendants
"Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Dispondency alone" (16)
-supposed to be "despondency": a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage
"called the Slough of Dispond: for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fear, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place" (16)
"That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off my self I cannot: nor is there a man in our Country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden." (18)
-suffering is only something that God can alleviate
Christian to Evangelist about Mr. Worldly Wiseman: "So he said that he would shew me a better way, and short, not so attended with difficulties, as the way, Sir, that you set me"
-something about progress can't be made in a rushed manner, but rather takes time
"As many as are of the works of the Law, are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them." (22)
-this whole page is about how human law isn't the one to follow (bc made by humans) but that God's is (bc he's all powerful)
-questionable logic
Good Will: "A little distance from this Gate, there is erected a strong Castle, of which Beelzebub is the Captain: from thence both he, and them that are with him, Shoot Arrows at those that come up to this Gate; if happily they may die before they can enter in" (23)
Good Will: "Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ, his Apostles; and it is as straight as a Rule can make it: This is the way thou must go." (25)
-ironic that all of those were male figures, but also the use of "straight" is funny too
"But thus thou may'st distinguish the right from the wrong, That only being straight and narrow" (25)
"at the end of this Valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of Pilgrims that had gone this way formerly: And while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little before me a Cave, where two Giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old time, by whose Power and Tyranny the Men whose bones, blood, ashes, &c. lay there, were cruelly put to death" (53)
"another deadly blow on the brest, and beat me down backward, so I lay at his foot as dead as before" (57)
"the temper of Moses"
"But they that were appointed to examine them, did not believe them to be any other then Bedlams and Mad, or else such as came to put all things into confusion in the Fair. Therefore, they took them and beat them, and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the Cage, that they might be made a Spectacle to all the men of the Fair. There therefore they lay for some time, and were made the objects of any mans sport, or malice, or revenge" (72)
-those are definitely descriptions
Judge: "There was an Act made in the days of Pharoah the Great, Servant to our Prince, That lest those of a contrary Religion should multiply and grow too strong for him, their Males should be thrown into the River." (75)
Faithful's death: "They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to their Law; and first they Scourged him, then they Buffeted him, then they Lanced his flesh with knives; after that, they Stoned him with Stones, they prickt him with their Swords, and last of all they burned him to Ashes at the Stake." (76)