Revisiting a Classic

John Bunyan
"If you release me today, I will preach tomorrow"

Bec and I were reading a piece of literature, which I will comment on at a later time, wherein was listed a handful of books recommended as mandatory reading for children. Among those books was the long neglected Pilgrim's Progress. The compilation had "allowed" for a condensed version though I decided that if I was going to attack it, it would have to be in its original form as written in the 17th century.

I had felt for a long time that I was above this piece of literature, encouraged by my recollections of watered down adaptations for children. The link between the story and reality appeared far too tenuous even for my young mind. Those picture books had caught the drift, but, I believe completely missed the point. What had been lacking in the full color caricatures parsed out for children was the depth of the dialogue and brilliant use of the English language found in the original work. The Pilgrim's Progress was, so far as I can tell, never intended to be a child's story. In relegating it as thus the efficacy of this classic has been marred.

An unabashed allegory of the Christian life, this work is easily mishandled by well meaning tutors seeking a convenient cudgel wherewith to temper young minds.

John Bunyan intuitively warns at the end of Christian's pilgrimage in the conclusion to Part 1...

Now, reader, I have told my dream to thee,

See if thou canst interpret it to me,

Or to thyself, or neighbor: but take heed

Of misinterpreting; for that, instead

Of doing good, will but thyself abuse:

By misinterpreting, evil ensues.

Take heed, also, that thou be not extreme

In playing with the outside of my dream;

Nor let my figure or similitude

Put thee into a laughter, or a feud.

Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,

Do thou the substance of my matter see.

Put by the curtains, look within my veil,

Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail.

There, if thou seekest them, such things thou’lt find

As will be helpful to an honest mind.

What of my dross thou findest there, be bold

To throw away, but yet preserve the gold.

What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?

None throw away the apple for the core:

But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,

I know not but ‘t will make me dream again.

Bunyan no doubt suspected the misuse of his allegorical work and sought to preclude the very damage that was done to my understanding of the complex personifications of virtue and vice in his characters. Bunyan was no slack. He suffered under the Anglican church, even to imprisonment, for his resolve to handle the Word of Truth in a manner consistent with it's very teachings. What he created in the The Pilgrim's Progress is a timeless piece of literature that gives a face, a gait, and a demeanor to concepts, attitudes, and characteristics in such a way that forces the reader to reconsider the effects of those elements in his own life.

I for one, thought long and hard about the conversation that Christian had with Faithful in an aside regrading one Talkative as they traveled. Talkative's speech was seemingly noble and certainly heavenly, leading Faithful to assume good character in his companion. However, Christian knew of Talkative and held him in less high esteem and explained his rational to Faithful...

Christian: ...This man is for any company, and for any talk; as he talketh now with you, so will he talk when he is on the ale-bench; and the more drink he hath in his crown, the more of these things he hath in his mouth. Religion hath no place in his heart, or house, or conversation; all he hath lieth in his tongue, and his religion is to make a noise therewith.

Faithful: Say you so? Then am I in this man greatly deceived.

Christian: Deceived! you may be sure of it. Remember the proverb, “They say, and do not;” but the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Matt. 23:3; 1 Cor. 4:20. He talketh of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new birth; but he knows but only to talk of them. I have been in his family, and have observed him both at home and abroad; and I know what I say of him is the truth. His house is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savor. There is there neither prayer, nor sign of repentance for sin; yea, the brute, in his kind, serves God far better than he. He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion to all that know him, Rom. 2:24,25; it can hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where he dwells, through him. Thus say the common people that know him, “A saint abroad, and a devil at home.” His poor family finds it so; he is such a churl, such a railer at, and so unreasonable with his servants, that they neither know how to do for or speak to him. Men that have any dealings with him say, It is better to deal with a Turk than with him, for fairer dealings they shall have at their hands. This Talkative (if it be possible) will go beyond them, defraud, beguile, and overreach them. Besides, he brings up his sons to follow his steps; and if he finds in any of them a foolish timorousness, (for so he calls the first appearance of a tender conscience,) he calls them fools and blockheads, and by no means will employ them in much, or speak to their commendation before others. For my part, I am of opinion that he has, by his wicked life, caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God prevents not, the ruin of many more.

In following the extended narrative excerpted above, I was forced to consider my own speech and that of others around me. As was no doubt intended, I was able to easily apply this allegorical figure with vibrancy to my relationships.

Bunyan could have easily chosen common names such as "William" or "John" or "Michael" and then allowed the reader to interpret from their actions the typology intended. Instead a far more direct approach was taken, leaving no doubt about the disposition of the new character. What this adds or detracts from the narrative is closed for debate. What remains is a great read and an opportunity for sincere introspection.

I enter into Part 2 of his book with a far greater appreciation and a far different expectation.