On_Pilgrim's_Progress

In Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, the author uses diction, symbolism, and imagery to convey his overall meaning in the passage of “The Valley of the Shadow of Death,” (p 69-74). Christian, the pilgrim and protagonist in the story, finds himself in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and his faith is put to the test. He must “pass through it because it was the only way to the Celestial City ” (p 69). It is desolate, a “wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and the Shadow of Death, a land that no one, except a Christian, is able to pass through and where no one lives” (p 70). Christian remembers the ultimate reward which waits for him at the end of his journey, and perseveres his way through the ditch of Quagmire and the valley, carrying “his sword, still drawn for fear that he might be assaulted” (p 71). Bunyan uses imagery to describe the battles Christian faces along the way, his devotion to God remaining throughout the pilgrimage. The valley “itself, is pitch black” (p 70). “[He] could see Hobgoblins, Satyrs, and Dragons of the pit, [and] could hear in that Valley continual howling and screaming—[sounding] like people in indescribable misery who were bound in affliction and chains” (p 70). He saw the “depressing clouds of confusion hanging over the Valley; and death, with wings spread, was hovering over it all. It is absolutely dreadful and in complete chaos” (p 70). As Christian continues on his journey, he encounters many blasphemous characters who try to steer him away from God. Bunyan uses diction to convey his meaning of the Christian life today using the pilgrim and his struggles and allegorical symbols. Christian’s testings “were even more severe than those he had encountered with Apollyon” ( p 70). But he knew God “was with him” (p 75), and even when he encounters spies for the evil one, he says, he “will walk in the strength of the Lord God, and they fell back and came no closer.” (p 72). Words like that said to the Devil can send him packing…and Bunyan uses that scene as a message for us Christians to ward off Satan’s attacks. As Christian progresses through the Valley, he says, “Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” then Christian was glad, (p 73). Bunyan compares the shepherd’s struggles in Psalm 23 to Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, symbolizing that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Joshua 1:9). He “persevered in the distress that…he met with” (p 75) knowing that God’s hand would “deliver him” (p 75). As Christian passes over the Valley, he rejoices that God protected him from the Shadow of Death. “It was daybreak, and Christian rejoiced, ‘He has turned the Shadow of Death into the morning,’ now there was daylight, and he was able to look back, not that he wanted to return, but to see the hazards he had gone through in the dark” (p 73). He “could see more clearly the Ditch that was on one hand and the Quagmire that was on the other” (p 74). He also saw how narrow the “the way was which led between them, and could see the Hobgoblins, Satyrs, and Dragons of the Pit, but they stayed far away from daybreak and would not attempt to come near” (p 74). Bunyan describes the Valley of the Shadow of Death using imagery, diction, and symbolism to convey his allegory of the Christian struggles. As Christian begins to see more clearly the trials he will face in his faith, so do Christians in our society today must do to strengthen our belief in God.