Summary
The pilgrims pause to celebrate their victory over Maul
at the spot where Christian first met Faithful. Traveling onward,
they meet an old pilgrim named Old Honest asleep under a tree. Old
Honest wakes up scared, mistaking Christiana’s group for thieves.
Learning that Christiana is the wife of Christian, he calms down.
Great-heart asks Old Honest if he knew a pilgrim named
Fearing, and Old Honest says that Fearing was his former companion. Great-heart
explains that he guided Fearing to the gate of the Celestial City
and tells of their journey. Fearing boldly faced the challenges
that terrify others but feared hell, because he was unsure of his
commitment to the Celestial City. Christiana, the boys, and Old Honest
discuss how fear is a spur to goodness and the love of God if it
is used properly. Old Honest tells of another wayward pilgrim named
Self-will, who did whatever he pleased. The pilgrims express their
disapproval. After recapping both stories, Old Honest adds that
many who consider themselves pilgrims fail in some basic way.
The three robbers who robbed Little-Faith in Part I approach
the group. The pilgrims take refuge in the house of Gaius, who says
he opens his doors only for pilgrims. Gaius invites them to eat
and talks at length about various religious matters. He delivers
a long defense of women, arguing that although sin came into being
through a woman, so too did salvation when Mary mothered Christ.
After the meal, Gaius proposes that they all go out to find a giant
named Slay-good that has been ravaging pilgrims lately. The pilgrims
find Slay-good in a cave about to devour Feeble-mind, a weak pilgrim.
They defeat Slay-good and free Feeble-mind.
During the month spent with Gaius, Christiana’s eldest
son, Matthew, marries Mercy, and her youngest son, James, gets engaged to
Phebe, Gaius’s daughter. As the time for departure nears, Great-heart
invites Feeble-mind to accompany them. Feeble-mind resists, saying
he is too ignorant for pilgrimage. Great-heart insists that he is obligated
to help the feeble-minded. A handicapped pilgrim named Ready-to-halt
also joins them. On the road, Old Honest and Great-heart discuss
many characters that Christian met on his pilgrimage, including
Faithful and Hopeful.
They lodge at the home of Mnason, who invites them to
dine with his various friends, including Contrite. Contrite says
that the locals feel a burden of guilt after the unjust execution
of Christian’s friend Faithful and have since become more moderate.
The pilgrims spend a long time with Mnason. During this time, Mnason’s
daughter Grace marries Christiana’s son Samuel, and his daughter
Martha marries Christiana son’s Joseph. A fierce dragon with seven
heads emerges from the woods and frightens the pilgrims. The dragon menaces
the children of the village. Great-heart joins forces with Mnason’s
friends to subdue the monster.
The pilgrims climb the hill called Lucre where Demas tempted Christian
with silver. They find a man who cares for the children of pilgrims,
and Christiana, now a grandmother, tells her four daughters-in-law
to hand over their babies to him. The group proceeds onward. Great-heart,
Old Honest, and Christiana’s sons decide to slay Giant Despair.
After killing him, they spend seven days demolishing his castle.
The group rescues the prisoners Despondent and his daughter Much-afraid,
who are nearly starved.
