Allegories are simple stories about not-so-simple ideas. Perhaps one of the most famous of these is John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. The radical story was penned in a jail cell and went on to become a bedrock to modern Christianity, inspiring theologians such as C.S. Lewis.

The Pilgrim’s Progress follows a young man, Christian, as he travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the way, he meets fascinating characters who represent both temptations and guides. There is Evangelist, Charity, Giant Despair, Too Bold and many others. Whether they are placed along his path to hinder or help, they all teach Christian important lessons.

Bunyan’s novel is a true masterpiece. Although the original text is outdated by our standards, it was written to be accessible to every literate person. Simplicity is deceiving. On the surface, it is a quaint adventure story of a man defying all odds. Yet take another glance and it becomes something else entirely, a moving spiritual journey that we must all decide to take or reject.