As the protagonist of Part 2, Christiana is a dynamic character whose pilgrimage offers a contrasting perspective to little Christian’s. Her story extends the narrative beyond its template of The Pilgrim’s Progress, and expands on Taylor’s themes. While little Christian’s pilgrimage begins as a solitary struggle, Christiana’s is communal, as she leads her four siblings and is later joined by a growing company of pilgrims. Initially, she is a skeptic who dismisses little Christian’s warnings and fears he will be lost. Slowly, she grows more receptive to the idea of the pilgrimage. However, she still fails to take action, reflecting, “I will go someday, but I must wait until Innocence is a little older. And I could not leave the boys by themselves” (191). Her procrastination represents a noncommittal form of faith that accepts Christian theology without actively living out its values. Christiana’s transformation occurs after she receives a personal letter from the King, delivered by Wisdom, which awakens her to the truth. This call prompts her to leave the City of Destruction with her family, demonstrating a spiritual responsibility focused on nurturing and guiding others.

Christiana displays growing courage as her journey progresses. She is initially afraid, especially of the dog at the Wicket-gate and the giant by the lions. Still, her faith develops into a protective bravery for the sake of her siblings and companions. Her journey is less fraught with the internal despair that little Christian faced in Doubting Castle, largely because a guide, Great Heart, and a community of fellow travelers support her. This constant fellowship illustrates The Value of Spiritual Companionship as a foundational element of spiritual life. Her challenges often relate to her leadership role, such as when her brother Matthew falls ill from eating forbidden fruit or when she must make the difficult decision to leave her youngest sister, Innocence, in the care of others in the Valley of Peace. These trials test her wisdom and trust in the King’s plan for her family.

Christiana’s pilgrimage emphasizes a broader, more integrated vision of the Christian life, one that includes family, community, and service to others. The kindness and hospitality she and her group receive at places like the House of Gaius reinforce the importance of a supportive faith community. When confronted by Giant Grim, Christiana’s declaration of faith, shouting, “Our King will take care of us and will bring us safely past the lions!” (232), shows her transformation from doubt to deep conviction.

Christian’s first companion on the journey, Faithful, represents loyalty, courage, and unwavering commitment to the King. As a “quiet and thoughtful” fellow child-pilgrim from the City of Destruction (93), he provides little Christian with solidarity and encouragement, showing that the journey of faith does not have to be faced alone. He embodies the theme of Faith as the Foundation of Courage, stating “Evangelist said that they might hurt us, but if we die we shall go straight to the Celestial City. I shall think of the King, because He is sure to help me, and I will not cry” (109). His actions at Vanity Fair prove the veracity of his words as he refuses to accept the town’s corrupt values even when conformity would protect him from public execution. 

Faithful’s death is deeply painful for little Christian, but his arrival in the Celestial City presents his sacrifice as a spiritual victory. His example also helps inspire Hopeful to become a pilgrim, suggesting that courage and goodness can influence others even after death. Through Faithful, Taylor introduces young readers to the ideas of martyrdom and perseverance in an accessible form, presenting true faith as loyalty to what is right despite fear, suffering, or social pressure.

Hopeful is little Christian’s loyal companion in the latter half of his journey and is a deuteragonist. A largely static and flat character, he embodies the virtue his name suggests. Hailing from Vanity Fair, his conversion is inspired by witnessing the patient suffering and courageous death of Faithful. This motivation grounds his character in a faith born from observing the strong resolve of another, immediately establishing him as a committed pilgrim. His role in the narrative is primarily one of support and encouragement to little Christian, serving as a living example of The Value of Spiritual Companionship.

Hopeful’s unwavering optimism is rooted in his simple and direct trust in the King’s promises. This trait proves essential during one of the most perilous parts of their journey: imprisonment in Doubting Castle. While little Christian succumbs to the influence of Giant Despair and nearly gives up, it is Hopeful who reminds him of their past deliverances and encourages him to persevere. His steadfastness prevents little Christian from making a fatal mistake and ultimately leads to their escape when little Christian remembers the Key of Promise. Later, as little Christian falters in the symbolic Dark River, overcome with fear, Hopeful physically and spiritually supports him, praying and directing his friend’s focus toward the Celestial City. Hopeful is not immune to the trials of the journey, such as the drowsiness on the Enchanted Ground, but his response is always to lean on fellowship and spiritual discipline to overcome them.

Great Heart is the guide and protector for Christiana’s party, serving as a mentor archetype. As a servant of the Interpreter, he represents the strength, courage, and wisdom provided by a spiritual leader or the institutional church. His name reflects his defining traits: valiance in battle and compassion toward the weak and fearful. He is armed with a sword and armor, symbolizing his readiness to defend the pilgrims against the spiritual enemies they encounter. Great Heart’s primary role is to ensure the physical and spiritual safety of Christiana’s group, making their journey markedly different from little Christian’s more solitary and perilous one.

Great Heart’s character demonstrates Faith as the Foundation of Courage. While confronting and defeating several formidable foes, including Giant Grim, Giant Maul, and Giant Slay-Good, his strength comes from his committed service to the King. He is a skilled warrior but also a gentle guardian, carrying little Innocence and encouraging the young boys when they are afraid. His guidance is both practical, as he knows the path and its dangers, and spiritual, as he often pauses to explain the allegorical significance of places and events to the pilgrims. Great Heart’s constant presence provides a sense of security that allows the pilgrims in his care to focus on their spiritual growth and community, rather than on mere survival.

Mercy is Christiana’s friend from the City of Destruction who joins the pilgrimage and is a secondary companion. She represents the gentle, compassionate believer who comes to faith through fellowship rather than a personal crisis. Lacking the personal invitation received by Christiana, Mercy embarks on the pilgrimage timidly, fearing “that the King might not receive her if she came to His City without being sent for” (199). 



However, the warm welcome she receives from Goodwill at the Wicket-gate demonstrates that the call to pilgrimage is open to all who sincerely seek it. Throughout the journey, her character is defined by her kindness, piety, and industrious nature, often seen sewing clothes for the poor.

Mercy’s journey highlights the emotional and relational aspects of faith. She is prone to fear and weeping but finds strength in Christiana’s friendship and the security of the group. She is also a model of spiritual desire, as seen when she longs for the special glass at the Shepherds’ house that reflects the image of the King’s Son. Her character illustrates that a quiet, gentle spirit and a heart for service are as much a part of the pilgrimage as the heroic battles fought by others.

Evangelist is a mentor figure who initiates little Christian’s pilgrimage. A deliberately flat, allegorical character, his name directly translates to his function as a preacher of the gospel. He finds little Christian in his initial state of misery, burdened by sin and ignorant of the way to salvation. He does not offer easy comfort but instead provides direction, pointing the protagonist toward the Wicket-gate and giving him a parchment with the King’s promise. Emphasizing The Necessity of Spiritual Perseverance, he states, “for some people the journey is longer than for others. But if you love and obey the King, He will be sure to guide you to the City at the right time” (25).

Evangelist acts as a catalyst, setting the plot in motion, and continually reinforces the importance of staying on the correct path. He reappears later to redirect little Christian after he has been misled by Worldly, serving as a figure of divine correction. He represents the essential role of clear, authoritative spiritual guidance in the beginning of a believer’s journey.

As “the King's enemy, [who] tries to kill the pilgrims” (143), Giant Despair is an antagonist and the allegorical representation of evil and spiritual hopelessness. His home, Doubting Castle, can only be reached by straying from the King’s Way into Bypath Meadow, emphasizing the importance of staying on the true path. The giant’s cruel and oppressive nature is illustrated by his failure to kill his captives outright. Instead, he imprisons them in a dark dungeon, where he beats them and tempts them to commit suicide. His power is primarily psychological, feeding on pilgrims’ doubts and loss of hope. He is weakened by sunlight, suggesting that despair thrives in darkness and diminishes in the light of truth. Little Christian and Hopeful only escape the giant’s grasp when little Christian remembers he has the Key of Promise, symbolizing that faith in God’s promises is the only way to overcome despair. A flat, static character, Giant Despair is presented as incapable of remorse or moral growth. In the second part of the story, he is killed by Great Heart and the other male pilgrims, illustrating how a community of faith can permanently conquer a stronghold of doubt.

Obstinate and Pliable are older boys from the City of Destruction who serve as foils to little Christian at the very beginning of his journey. They are minor, allegorical characters who represent two common negative responses to the call of faith. Obstinate, true to his name, is stubbornly rooted in his worldly perspective and contemptuously dismisses little Christian’s pilgrimage to the Celestial City as foolishness. He represents those who refuse to even consider the spiritual journey. Pliable, on the other hand, is easily persuaded and superficially enthusiastic about the adventure. However, his commitment is shallow, and he quickly abandons the pilgrimage at the first obstacle, the Slough of Despond. He illustrates The Necessity of Spiritual Perseverance, representing those who are attracted to the idea of faith but lack the resolve to endure hardship.