The next morning, little Christian’s friends mock him again for wanting to find the Celestial City. A kind girl named Christiana finds him crying and tries to comfort him. When little Christian explains he has a heavy, invisible burden on his back that only the King can remove, Christiana thinks he must be ill. 

Feeling lonely and misunderstood, little Christian wanders into the fields by himself. There, he is approached by Evangelist, one of the strangers who is visiting the city. Little Christian confides all his fears and sorrows to him. Evangelist confirms that the stories are true and shows little Christian a distant Wicket-gate with a light shining over it, telling him that this is the entrance to the King’s path. He gives little Christian a paper with a promise from the King written on it and instructs him to knock on the gate, where a servant will guide him further.

As little Christian begins running toward the Wicket-gate, two older boys from his city, Obstinate and Pliable, see him and chase after him to force him to return. Obstinate scorns little Christian for believing what he calls “nonsense” and for following the stories in his Book. 

Little Christian stands his ground, insisting he is going to the King’s City. Pliable begins to wonder if little Christian might be right and decides to join little Christian on his journey. Obstinate returns to the City of Destruction alone.

As little Christian and Pliable walk, Pliable asks little Christian to describe the Celestial City. Little Christian speaks of its beauty and the promise of eternal happiness. He mentions that he hopes to find his mother, as she went to be with the Celestial King when he was just a baby.

As they talk, both boys stumble and sink into a bog called the Slough of Despond. Little Christian, weighed down by his invisible burden, sinks deeper into the mud. Frightened and angry, Pliable blames little Christian for leading him into this mess. Struggling out of the marsh, Pliable runs back toward the City of Destruction. Little Christian is left alone, sinking and terrified. Just as he feels he is about to lose all hope, he hears a voice call out to him.

A boy named Help, who is one of the King’s servants, arrives and pulls little Christian from the Slough of Despond. Help points out that little Christian and Pliable fell into the bog because they were talking and failed to see the stepping-stones. Feeling discouraged, little Christian worries the journey is too difficult for him. Help reassures him that the King will always watch over him and send aid when needed. Little Christian asks if he will find his mother in the Celestial City. Help confirms that he will, adding that she is likely already watching for his arrival. After cleaning the mud from little Christian’s clothes, Help urges him to hurry toward the Wicket-gate.

Little Christian encounters a boy named Worldly, who comes from a nearby village whose residents claim to serve the King but avoid the difficult pilgrimage. Worldly warns little Christian that the path through the Wicket-gate is filled with terrible dangers. Instead, he suggests an easier way to lose his burden. If little Christian goes to the village just past a nearby hill, Worldly’s friends will take him in. Then, in a few days, he will forget all about his troubles. Persuaded by Worldly’s advice, little Christian abandons the path to the Wicket-gate and turns toward the village.

As little Christian walks toward the village, his burden grows heavier. The path beside the hill becomes terrifying, with massive rocks hanging menacingly over the road and flashes of what looks like fire darting from them. Overcome with fear, he stops, regretting his decision to listen to Worldly. Just then, Evangelist appears with a stern expression. Ashamed, little Christian confesses that an easier way tempted him. Evangelist rebukes him for disobeying the King and turning aside from the correct path. When little Christian cries with remorse, Evangelist assures him that the King is merciful and will forgive him. He leads little Christian safely past the dangerous hill and sets him back on the path toward the Wicket-gate.

At sunset, little Christian finally reaches the Wicket-gate. Carved above it are the words, “KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU” (34). He knocks, and the gate is opened by a man named Goodwill. As little Christian steps through, Goodwill quickly pulls him inside to protect him from arrows being shot from a nearby castle owned by the Wicked Prince. Once inside, Goodwill offers little Christian food and a place to rest for the night.

The next morning, Goodwill shows little Christian the straight, narrow path he must follow. When little Christian asks if Goodwill can remove his burden, he is told that it will only fall off when he reaches a place called the Cross. Goodwill directs him to first visit the nearby house. Little Christian soon arrives and is welcomed by the Interpreter, a wise, white-bearded man. The Interpreter leads him into a darkened room and, holding a lamp, reveals a picture on the wall. The painting depicts the Good Shepherd, carrying a small, weary lamb through a path of thorns that have torn his clothes and wounded his feet. The Interpreter explains that the Shepherd is the King’s Son, who loves his pilgrims just as a shepherd loves his lambs.

The Interpreter shows little Christian a room with two boys, Passion and Patience. Passion is crying because he wants his promised treasures now, while Patience is content to wait. A man enters and gives Passion toys and bags of gold, and he immediately stops crying and laughs at Patience. The Interpreter explains that Passion’s earthly treasures will soon be broken or spent, but Patience will receive eternal, unspoiled gifts from the King. 

Next, from the garden, little Christian sees a beautiful palace guarded by hostile men in armor. A crowd waits outside, too afraid to enter. Finally, a brave man puts on his helmet, draws his sword, and fights his way through the guards into the palace, where he is welcomed with song. The Interpreter explains this shows that only those with great courage and love for the King can enter His kingdom.

After leaving the Interpreter’s house, little Christian continues his journey along a walled path. The weight of his burden soon returns, making him long for relief. He comes to a small hill with a Cross standing at its top. As he begins to climb toward it, he feels the straps of his burden loosen, and it falls from his shoulders. Overjoyed, little Christian stands looking at the Cross, filled with gratitude for the King’s Son. He remembers the story of how the King’s Son was nailed to a cross when he visited the City of Destruction and sheds a tear. 

While little Christian stands there, three “Shining Ones” appear. The first announces that little Christian’s sins are forgiven. The second replaces his old, dirty clothes with a clean white suit. The third places the King’s mark on little Christian’s forehead and gives him a roll of parchment, instructing him to present it at the gates of the Celestial City.

Little Christian walks on and finds three boys—Simple, Sloth, and Presumption—fast asleep by the road, their feet bound together with iron bands. He realizes that servants of the Wicked Prince must have trapped the boys after they carelessly wandered off the path to rest. Little Christian tries to wake them, warning them of their danger and offering to help break the irons. Simple tells little Christian to leave him in peace, Sloth says he will get up later, and Presumption insists that it is their own business if they choose to sleep there. They all fall back asleep. Little Christian, saddened but unable to help them, continues his journey.

A little farther down the road, little Christian is joined by two boys, Formalist and Hypocrisy, who climb over the wall to get onto the King’s path. They tell him they are from the land of Vainglory and are also heading to the Celestial City. However, they took a shortcut because entering through the Wicket-gate was too much trouble. Little Christian warns them that they have entered the wrong way, but they argue that as long as they are on the road, the entry point doesn’t matter. Soon, they arrive at the base of the steep Hill of Difficulty. While little Christian begins the straight, rocky climb, Formalist and Hypocrisy choose two easier paths that go around the hill, certain they will meet the main road again. Taking the Path of Danger and the Path of Destruction, Formalist and Hypocrisy become hopelessly lost and die.

The path up the Hill of Difficulty is so steep and rocky that little Christian is forced to crawl. Partway up, he finds a small, shady arbor built by the King for pilgrims to rest. He sits down and reads his Roll for a little while, then sits idly looking at his new clothes and thinking until he falls asleep for several hours. 

Little Christian wakes near sunset and rushes to continue his climb. Near the top, he meets two boys named Timorous and Mistrust, who are running back down in terror. They warn him that two lions are lying in the path just ahead and that they are returning home. Though frightened, little Christian remembers the King’s promises and decides to press on. He reaches for his Roll, only to discover that it is gone. Distraught, he realizes he cannot enter the Celestial City without it.

Little Christian realizes he must have dropped the Roll in the arbor while he slept. He scolds himself for his idleness and carefully retraces his steps back down the hill. He finds the Roll on the arbor floor. By the time he climbs the hill for a second time, however, night has fallen. Ahead, he sees the Palace Beautiful.

As little Christian nears the palace entrance, he sees two lions, one on each side of the path. He freezes in fear, but the palace doorkeeper, whose name is Watchful, calls out to him. He assures little Christian that the lions are chained and cannot harm him as long as he stays in the middle of the path. Mustering his courage, little Christian walks trembling between the roaring beasts and safely reaches the palace gate.

Watchful calls for the mistress of the palace, a kind lady named Discretion. She questions little Christian about his pilgrimage and welcomes him inside for the night. Discretion introduces him to her three daughters: Piety, Prudence, and Charity. The girls greet him warmly and lead him to a comfortable room to rest. Charity asks why little Christian did not bring his friend Christiana. He explains that Christiana did not believe the stories about the Celestial City and had to care for her siblings. After sharing a meal, Discretion shows little Christian to a bedroom, where he sleeps soundly.

The next morning, Discretion invites little Christian to stay at the palace for a few days to recover his strength. Little Christian happily accepts. He asks if his mother, Peace, stayed there long ago on her way to the King, and Discretion promises to look for her name in the palace records. She comforts little Christian by telling him that his mother can see him on his journey, even if he cannot see her. 

Little Christian spends a day with Piety, Prudence, and Charity in the palace library. They show him books and pictures of biblical stories, including one of the King’s Son as a baby and another of a Guardian Angel protecting a child on a dangerous path. Little Christian feels it is the happiest day he has ever had.

On his second day at the Palace Beautiful, little Christian is shown a room full of weapons and armor made for the King’s soldiers, including pieces perfectly sized for children. Piety tells him the story of David, a young shepherd boy who, with the King’s help, defeated a fearsome giant. 

On the third day, the girls take little Christian to the palace roof. From there, they point out the distant Delectable Mountains in Immanuel’s Land, telling him that from those hills he will be able to see the gates of the Celestial City. 

As it is time for him to depart, Discretion and her daughters lead little Christian back to the armory and outfit him as one of the King’s soldiers, giving him a helmet, shield, sword, and special shoes to protect him on the perilous road ahead.

As little Christian leaves the Palace Beautiful, the doorkeeper, Watchful, tells him that another young pilgrim, Faithful, passed by shortly before. Excited at the prospect of catching up with his old friend from the City of Destruction, little Christian hurries down the hill.

In the Valley of Humiliation, little Christian is confronted by Self, a fierce, evil-looking man who is one of the chief officers of the Wicked Prince’s army. Although terrified, little Christian resolves to face his enemy instead of running. Self demands that little Christian return to the City of Destruction. He first tries to persuade him with false promises of kindness, then mocks him for his past mistakes on the pilgrimage, insisting the King would never help such a flawed servant.

Little Christian declares that the King will forgive him, which enrages Self. He defends himself from Self’s fiery darts with his shield but is wounded in the hands and feet. Self overpowers him, throws him to the ground, and knocks his sword away. Just as Self is about to strike a final blow, little Christian manages to grab his sword and gives his enemy a deep wound. Unable to endure a blow from one of the King’s swords, Self cries out. Little Christian strikes again, and Self flees. 

Wounded and exhausted, little Christian rests against a rock and has a dream or vision of his mother, who tenderly heals his wounds. When he wakes, he is alone, but the pain is gone.

At the end of the Valley of Humiliation, little Christian encounters two boys fleeing in terror. They warn him not to enter the Dark Valley ahead, describing it as a dreadful place of darkness and despair. Little Christian proceeds anyway, finding the valley narrow and oppressive, with a deep ditch on one side and a dangerous marsh on the other. A thick, disorienting mist descends, filled with terrible noises and flashes of fire. He is tormented by one of the Wicked Prince’s servants, who whispers evil things in his ear, making him fear he has sinned and angered the King. He is nearly overcome with fear but is comforted when he hears another pilgrim ahead of him reciting words from the King’s Book. He realizes he is not alone and presses forward.

Little Christian walks all night through the Dark Valley, too frightened to rest. He draws strength from remembering the picture of the Guardian Angel, trusting that the King is protecting him. When daylight breaks, he sees that the path ahead is filled with hidden snares and pits, which he would have fallen into in the dark. At the valley’s end, he passes a cave where an old, feeble giant sits, too weak to harm him. 

Upon climbing a small hill, little Christian spots a boy in a white suit walking ahead. He realizes it is his friend, Faithful, and calls out for him to wait. Faithful calls back that he is going to the King and that there are enemies behind him. Annoyed, little Christian runs, passing Faithful, but then trips and falls, requiring Faithful to stop and help him up.

Faithful recounts his journey from the City of Destruction, which he left a few days after little Christian. He reveals that he avoided falling into the Slough of Despond, but before the Wicket-gate he was tempted by a girl named Pleasure, a servant of the Wicked Prince. Then, at the Hill of Difficulty, a rich old man tried to lure him from the path. He was scolded by Justice, only to be comforted by the King’s Son. Faithful mentions that he saw the lions near the palace gate but chose to continue rather than enter the palace. He also encountered Discontent in the valley.

The two boys are joined by a well-dressed boy named Talkative, who is walking on the same road. Talkative speaks eloquently about the King, His laws, and the joys of being a pilgrim, greatly impressing Faithful. Little Christian, however, knows Talkative from their home city and warns Faithful that he is all words and no action. He explains that Talkative enjoys discussing religion but “does not love the King” (98). To test him, Faithful asks Talkative if he lives by the King’s rules. Offended and angry, Talkative insults Faithful, accuses little Christian of slandering him, and storms off alone.