The narrative begins with Christian, weighed down by a heavy burden and a book in his hand, weeping over the impending doom of his native City of Destruction. Directed by Evangelist toward a distant wicket-gate, Christian flees his home, ignoring the pleas of his family and the mockery of his neighbors. When two townsmen, Obstinate and Pliable, pursue him to drag him back, Obstinate returns in disgust, but Pliable joins Christian until they both tumble into the miry Slough of Despond. Pliable abandons him there, while Christian is rescued by a helper named Help and continues onward.
Along the narrow path, Christian is waylaid by Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who tempts him to seek easy relief from his burden through the legalistic teachings of Mr. Legality in the village of Morality. Frightened by the overhanging, fire-spitting cliffs of Mount Sinai, Christian is rebuked by Evangelist and guided back to the true path. He successfully passes the wicket-gate, is sheltered at the house of the Interpreter, and finally reaches a cross where his oppressive burden loosens from his shoulders and tumbles into an empty sepulchre, leaving him cleansed and sealed with a divine roll.
Continuing his journey, Christian climbs the perilous Hill Difficulty, survives a ferocious, day-long combat with the dragon-like fiend Apollyon, and bravely walks through the terrifying, pit-strewn Valley of the Shadow of Death. He is soon joined by a fellow pilgrim named Faithful, who recounts his own trials with fleshly tempters and the cynical philosopher Shame. Together, the two enter Vanity Fair, a bustling, chaotic market town where all worldly vices are traded. Because their plain attire, foreign speech, and rejection of local merchandise cause a major disturbance, they are arrested, beaten, and put on trial before Lord Hate-good. Faithful is martyred at the stake, ascending directly to heaven in a chariot, while Christian is remanded back to prison before escaping.
Christian finds a new companion in Hopeful, who was converted by the steadfast witness of the martyrs. The pair bypass the silver mine of Demas and narrowly escape imprisonment in Doubting Castle by the brutal Giant Despair after using a key called Promise to unlock the dungeon doors. They reach the Delectable Mountains, where heavenly shepherds warn them of local hazards and show them a distant glimpse of the Celestial City through a perspective glass. Although briefly snared by a flattering false apostle and tempted by the nihilistic arguments of Atheist, they traverse the drowsy Enchanted Ground and enter the lush, sunlit country of Beulah.
At the culmination of their pilgrimage, Christian and Hopeful must cross a deep, bridge-less river representing death. While Christian nearly drowns in terror and doubt over his past sins, Hopeful encourages him until they both find firm footing. Welcomed by shining angelic hosts and heavenly trumpeters, they ascend the steep hill to the Celestial City, where they are transfigured in golden raiment and welcomed into eternal joy, while the misguided traveler Ignorance is bound and cast away.
