Question

Which parts of this excerpt from John Bunyan's The Pilgrim’s Progress show that the central character is devoutly religious and God-fearing?
Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet [Isa. 30:33] And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgement, and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry

Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, Flee from the wrath to come. [Matt. 3.7]

The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder wicket-gate? [Matt. 7:13,14] The man said, No. Then said the other, Do you see yonder shining light? [Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19] He said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do

Answer 1

In my opinion, these parts show that the central character (Christian) is devoutly religious and God-fearing: Because I fear that this burden is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet [Isa. 30:33] And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgement, and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry. Christian has experienced first-hand that life is cruel and difficult. It would be far too easy to give up on life and embrace death, but he also knows that there is one thing worse than death, and that is hell. If he were to give up, he would end up in hell. So, he is willing to go down the path of salvation, with the help of Evangelist. This part also shows it: Whither must I fly? It means that he is humble enough to obediently follow the path that Evangelist shows him. "The Pilgrim's Progress" shows us a central character who is weak and pliable just like most of people. He often errs and goes astray, and it's his humility and commitment that give him enough courage to follow Evangelist's guidance.