Hopeful Timeline and Summary

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Hopeful Timeline and Summary

  • Hopeful lives in Vanity Fair, but is one of the citizens who hears Faithful's self-defense at the trial. He is converted by the experience and decides to accompany Christian on the road to the Celestial City.
  • Hopeful persists in talking with Talkative despite Christian's reservations. This situation helps to set up the role of Hopeful as a kind of novice with Christian.
  • Hopeful wants to steal a glance at the silver mine, Lucre, but is held back and saved by Christian.
  • At the fence to By-Way Meadow, Hopeful does not want to climb over, but is persuaded by Christian as he is older and more experienced.
  • As the two pilgrims flounder in the flooding meadow, Hopeful forgives Christian for leading them astray.
  • Unlike Christian, Hopeful does not consider suicide at Doubting Castle. There, he manages to rally his friend out of his despair.
  • After speaking with Atheist on the road, Hopeful recounts to Christian how he came to see Christ in his soul. He describes the length of his effort and praying and the perseverance it took to finally have Christ revealed to him. He also recounts more fully the relationship and dialogue between himself and Faithful at Vanity Fair (something that the narrator apparently didn't see in his dream).
  • Hopeful is tempted to fall asleep in the Enchanted Ground, but is prevented by Christian, who remembers the danger of falling asleep in unsafe places from the arbor where he lost his scroll.
  • Crossing the river to the Celestial City, Hopeful encourages Christian to have trust in Jesus and his ability to compensate for mortal faults.
  • Both Christian and Hopeful make it to the Celestial City, hand in their certificates (from when they realized Christ in their souls), and are admitted to the throne of God.