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The Pilgrim’s Progress · Character

Matthew

Christiana's eldest son, he eats forbidden fruit in the orchard at Gaius's house and nearly dies before a physician's remedy saves him.

supporting

Also known as Matthew, Matt

First appearance: the second part

As a supporting figure in The Pilgrim’s Progress, Matthew is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Matthew is the first of Christiana's four boys to speak, to question, and to stumble, which makes him both the leader of the brothers and the cautionary tale. His illness after eating the fruit is the Second Part's…

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See Matthew in the second part

Character Web

19 connections

A slice of how Matthew sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

CHChristianPRPrudenceMEMercyMSMr. SkillMMMr. MnasonMAMatthew

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Guides and Helpers
  • Protagonist
  • Adversaries and False Pilgrims

+14 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupClimax
  • Setup
  • Breaking point

The "Endnotes" section functions as the narrative climax by shifting focus from the fictional pilgrim's journe…

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Who is Matthew in The Pilgrim’s Progress?