replies, “No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me” (60). In the story, the life he is trying to save is his real, tangible life. But his running away from the avenger of blood to save his “life” actually symbolizes saving Faithful’s spiritual life. Because he has sinned and broken the Ten Commandment, “You shall not kill,” he is now being chased by death and if caught, he will kill Faithful; this death characterizes the death of eternal life and therefore not being able to enter heaven (Deuteronomy 5:17). In the bible there is a passage that talks about the avenger of blood and who is he. “This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having been at enmity with him in time past…he may flee to one of these cities and save his life; lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him” (Deuteronomy 19:4-6). Jesus Christ was born without sin, and never sinned throughout his lifetime. Faithful, however, who although did not try to kill his neighbor, killed him unintentionally and therefore, sinned. Jesus would never have caused pain to any living creatures, neither accidentally nor deliberately. This is one example of how Faithful differs from Christ.Faith is a large part in a Christian’s life and journey. Faith is also very important for one to overcome evil, corruption, and fear. Along their journey, Christian and Faithful reach Vanity Fair, a fair that sells goods solely based on vanity, such as titles, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, lives, husbands, wifes, blood, bodies, and souls (78-79). When they first enter the fair, they cause a disturbance because of the way they dress, their speech, their unwillingness to glance at the merchants’ wares, and their answer “We buy the truth” when a merchant asks them what they...
