The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan - The Jail

The story opens with a dream of a man who is clothed with rags, carries a book in his hand, and bears a great burden upon his back, standing with his face turned away from his own house. As he reads from the book, he is overcome with intense emotion, weeping and trembling, and cries out in anguish, "What shall I do?"

His internal turmoil intensifies, prompting him to go home. Initially, he tries to hide his distress from his family, but the increasing trouble forces him to reveal his state to his wife and children. He tells them he feels undone by the burden and is convinced their city is doomed to be burned by fire from Heaven, fearing they will all face ruin unless a way of escape is found.

His family's reaction is one of amazement, but not belief. They conclude he is suffering from a "frenzy distemper" or mental illness. They hope sleep will cure him, but his night is filled with sighs and tears. The next morning, his continued distress leads his family to become hardened, treating him with harshness, derision, chiding, and neglect to try and drive away his perceived illness.

Isolated by their reaction, the man withdraws, spending time alone in his chamber to pray for his family and grieve his own situation. He also walks solitarily in the fields, reading and praying. During one such solitary walk, still deeply distressed and reading his book, he cries out desperately, "What shall I do to be saved?"

He explains his fear to Evangelist, who appears to him. His distress and crying are caused by the understanding from his book that he is condemned to die and face judgment. He feels unfit for this and fears his burden will sink him below the grave into Tophet.

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