PREFACE

The preface of this book deserves special attention. The writing seen in the preface is adapted from John Bunyan. Bunyan was a religious writer who lived from 1628-1688 (H.W. Wilson). John Bunyan’s work Pilgrim’s Progress was very influential to Alcott. Within her own personal journals, Alcott would copy down favorite passages from the book. You also see the influence in Little Women, in which references are made to Bunyan’s work. Pilgrim’s Progress is a story about a man on a Christian journey. Within the story, religious lessons for the readers are provided. These lessons are taught to the March girls in Alcott’s Little Women (Graves).


Bunyan lived in a time when the English government had prohibited preaching. This was an attempt to stop new church from springing up. Bunyan refused to obey, and was put in prison from 1660-1670. It is believed by some that this is where Bunyan began writing Pilgrim’s Progress (HW Wilson). The piece in the preface that is adapted from John Bunyan states:

“Go then my little Book, and show to all
That entertain and bid thee welcome shall,
What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast;
And wish that thou dost show them may be blest
To them for good, may make them choose to be
Pilgrims better, by far, then thee or me.
Tell them of mercy; is she one
Who early hath her pilgrimage begun.
Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize
The world which is to come, and be so wise;
For little tripping maids may follow God
Along the ways which saintly feet have trod.”


This statement sets the tone for the book, and hints at the Christian undertone and subtext of the book.

John Bunyan