John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ opens with John in gaol, looking back over his religious conversion some years before. He sees himself in a dream as ‘Christian,’ a simple man who has just read some news that has thoroughly alarmed him, and who is wondering whether he dare to share his distress with his wife and children.

Christian’s attempt to warn his family that they and the whole city are in imminent danger of destruction does not go well. Though they clearly do not believe him they are not unkind. They bundle him off to bed in the hope he will be better next morning, yet the dawn brings no lessening of his pitiable anxiety.

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