Final answer:
The excerpt from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress features allegorical characters, with Pliable being easily swayed and Christian depicting a true believer guided by Evangelist in their spiritual journey.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characters in the excerpt from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress are allegorical, each representing different aspects of the spiritual journey or characteristics of faith. Pliable represents those who are easily swayed or convinced to begin the journey toward salvation but may lack the steadfastness needed for the trials ahead. Christian symbolizes the true believer, earnest and directed in his quest for salvation, seeking guidance from spiritual mentors like Evangelist. This shows the importance of preparedness and guidance in the spiritual journey depicted in Bunyan's work.