The ninth chapter is the first section where Comenius is more expansive. In this episode he details of the Order of the Tradesmen. While Comenius spends more time amidst what might be seen as white-collar associations, he starts his story in the practical end of the world. Today this is portrayed as where all the sweating and dying goes on. Right away, Pilgrim starts to dissect the reality of what he sees, “that all the work of men was for his stomach.”

In expounding upon the imagery of the Labyrinth of the World, Comenius takes us—through the eyes of Pilgrim—into an imaginary world that assuredly represents the real one. During Pilgrim’s descent upon the Labyrinth of the World, he observes the organization around six principal avenues. These represent most of life’s associations and ambitions.

Do you get the feeling like the earth is shaking beneath you? Daily I experience folks who express feelings and act as if life is quickly diminishing as we’ve known it. I observe so many who are angry and ready to argue. Hardly a month goes by where there are no reports of outbursts on airplanes and news of a mental health pandemic in the wake of Covid-19. This says nothing about jumping energy costs, increasing inflation, and political scandals that enters our minds from every bit of noise we hear through virtually every source.

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) is an educator, philosopher, and social reformer. However, relatively few know him as the author of an epic allegory, which inspired the second best-selling book in history. What I am about to divulge is not well-known, even in scholar’s circles. Those who do know what I am about to share are not likely to press on the matter. The second best-selling book in history is so highly revered that to lay shadow over its originality is like touching the third rail in politics.