How should we interpret the "Holy War?"

Many people are familiar with the famous Pilgrim’s Progress by Bunyan but not so familiar with his Holy War. This means that when they begin to read Holy War they carry through the method of interpreting the narrative that has proved so helpful in Pilgrim’s progress. However the present author believes that this would be a mistake that gets in the way of understanding the "Holy War".
The method that we use to interpret the "Holy War" should be different to that of the Pilgrims Progress. In Pilgrim’s Progress we could quite legitimately ascribe each character to a person that we might meet in life. For example we might be able to name a person who is the essence of pliable because he/she showed interest in the Christian gospel but then was swayed by worldly considerations and abandoned the pathway to life. Indeed many have ascribed characters in Pilgrims Progress to persons that Bunyan met in his own life (for example Barry Horner ascribes the character of faithful to William Dell). However in the "Holy War" the characters that we meet are intended to be un-repented of sins in the believer, or the virtues of a believer. For example Mr Good-deed (in Holy War)is the personification of the self-righteousness of the pre-conversion state of the Christian. Mr Carnal security is the personification of the desire of Christians to be wealthy and secure in this life. These could be described as corporate characters of the Bride of Christ. Bunyan often refers to the original inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. These are the pre-fall characteristics of man. “There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true men”. God created the world “good” or perfect. After the fall, sin is represented by a myriad of characters (for example Mr Forget-good the fallen recorder). The putting to death of characters is representative of mortification of sin. It was not intended to suggest that sinners are to be killed.
This is evident for example on p 60 when we read of the earliest casualties at the had of Shaddai Mr Swearing, Mr Whoring, Mr Fury, Mr Stand-to-lies, Mr drunkenness, and Mr Cheating. Later on (p 93) Emmanuel states “all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives”.