A ferryman called Vain Hope ferries Ignorance across the River of Death , but Ignorance is turned away from the gates of Celestial City and thrown into hell . Ignorance persists in his own way that leads to his being cast into hell . After getting over the River of Death on the ferry boat of Vain Hope without overcoming the hazards of wading across it , Ignorance appears before the gates of Celestial City without a passport , which he would have acquired had he gone into the King 's Highway through the Wicket Gate .