Essay On Young Goodman Brown

Young Goodman Brown is about to take a journey through the gloomy woods. As he sets off, his wife of three months pleads with him not to go because she has dreamed that something bad is going to happen while he is gone. He tells her, "Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee." He does think about staying and not going on his errand, but talks himself out of it saying that after this one trip he will stay with her forever. This is the plot summary of "Young Goodman Brown" written by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

"He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind." While he journeys...show more content...

And it was I that brought your father a pinch–pine knot kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Philip's war."Goodman brown denied the accusation that his family was anything but upstanding Christians.

While the two are walking, they see in the distance the woman. At first she is unrecognizable but as she came closer Goodman Brown realizes that she is the women that taught him his catechism. In order to avoid a lengthy explanation or worse a confrontation, he hides in the bushes along the path. When she came along the side of the old man who is traveling with Goodman Brown, he touches her with his staff and she screams, "The Devil!" The two converses a while and then she continues on her way. When she left their sight Goodman Brown comes out and says, "Friend, my mind is made up. Not another step will I budge from this errand." So the elderly traveler first gives Goodman Brown his staff when he decides to continue, after this he continues on his way. As Goodman Brown begins to think about his situation, he hears horses down the trail heading his way. He retreats into the covering of the woods once more. As the voices draw nearer, he recognizes them to be that of the minister and Deacon Gookin. They are discussing the deviltry service and the communion of a young Goodman woman. They quickly leave because the minister tells the deacon that they

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Young Goodman Brown Goodman Brown's actions in the story, Young Goodman Brown, are a key element to this story's theme. The author uses Goodman Brown's movement in and out of the forest, as a method of symbolizing the theme of a symbolic journey into the depths of consciousness. As the hours of the night pass, Goodman Brown travels farther into the forest, and deeper into the depths of consciousness. This theme is present in many passages of the text. The story begins with the line, "Young Goodman Browncame forth at sunset into the street of Salem village; but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchang a parting kiss with his young wife,". At this point of the story, there partial daylight and Goodman Brown is...show more content...

As he travels farther into the forest, and further away from Faith (faith), it becomes harder for him to find his way back. The forest "closes" behind him, symbolizing his enterance into a different state of consciousness. The forest, in this story, is a symbol for Goodman Brown's conscience, which includes the roots of all his perceptions. Once he enters the depths of his conscience, he judges his preceptions, and this makes it harder for him to submerge with these same perceptions in tact. The devil confuses Goodman Brown's judgment in this story and ultimately after his journey, Goodman Brown will see everything in a new light. When Goodman Brown starts his journey, he is symbolically leaving behind his wife, Faith, and his faith in his religion. They are two things he is consciously aware of, until ironically after his journey. The faith Goodman Brown has in his wife and religion, however, are the only two things that temporarily hold him back from his journey. "Faith kept me back a while," he replies to the traveller (the devil) in the forest. The devil ignores him and says, "Come, Goodman Brown, this is a dull pace for the begining of the journey,". He is in Goodman Brown's concsience, telling him to take this journey and test his faith; so that he can alter his perceptions along the way. He wants Goodman Brown to ignore his religious faith, and his wife, and continue on his journey. Goodman Brown is partially wiery of this Get more content

Young Goodman Brown: Good versus Evil

Throughout Young Goodman Brown and other works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the themes of sin and guilt constantly reoccur. Like many authors, Hawthorne used events in his life as a basis for the stories that he wrote. Hawthorne felt that ones guilt does not die with him/her but is rather passed down through the generations. Hawthorne's great–great uncle was one of the judges during the Salem witchcraft trials. Hawthorne felt a great sense of guilt because of this. Hawthorne used a great deal of symbolism to depict what would come to be known as the subconscious. In this allegory he used symbolism to speak of a dreamlike process. Hawthorne used the characters and the events of the story to create a...show more content...

This unexpectedly causes Young Goodman Brownto distrust things due to his unexpected decision of occurrence a having gone through either a dream or reality. In Young Goodman Brown, a figurative allegory is taking place. This traditional allegory is different from most others in that it derives from the symbolism of the plot, the setting, and the characters. The sub meaning of this story has social, political, and religious connotations. The characters in this story were often personifications of theoretical emotions such as faith, greed, and evil. The characters names such as "Goodman," "Faith," and "Gookin" are symbolic of religion and are at opposing ends of evil in the story.

On the day of their wedding, Faith, Goodman Brown's wife was wearing pink ribbons in her hair. This was very symbolic of her being childlike and young. Also, everything that has to do with her is about her doubting herself and her relationship with Young Goodman Brown. It was important for Hawthorne to show the youth in these two characters. This was another religious reference. In the bible it states "Who ever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not receive it at all." (Hawthorne, 635) This means that it is important to be like a child and be content without knowing everything else that is out there. It also means that if one is on a quest for knowledge then he/she does not leave room for someone else to be

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Young Goodman Brown

An allegory is a narrative in which the characters and objects personify deeper meanings than what the reader can see on the surface. The allegorical meaning is the writer's real purpose in writing the narrative so that a lesson can be found when reading below the surface. "Young Goodman Brown", written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a perfect example of an allegorical story and is filled with many symbolic elements. The story begins with Goodman Brown starting out on a journey. Hawthorne does not state what kind of journey or the purpose behind it. By the end of the story I saw it as a journey into Goodman Browns own mind, heart and soul rather than a literal journey. I feel this is the most significant ...show more content...

The pink ribbons worn by Faith symbolized the innocence of Goodman Brown's faith. Pink is associated with being sweet, playful, and child like. It is when Goodman Brown sees the ribbons floating down from heaven that he knows he has lost his faith and that innocence has been tainted with evil. The staff symbolizes a type of deception of sin. The devil twice offers his staff to man. Once to Goodman Brown and then to Goody Cloyse. The devil deceives by offering his staff as a source of comfort an object to lean upon when Brown and Cloyse are tired and weary. Sometimes in life it is much easier to lean on the evil and take the path of least resistance rather than stand up for what is right and what we believe in. The forest is a classic symbol used in many stories. The forest is seen as dark, deceiving and a way to get lost. In "Young Goodman Brown" the deeper Brown gets into the forest the more lost he becomes. He is separated from his faith and all he knows as good. The "hanging twig and the coldest dew" is one of my favorite symbols used in this story. This whole scene is full of imagery with the cold damp rock and the feeling of hopelessness in the air. The twig with the cold dew on it is what awakens Brown from his dream or vision. This is what makes him face the reality of Get more content

Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an eerie story filled with ambiguity. The storyline can be seen as linear. Young Goodman Brown, the protagonist, leaves his village to go on a journey into the woods then experiences this and that until he reaches the gathering of evil worshippers. While it sounds straightforward, Hawthorne uses a lot of rhetorical devices to make his story frightening and leaving the reader to ponder the goodness of humans. He uses techniques such as allegories, symbolism, and foreshadowing. Besides his writing style, however, religion plays an important role in the story. The use of religion starts the story and sets the theme of good versus evil. Puritanism greatly influences Hawthorne's tale. It can be inferred that Young Goodman Brownis a story where Hawthorne criticizes and indicts the Puritan society by adding Puritan values and beliefs to it.

The Puritan society is an oppressive community. There is a law that requires every villagers to attend church every week, otherwise, there would be a fine to pay (Puritan Life). While...show more content... His family is involved in the Salem Witch trials. It is something he disapproves of as he tries to make a connection between the wrong actions and the devil. The Puritans are a strict community but they heavily believe that a person's good appearance influences a person's inner goodness. In Young Goodman Brown, Brown hears the actual intentions of people. For example, the young may want to rid of their fathers in order to get their inheritance quicker. It may or may not be true, but the thought of evil–worshipping neighbors sticks with Brown throughout his life. While the people in his village appear kind and gentle, Brown is suspicious of their true character. He is a changed man who believes he is living in a world filled with

Young Goodman Brown Essay

The Psychological Divide Nathaniel Hawthorne's story "Young Goodman Brown" is approaching two hundred years of age, and over those years numerous critics have described their opinion on what it means. One of the obvious interpretations comes from a psychological perspective, and with that, the two conflicting groups within psychology are both used to examine it. The critics D.J. Moores and Michael Tritt both examine " Young Goodman Brown" from a psychological perspective they differ however, in that Tritt does so with a Freudian approach, while Moores takes a Jungian one. Tritt, in his criticism of "Young Goodman Brown", " 'Young Goodman Brown' and the Psychology of Projection. " Looks at Brown's actions in the story and argues that his actions are described by Freudian psychology. Tritt starts by examining Brown's judgement of other characters,...show more content...

Right from the start, Moore expresses his disagreements of Freudian ideas, stating that "many psychoanalytic critics, quite expectedly, have focused too exclusively on libido and pathology, just as Freud did himself"(Moores). This is simply an example of the divide between followers of Jungian theory and Freudian theory and how Jungians tend to view the Freudians. In place of Freudian ideas, Moore suggests that what Brown encounters in the woods is "what Jungian theory calls the shadow the unwanted parts of himself that are too distressing to his Puritan ego–self and thus experienced as a projection outside as something other, threatening and devilish."(Moores). Like Moors later states himself, The Jungian shadow differs from the Freudian subconscious in that Freud believed that the subconscious was simply full of repressed sexual desires and instincts whereas Jung felt that the subconscious also contained more complex values and emotions as

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In the short story "Young Goodman Brown," The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, creates a suspenseful and mysterious theme throughout the story in order to hold the reader's attention. Nathaniel hawthorne shows that idealistic faith in a person could lead to disillusionment, doubt, and fear revolves around Goodman Brown and his journey through the forest of All Hollows Eve to witness a witches' Sabbath.Young Goodman Brown's faith is taken aback during his journey, as he sees people that he has a high amount of respect for attending and participating in the witches' Sabbath. As Goodman Brown's journey in the forest unravels, he discovers a lot of things which cause his mentality and faith to completely change. Before the Goodman's big discovery, this story opens with Goodman stressing about a task that he must accomplish before sunrise...show more content...

Satan takes the persona of Brown's grandfather. As Goodman Brown sees people making their way toward the meeting, he is surprised to see that many of them are of great importance in the governmental and religious society. First, Goodman Brown sees Goody Cloyse. Goodman Brown does not believe his eyes as he sees Goody Cloyse participating in the meeting because she used to be his religion instructor and the story describes her as "a very pious and exemplary dame". Seeing Goody Cloyse causes Goodman Brown's faith to weaken. Although his faith begins to weaken, he still attempts to keep his good faith which ends up backfiring as he sees the town minister, Deacon Gookin, and his wife's pink ribbon. Faith's pink ribbon is the biggest impact when it comes to Goodman Brown losing his faith. At the black mass, Goodman Brown recognized most of the people there who he once respected but now sees them as sinners. He describes them as "a grave and dark–clad company". Goodman Brown then believes there is no good in the world, and his faith is nearly

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Although this short story one of the greatest in American Literature was published almost a century before Sigmund Freud, a renowned psychologist and psychoanalyst, published his works, Young Goodman Brown almost explicitly illustrates how Freudian psychology works. A lot of aspects of psychology are depicted in this short story. One of the questions that one might ask is whether the experience of Goodman Brown was merely a dream or a reality. I would say that that is only a dream, based on the clues found in the text. At the first part, the scene when the couple parted, Goodman Brown said, "...she talks of dreams, too..." This means that he has been experiencing dreams that bother him. And the narrative is but one of those. It...show more content...

It is based on the standards of right and wrong. Faith, his wife, represents the superego. She persuades him not to go, and joins him in his hesitation of being a convert in the "meeting". But I would say that his superego is weak. It must be because his father and grandfather may have been evil people, even his teacher Goody Cloyse and the ministers, who all taught him his catechism. The two forces on the mind continue to battle, as shown when Goodman Brown goes with the man, stopping, and goes with him again. But we know that the id won, as decided by the ego, as he was finally in the ceremony. The id doesn't care about the consequences of an action. It only wants to satisfy the immediate needs. Goodman Brown, after following his id, experienced sorrowful consequences like the lost of his wife and his conscious mind and thinking. Freud said that the basis of experience is sexual experiences. Young Goodman Brown also has the psychosexual aspect. Every one of us has psychosexual energy called the libido. Faith, though she was seemingly too innocent, talks about sleeping at night without her husband. The point here is everyone, although holy and pious, has the libido. This is what makes people similar. Everyone experiences physical enjoyment. This might also be the cause of Goodman Brown desperateness in having his wife back. Being a good man, she is his only medium to satisfy his worldly needs, until the

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The main theme of the Nathaniel Hawthorne's, " Young Goodman Brown," is the struggle between Goodman Brown's faith, power to resist his own evil impulses and his own doubts within him. It is a story of Young Goodman Brown's personal conflict over his inner desires and its greater meaning conflict between good and evil in the world. The characteristics of Young Goodman Brownare similar to the life of Nathaniel Hawthorne . Nathaniel Hawthorne had his own doubts about his own Puritan life and beliefs. There are numerous examples in this story whereby Hawthorne clearly demonstrates to the reader Goodman Brown's personal internal conflict between good and evil.

Hawthorne's knowledge of the historical background of Puritanism combined with the...show more content...

Upon entering the forest Goodman Brown is suspicious of every rock and tree, thinking something evil will jump out at him. When he finally does meet someone on the trail, who appears to be of evil origin, he feels confident that he can refuse any temptations. This evil person makes several advances and Goodman refuses. At first Goodman feels confident that he can resist any temptation that the devils throws upon him. Hawthorne describes how closely the devil resembles Goodman. Hawthorne describes them as though they "might have been mistaken for father and son." The devil resembles him in order to make Goodman feel more comfortable around him. It makes it easier to tell lies and deceive Young Goodman Brown into coming with him to the witch gathering. Goodman Brown discusses his self–doubt after incidences such as his discovery of the 'true nature' of his community within the forest. Brown thinks that he recognizes voices of his minister, deacon, and of his wife, but can't be certain since their figures are not visible. He thinks that everyone in his community is participating in satanic acts. When he sees this it destroys any faith he might of had in the community or himself, he appears to give up faith completely. Brown's reluctance to take the Devil's "snake–like staff" also illustrates his uncertainties and defiance in becoming one of the Devil's chosen. Even the setting of the winding, long journey through the woods demonstrates indecision and conflict, as Get more

Nathaniel Hawthorne have develop a great plot in "Young Goodman Brown" since the ending is kind of confusing. Leaving the question and judgment to the reader of whether Goodman Brown experience was real or just a pure dream of his consciousness. One assumption that can be made is that the experience told in the story by Hawthorne was simply a dream formed in the subconscious of Goodman Brown. Starting with the fact, that Goodman Brown lives in "Salem village" (3), a location where witch trials were held according to history. An statement mentioned by Hawthorne in the story that provide evidence that Goodman Brown might be mentally ill and/or dreaming is "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely

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The main focus of the story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the triumph of evil over good. A supposedly good man is tempted by evil and allows himself to be converted into a man of evil. This is much like the situation that arises in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, where two people are tempted tosin and give in thus submitting themselves to the power of the devil. In this novel, the area where the devil resides is strictly parallel to that in "Young Goodman Brown".

As Goodman Brown sets off on his walk into the forest, he believes that there is more good within his community than evil, and that he himself is a good man. He...show more content...

Goodman Brown then says that these people's ways have no attachment to him and therefore he is not capable of their sinful doings. This urges his companion into uncontrollable laughter, for he knows that Goodman Brown is as much a sinner as the rest of them although he has yet to realize this. Meeting Goody Cloyse in the forest shows that Goodman Brown has been evil all of his life, for she is a witch, and he says that the old lady taught him his catechism.

Goodman Brown is tempted by his fellow traveler, who is most definitely an advocate of the devil, or the devil in another form, to come deeper into the forest, but he refuses. Goodman Brown now sits and ponders whether or not to turn back. He hears the voices of the town's deacon and minister, and they talk of he communion they will be attending. Upon hearing this, Goodman Brown cries out that he will stand strong against the devil. He then hears the confused sound of voices of the towns–people. This is the devil firmly urging Goodman Brown to give in to the evil force. Now the desperate man hears the scream of a woman and sees his wife's pink hair ribbon in a tree and he is paralyzed by the effects of this. Crying out "My Faith is gone, there is no good on earth: and sin is but a name" he instantly sells himself to the devil.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," the story is told from a limited omniscient third–person narrator point of view. Limited omniscient third–person narrator means that the focal point of the story is limited to one character. This technique works well with the story because it allows the narrator to portray what Goodman Brown is doing, and also allows him to assess and remark on Goodman Brown's doings throughout the story. Sometimes this method is used to convey the beliefs of the author, and in this instance I feel that Hawthorne is using this story to express his ideas on humans in general. The story, "Young Goodman Brown," has many themes, but it is my belief that the main theme in this classic short story is guilt versus...show more content...

The narrator will not start talking about things that other people have seen or heard. For example, let's say that Faith saw something but Goodman did not see it or hear it, we will never hear about it because it is only from Goodman's viewpoint. What is also good about having a limited omniscient narrator is that they are not subjective. A first–person narrator is very subjective because they are with one sole character and agree with everything that character has to say because they are always in their minds. A third–person limited omniscient is always with one character, but can also get out of the character's mind and tell it from a narrator's point of view. For example, "They did so; and, by the blaze of the hell–kindled torches, the wretched man beheld his Faith, and the wife her husband, trembling before that unhallowed altar" (344). This is a great example of what I was talking about. He calls Goodman Brown a wretched man which would only happens because it is in third–person omniscient point of view.

I believe this point of view accomplishes Hawthorne's purpose in "Goodman Brown". He does not want people to figure out if Goodman was dreaming or if it was reality. In my opinion, this was the best method in doing this. The point of view remains consistent throughout the story because the narrator never changes his point of view on anything. The narrator remains constant throughout the story even when the climax happens. Goodman Brown drives Get more content

Ernest Hemingway once said, "All things truly wicked start from innocence," In the short story, "Young Goodman Brown", Nathaniel Hawthorne shows numerous ways a young adult loses his innocence and religious upbringing simply by the allowing the influence of others to take over the truths that have been deeply rooted throughout his childhood. The main character, Young Goodman Brown, discovers that his wife, his own self and his acquaintances are, not who he thought they were on the inside. There are many themes these characters represent throughout the story such as symbolism, innocence, and good versus evil. First, representing symbolism is Young Goodman's wife, Faith. Her name, Faith, is a symbol within itself. Hawthorne...show more content...

His innocence is proven when he marries Faith believing that she, herself, will stay faithful to their religious beliefs and help him become a better christian. Everyone has a conscience and has the choice to follow it or go the other way. This is the same with Young Goodman Brown. By leaving his wife and going to the ceremony in the forest, he had now gone against his conscience. "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind" (Hawthorne, 8). The course he has chosen to take is not the right one. This leads him even farther from the innocence of his younger days. He also recognizes that innocence can be taken quickly by making the wrong choice and putting faith in the wrong people. Sometimes the loss of innocence is a path that can never be returned. The final character to discuss and his role in the good versus evil theme is the Old Man. "I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem; and it was I that brought your father a pitch–pine knot, kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Phillip's War. They were my good friends, both; and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path, and returned merrily after midnight. I would fain be friends with you for their sake." (Hawthorne, 18)

Young uses his childlike faith to trust in

"Young Goodman Brown" and Women

What are the attitudes of the young Puritan husband Goodman Brown toward women, of the author toward women, of other characters in the story toward women? This essay intends to answer that question.

Randall Stewart in "Hawthorne's Female Characters" states that there are three types of female characters in Hawthorne's writings: (1) "the wholesome New England girl, bright, sensible and self–reliant;" (2) "the frail, sylph–like creature, easily swayed by a stronger personality;" and (3) "the woman with an exotic richness in her nature" (98), and that "Young Goodman Brown" has in Faith "cheerfulness, prettiness, and a simple–minded domesticity" (99). So this categorizes her under type...show more content...

Leavis says in "Hawthorne as Poet" that "It is a journey he takes under compulsion, and it should not escape us that she tries to stop him because she is under a similar compulsion to go on a 'journey' herself" (36). So the main male and female characters are manifesting similar (equal?) characteristics. But thinking only of himself, Goodman abandoned Faith to an evening of loneliness at home, or so it initially seemed. Alas, they had been married but three months when he rejected her thus. After a rather hostile accusation of distrust by Brown, Faith wished him well, "May God bless you!" And he, feeling perhaps that he had been a bit harsh, tried to assuage her fears of spending the night alone by reassuring her, "Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee." Then he left her alone.

When he had gone as far as the meeting–house, he looked back and saw that she was still looking after him – with a melancholy air. He chided himself, "What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand!" Yet he, in his prioritizing, gave her a back seat to his wishes and continued on his way. When into the dense forest, he met the "grave" man who berated him lightly for his tardiness; Goodman defended himself by blaming it on his wife, "Faith kept me back awhile." There was no pause to reflect on the uprightness of his actions; he quite naturally and unhesitatingly blamed Faith for something for which she was most

Puritanism on Young Goodman Brown: An Annotated Bibliography

Thesis: Goodman Brown's state of mind between good and evil could have been caused by a combination of Puritanism obsession with the devil, its resemblance, and other prejudices such as ergot poisoning.

Clark, Josh. "Ergot Poisoning Theory." Were the American Colonists Drugged during the SalemWitchcraftTrial? HowStuffWorks, a Division of InfoSpace LLC, n.d. Web. 30 July 2015. This article focuses on the Salem Witchcraft trials, which was in 1962 at the time whereyoung Goodman Brown's background takes place. The article mentions 2 historians that explain the reasons of what could have caused the trials. Historian number one, Caporael, believes that the reason that caused the girls...show more content...

Rummel gives an analysis of the history and development of Puritanism in New England during the 1600s. In simple words how the people had formed a society in order to reform England and separate church from government. Puritans had God as an almighty, they were known as people with strict education, solitary environment, and own beliefs such as their obsession with the devil, evil and good. Rummel states that even if Hawthorne mentions religion in his short stories most of it Puritanism, he still never recommended any particular opinion. The story is focused on Puritan elements and Hawthorne's approach to it. Hawthorne uses religious phrases and elements that makes the reader analyze each several object, action, figure, and scenario in the story. That's why Goodman Brown has too much conflict going on and is very detailed on what he feels and sees. The article is one great piece of information that supports the understanding of the Puritan religious mindset and Hawthorne's attitude towards it. Of course into the interpretation of what might had happened in the story.

"The Influence of History and Puritanism on Young Goodman Brown." Wandering Mind RSS. n.p., 4 Feb. 2012. Web. 03 Aug.

Darkness, confusion, and terror are some words that come to mind when thinking of the setting in this writing piece. The story has a way of getting the theme across that seems very extreme, partly with its vast use of symbolism. The tale comes down to a single central theme. The story " Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne shows that anyone is susceptible to a change in beliefs, and everyone's lives can be affected from the act of being caught off guard. Readers never really know the true name of the main character, so they label him as Young Goodman Brown. This is a general name given to an average nice guy, similar to calling a man John Doe. The story's intent is to make this character represent all of us. Brown seems to be a simple man. He has a wife named Faith that he cares for quite dearly, and he continually refers to her as a...show more content... The way Hawthorne portrays Brown's wife, Faith, is one of the most unique and powerful pieces of the story. It shows how a man can think completely differently and lose his faith due to traumatizing events. The way Young Goodman Brown represents the everyman is something very unique and enjoyable, as it takes the reader and puts them right into the main character's shoes. Brown faces a lot of adversity that most people will go through one way or another, and Brown in this story can represent any given person during at least one point in their life. True, it may be hard to understand how one man could represent all of humanity, but Hawthorne did an excellent job at getting as close as possible. Young Goodman Brown may not be who someone identifies with when a crisis occurs, but his character truly shows how big of an impact an extreme incident can be on any given person, and completely changing their way of going about

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Young Goodman Brown Literary Analysis

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, Young Goodman Brown, Brown goes on a journey through the forest that drastically changes him. While we never know the real reason why Brown went to the forest, the experience in the forest caused him to become a bitter, sad, and lonely man who couldn't look at life the same after that night. There were many events that occurred in the forest that caused this change in him.

Goodman Brown, a young man who was only married for three months, left his home and his wife, Faith, to go into the forest and spend the night on some mission that he will not explain. Even though Faith has strong feelings about his journey and begs him not to leave, Brown has made his decision and leaves everything behind....show more content...

However the devil overpowers his sense to go back and he continues on into the forest. The devil gives Brown a lot of information about his family and ancestors, and how they did terrible things such as worship the devil and practice black art. In the forest Brown also witnesses many people from his town; people that he thought were good and would never do evil things. He sees his childhood Sunday school teacher, the minister, and the deacon all on their way to worship the devil.

As Brown is witnessing the evils that surround him, he tries to save himself and prays. As he is praying he begins to hear voices from the sky, as is they were coming from religious godly figures, such as his wife Faith. He then sees the pink ribbon that she wears in her hair on the ground. This causes Brown a great deal of despair because it could mean that Faith is also going into the forest to practice evil things.

Once Brown is deep into the forest, he is surrounded by people from his town acting wicked and sinful, people who he had always assumed were noble and righteous. As he is led to the altar to be received into this association of evil, he is joined by his wife, Faith. Brown cannot believe his religious and heavenly wife is there. She represents what is good to him, and he cries to her to look heavenward and save herself. But

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Young Goodman Brown was an innocent, corruptly, and doubtful man. At first, he only thought there was goodness inside of his father and grandfather, until the old man tells Goodman Brown that he knew both of them. All the people that he thought were pure, happened to be connected with the devil at one point. Once he found out about everybody that the old man knew, Goodman Brown questioned his beliefs about everything and he was never the same. When Goodman Brown went to the forest, it completely changed his faith and well– being. When young Goodman Brown entered the forest, he strongly believed in his Christianity, but when he left, he did not have any faith left in him. The devil tempted him and Goodman completely lost it. "I have been was well acquainted with your family as with every one among the Puritans; and that's no trifle to say" (YGB 18). He had no idea that the...show more content...

This all depends on how strong your imagination is. By deciding if it were real or not, you're ending the story the way you want it to end. For example, if you say it was real, then you will be believing that all those good people from church were just pretending on being Christians their whole lives. Which will mean that you believe in witches, wizards, and anything that has to do with the devil. If it were to be a dream, then you'll probably think that Goodman was being so paranoid for the rest of his life for no reason. The dream could also made him realize everybody sins and nobody is perfect.

Young Goodman Brown was a pure Christian that believed in everything good inGod. Until, he went to the forest and spoke with the devil which changed his life forever. That meant that Goodman's faith was weak and anything could've changed it. After his experience with the devil, his life was nothing but dark. He was never happy and didn't trust anybody because he thought everyone was

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Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown illustrates vividly how society and culture can very much influence a person's sense of identity and belonging, or in the case of Young Goodman Brown the lack thereof. Being a Puritan man in a society that scorned the ways of witches and the devil, Young Goodman Browngrew up with a very pious outlook on life. Yet when it occurs to him to look at life a little bit differently, Young Goodman Brown receives more than he has bargained for. The journey he embarks on sheds a whole new light on his society that not only creates a struggle between himself and his fellow men but also one within himself. From the beginning of Hawthorne's story a test of faith prevails. From the moment that Young...show more content...

He was able to at least blindly acknowledge the new side to Goody Close, and the minister and the Deacon, but with the sight of her pink ribbon "after one stupefied moment" Young Goodman Brown cried "my Faith is gone" (190). On the outside he believes his wife too has fallen into the trap of the devil yet on the inside he has lost his own faith. "There is no good on earthВ…come, devil; for to thee is this world given" (190). To Goodman Brown his world is now over and with his faith in the world, in his society gone he succumbs to the evilness of the forest.

This madness that Young Goodman Brown experiences escalates further more the psychological struggle he is having. What he learns in this forest changes him so much that he cannot look at anything without judging it in the manner of his experience. As Walter Shear puts it, "he underestimates the power of time, failing to see the degree to which he hasВ…made himself a particular kind of individual, (and) ultimately the prisoner of his own psychological prisoner" (Shear, 545). Young Goodman Brown came into the journey somewhat aware of what he would see in terms of the presence of evil but did not believe that one night of this evil could change his life forever. Due to the strictPuritan society he was used to, Young Goodman Brown underestimated the power that this journey would hold and therefore he becomes a

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In the short story Young Goodman Brown, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Brown goes on a journey into the woods to do an unknown errand. He comes across an older man, the Devil, the Minister of the Church, Deacon Gookin, his catechism teacher, Goody Cloyse and later on his wife, Faith Brown. Throughout his journey he learns so lessons that change everything he has ever had, his religion, his views, his lifestyle, and his personality.Nathaniel Hawthorne conveys that everyone is good and bad, using symbolism and characterism, along with several others. He used everything from the ribbons on someone's hat, to the names of the characters, along with the underlining theme and plot. Using characterization, Hawthorne explains how the theme develops...show more content...

"Letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap," (237). The normal color of purity is white, and while red is for blood, when we think of blood we think of danger and troubles. When both colors are mixed together, they make up pink. A mixture of good and evil.When we think of pink at first we think of innocence, and childlike behavior. But as pretty as it maybe, it's just a serpent in disguise. Pink represents everyone, everyone at some point in their life, and/or on another level, and the mix of traits which we all have. That point in our lives, where the temptation to sin is so great, in which we succumb. The point where we are forcibly dragged out of that hole, that we put ourselves in. It is our saving grace, but at the time our minds are warped and we think that to be a crime. Whether it be our parents forcing us out of a relationship, or our teachers putting us through a horrible test, or even the police putting us in jail. `If you can't pay the time, don't do the crime,` is a great motto, but is there any real control over our sins? Pink is ever changeable, like humanity, it is a concoction of everything. "But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon. `My Faith is gone!` cried he, after one stupefied moment. `There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is