Compare And Contrast Young Goodman Brown And The Minister's Black Veil

If all sins or wrongdoings were publicized, would we stop treating each other the same? In both short stories, “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Minister’s Black Veil”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, both stories involve characters are witness secret sins occur, altering their perspective. In “Young Goodman Brown” Brown, goes on an expedition to his local forests, uncovering the reality of the secret sinners. In the “The Minister’s Black Veil” the minister wears an unexpected black veil to symbolize he had sinned, while his town creates an uproar while his town creates an uproar, refusing to admit they are sinners as well. While sin defines any immoral act committed, it can only be corrected if acknowledged. Both Brown and the Minister's gain a new perspective of the sinning that occurs in their community.

At the time the forests, were seen as the home and witches and devils, aware of this Goodman Brown willingly enters. He witnesses the most upstanding members of his community participate in witchcraft. Brown observes even the most innocent person he knows, his wife Faith, participate. His perspective is altered to a position, he can not amend regardless of the His Faith, actually implies a double meaning, his wife whose innocence he clasps onto and his faith in God which he is determined to keep even after seeing Church members disrespect his God. Brown who once showered her with affection, “looked sternly and sadly into her face, and passed on without a greeting.” His perspective of his wife shifts from loving and respecting her, to being ashamed and not being able to talk to her. (Hawthorne 5) It is unsure of whether what Brown saw in the forest was palpable, the doubt created by Brown is