Goodman Brown is betrayed by his family and community, however he is equally at fault for betraying his family and community, as well as his own beliefs. This betrayal leads the protagonist to question the world and people around him. The theme of this short story is that betrayal leads to consequences and these consequences can be nonstop. Although it is not clear to the audience if Goodman Brown’s journey into the forest is a dream of reality, the plot offers insight into the protagonist’s subconscious and his struggle with faith. In this story, Young Goodman Brown sets off on a secretive adventure into the woods that he is very cautious about from the start.
Initially, Brown is terrified of ever hurting or disappointing Faith, describing her as a “blessed angel on Earth.” Faith’s “peeping,” pink-ribbon-clad figure is clearly an idealized version in Brown’s mind of his wife as he trek’s into the unknown. In Faith’s first sentence of the story, she bids Brown to “sleep in [his] own bed,” overtly associating her with a sense of home (2). As Goodman Brown treks out into the dark forest, he tethers his sense of safety and familiarity to his image of Faith’s concerned face. Hawthorne also describes Faith as “aptly named” (1). Religious faith, to Goodman Brown, represents his family, his traditions, and his idea of proper society.
Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year.” (p 452) He responds to her “My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ‘twixt now and sunrise.” (p 452) Hawthorne was subtly implying that there was trouble ahead as no good can come from a man leaving his newlywed wife behind and planning to stay out all night. Brown fully intends to embark on an excursion through the forest at night and intentionally leave his ‘Faith’ behind, which means that he is aware that this is a not a casual jaunt through the wilderness, but a rite of passage that he feels he must
Although each story differs in climactic endings, both protagonists in each story reflect the struggle of one’s very soul by their reluctance to fully submit to God. “Young Goodman Brown” In the short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Faith” is the name of Young Goodman Brown’s wife and is also a metaphor for his inner faith in God. When Brown chooses an evening of sin and deceit, before being completely honest and devoted to his wife, Faith, he embarks on a journey that will change his life forever. Down a dark and crooked path, Brown comes face to face with the devil himself. Satan gives Young Goodman Brown a stark glimpse into the very evil of this world and the evil within man.
The story of Young Goodman Brown is the story of a tale about the main character becoming aware of the hypocrisy of his faith as a Puritan. Through his travels in the woods at night, he unveils the truths, or what he believes as truths, about his wife Faith, neighbors, and fellow Christians. By the end, Brown loses all trust in his Faith, both literally and spiritually, and refuses to see any good in the world. The beginning scene where Goodman Brown meets the old man has the most significance in the story’s resolution. This is where his mistrust starts to form and where he experiences his first temptations to sin.
The first hint of foreshadowing is when Faith expressed uneasiness before Brown leaves. These concerns stay with Brown and the reader for the remainder of the story. Brown chooses to leave during the night which suggests that he is up to something shady, for it is widely known that nothing good happens past midnight. At the time the forest was suspected to be the home of the devil because many settlers would get lost in it and never come
Young Goodman Brown meets with the devil in the forest and the woods. The woods represent Young Goodman Brown’s own fear, suspicion and dark feelings that he does not want anyone to acknowledge. The forests and the woods are always secluded form the world. They are always quiet and empty from people. Since Young Goodman Brown chose to meet with the devil in a place that is secluded from the rest of the world, shows how he does not want other people to find out about his shameful and secret meeting.
In the very classic short story “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, took place in the 17th century but was written in the mid-1800’s. The story begins when Brown, the main character, leaves his newly wed wife, Faith to go on a trip into the forest. Faith begs for him to stay but he is determined to go that night. When he reaches the forest he meets a man, who kind of resembles Brown. They both head together deeper into the forest where they run into a woman, Goody Cloyse, who Brown has met before when he was younger in the woods.
The story “Young Goodman Brown”,involves a young religious man who goes on a journey that is mysterious. He often has second thoughts as he is traveling. He encounters evil and questions his surroundings after and is conflicted. The story takes place during the Salem Witch Trials. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of the story, was born in Salem.
Because of Hawthorne’s family connection and history, it is both an interest and conflict for Hawthorne that came out in his writings. In this story, he looks into the witchcraft frenzy and psychology of the Puritan mind. Goodman Brown is fighting in himself good vs evil. Included is the prevalence and secrecy of sin and evil alive within all people, Mr. Brown, his father, grandfather, his friends and neighbors, members of his church and even his wife Faith. Thus, ones loss of faith and self-doubt about all that is