Young Goodman Brown By Nathaniel Hawthorne

“Young Goodman Brown” is a story about a man who challenges his faith in himself and in the community in which he resides.

In reading this classic tale from 1853 which was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I became intrigued first by the theme of the 1800’s with shadowy undertones of biblical evilness. Although, in reviewing the story further I noticed a certain distinctive trends of old world flare that was unmistakable. These tones are of sexism which sadly marked the time period historically to such extent in which the structured confinements of gender responsibilities.

Set as a common aspect within each story, the complex passages of sin and life later yield the protagonists’ sudden realization of the imminent nature of life and suppression of their initial pride. When Goodman Brown embarks on a journey through the woods, he initially encounters an old man, who closely resembles Brown himself. Goodman Brown, alongside the second traveller, sets off on a “dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest” (Hawthorne 1), represented as the principal setting and symbol of sin’s path. The atmosphere is instantly set as the path is illustrated “as lonely as could be” (1) with a “peculiarity in such a solitude, that the traveller knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and the

Ever since the creation of Adam and Eve, humans have been innately born with the ability to sin, making it impossible for any of their descendants to truly be good men. Due to this fact, there is only one truly good man in “Young Goodman Brown” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and the man they refer to is God himself. However, the Misfit and Goodman Brown both have the wrong idea that they are Christ like figures and draw false comparisons between themselves and Jesus Christ. The authors use these two men to illustrate how quickly one forgets what it means to be “good”.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was known for his many ways of writing including hidden messages, allegory meanings and symbolism. Nathaniel also brought back Puritan style writing by discussing religion as a main focus in his texts with everyday people good or bad, also known as religious symbolism. In “Young Goodman Brown” Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolically illustrates the dark and bright sides of characters throughout the story in order to teach the moral lesson of man and the conflict within, the hidden evil among everyone represented in the mysterious man and Goody Cloyse, Goodman's unknown past, and his unknown future with his wife.

Young Goodman Brown has lost all hope and is now an empty vessel waiting to be filled with sin. This shows how Young Goodman Brown’s lost of faith has allowed him to be less than human. He becomes a shadow of himself looking for trouble and specifically the devil. In an essence, Young Goodman Brown’s internal conflict vanishes and the story continues to resolve the external conflict.

In the text, “Young Goodman Brown”, Brown’s gloom and withdrawal is justified by the shocking events in the forest. This is because, during his time in the forest, be bears witness to supernatural events in which he sees that many people he knows from the path of god are in reality on the path of the devil.

Next, some book 's and story 's have religious undertones used in them. While not common, comparative religion can be just as important to a story as history and symbolism. Hawthorne used comparative religion between Puritanism and Satanism. As Goodman Brown continues through the forest he comes upon a horrifying situation. “Each pendent twig and leafy festoon was in a blaze. As the red light arose and fell, a numerous congregation alternately shone forth, then disappeared in shadow. . .” (Hawthorne 354). Unlike some of the Puritan customs listen above, this is the opposite with the red light and fire. The setting hint 's very heavily that this is not a congregation that Goodman Brown wants to be apart off. The Devil is closely associated with fire as Hell is

Young Goodman Brown could have made a different decision by choosing not to go into the forest. Instead of making the choice to enter the forest, he could have chosen to follow the good path avoiding the evil path. If he had gone down a different path it would have prevented him from losing his belief, religion, and faith he had in God. By Brown going into the wicked forest, he changed as a person because he did not come out the same. After going into the forest Brown realized the world was evil and couldn’t see the good in anything no longer. “There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name” (Hawthorne, 1835, 319). If he stayed out of the forest he would have still had his religion and seen the good in people and things while living on Earth. While inside the forest he became confused, lost, and doubtful over his life. Brown lost the innocence that he once had and gain new awareness to things that he once couldn’t see

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown,” the author uses mystery and suspense to hold the attention of the reader. One of the most obvious questions is if these events are actually real or if they are all a dream. However, whether the events are imaginary or reality, they have the same impact on Brown’s life whether they took place, or were just a twisted nightmare. Hawthorne shows that a strong faith is the greatest asset of a man or woman, and when that faith is compromised, the effects of this can cause one to be filled with doubt and cynicism toward the rest of the world. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory about a man who has lost his faith due to the fact that he has based his faith on the people

Stories with a little bit of edge but a major symbolic meaning are the type of stories in which people are entertained. In the story Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he uses imagery, allegories, and symbols to not only entertain his audience but to teach them a life lesson. This story is one where you have to dig a little deeper to really reveal the true meaning that Hawthorne is trying to portray. I believe the symbolic meaning of this story is that we all have evil in our hearts and are all victims of it.

The story of ‘Young Goodman Brown’ was having puritan backgrounds. When Goodman was visiting through dark forest, the old man appreciated Goodman and shown affinity with his ancestors by stating as: "Well said, Goodman Brown! I have been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; and that 's no trifle to say. 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 Philip 's War. They were my good friends, both; and many pleasant walks have we had along this path, and returned merrily after midnight. I would fain be friends with you, for their sake." (p-279). These lines revealed historical, mythical and puritan backgrounds as Goodman’s ancestors were involved in devilish activities like setting fire to an Indian village and his grandfather who once lashed the Quaker woman in the street of Salem; this old man was the friend of Brown’s ancestors. Brown resultantly rejected this so called story about his forefather’s filthy and heinous activities at Salem and he stated that his ancestors were pious and good people and further he stated that his father

The concept of good vs evil has been used through the history of literature and is a theme presented in literature throughout time. Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson are both short stories that eloquently present this theme of good vs evil and how they coexist within a community. Goodman Brown Details the story of Goodman Brown and his peculiar adventures while traveling in the deep woods, while The Lottery details the story of a lottery that is played in a small community of 300 people where the winner is killed. Both of these stories are also clear examples of how social customs are forcibly done in a community no matter how harsh or evil they may seem to others. Because of these set traditions being

In Hawthorne 's essay “Young Goodman Brown”, does it matter whether or not the protagonist, Goodman

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. As a Puritan man married to “Faith”, his choice to continue into the unknown leads him to contemplate and create new opinions of his religion. This scene also shows many instances of symbolism that refer to the devil and sinning. Goodman Brown encountering the old man is significant in his transformation because it displays his crucial decision that leads