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The Dark Side Of Human Nature In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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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. Also, one of his ancestors John Hawthorne, was one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials. Therefore, he had inspiration from the history that occured to incorporate into the story. Nathaniel liked to write about the dark side of human nature and gave long descriptions so the readers could envision it. He would leave the readers at the end in suspense so they could put themselves in the story and make an ending themselves. In writing about the dark side of human nature, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to prove that sin is everywhere and that anybody can commit it. The journey itself sets up the events that follow to sin. Goodman gives inside on what kind of purpose the journey is for. “With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose.” (Hawthorne 1;par 9) By him using the word “evil”, it is related to sinning. The fact that he is religious contradicts his faithfulness and his appearance of being holy. The journey he takes proves that sin is everywhere because it is all around tempting him. His appearance of being holy and going on the

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