Young Goodman Brown: the Downfall of Young Goodman Brown

pure evil and kills countless people for pretty much the fun of it. He was said to be able to

Many events led up to him losing his faith and being consumed with self-doubt, but the one that finally pushed Goodman Brown over the edge to call onto the devil was when he could not find his wife Faith. The line “‘But where is Faith?’ thought Goodman Brown; and, as hope came into his heart, he trembled.” shows

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 Brown grew 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.

     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.

Throughout history John Brown has been described as a terrorist, mentally ill, and a failure among other things. Because he stood strongly for what he believed in, and his goal was eventually achieved he can be seen for the most part as a hero. Brown was described as “an American who gave his life that millions of other Americans be free” (Chowder,6). Brown was a headstrong abolitionist who claimed that he was told by God to end slavery causing him to see himself as “a latter-day Moses” (Chowder, 6). With this, he stopped at nothing to fulfill these expectations. Brown’s heroism is displayed through how he was recounted by others during and after his lifetime, the actions though drastic he took when fighting for what he believed in, and

that anyone can look forward to eternal happiness with God. Henceforth, a newly transformed Alfred

Though they both left due to discrepant dilemmas they both dwelled of their spouses through out their trip. Mary writes, “I asked him about the welfare of my husband. He told me he saw him such a time in the Bay, and he was well, but very melancholy. By which I certainly understood (though I suspected it before) that whatsoever the Indians told me respecting him was vanity and lies.”(13th remove) Likewise, Goodman Brown dreaded the evening he left Faith to the forest on his errand and admits, "Poor little Faith!" thought he, for his heart smote him. What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand!” In a time of despair and treachery they both remain nonchalant by simply reminiscing of their fellow love. Mary contemplates of her “husband and father, and children, and sisters, and friends, and relations, and house, and home, and many comforts of this life,” and Young Goodman Brown thought of, “Faiths aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink

Young Goodman Brown must leave behind his known world, Salem village, and enter an unknown world, the forest, to face challenges he must be capable of overcoming. Allegorically, he embarks on a psychological and spiritual odyssey. Entering an unknown territory is scary and puts a person at a much higher physical and emotional risk. "There may be a devlish Indian behind every tree" shows how insecure Young Goodman Brown is in the forest because he is exposing himself to danger, which in this case, is evil itself (pg. 88). He must stay strong and overcome his weaknesses to get past his biggest fears and continue his Hero's journey. Goodman Brown is tempted to turn around and go home, but he sticks it out, and continues onward. Goodman Brown remarks, "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!" just before noticing a man, similar in appearance to himself, sitting under a tree (pg. 88). This man speaks as if he was expecting Brown

Goodman Brown decides he wants to go off into the woods for one last night of evilness before married life really kicked in. He says, ”What a wretch

In the short story, “Young Goodman Brown”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals how the broader culture is today and how “Young Goodman Brown” still makes a significant statement today. The broader culture today still faces challenges such as going against your gut instinct just as it did with Goodman Brown. Furthermore, the story still makes a significant statement today because in today’s society a lot of people go against their gut instinct which is why sometimes bad things seem to happen. Goodman Brown felt he should have went into the devils ways but he did not because he felt like his gut instinct told him not too. He had stopped because he had seen his wife staring at him about to go and follow the devils evil ways.

Even though forbidden from God, temptation leads them to eat from the tree and perform the first sin of mankind. In the form of a serpent, Satan seduces evil and gets Adam and Eve expelled from paradise. At this point they realize their nakedness and cover themselves with leaves. I feel this is the moment of time depicted in the figure.

Anthony Brown: He was giving Brendan a hard time about his 15 min break. I believe Brendan emailed you about this situation.

He loses all faith in the community, as he says, "my faith is gone! There is no good on earth" (Young Goodman). He feels he is above them because he was able to resist the devil. He says, "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One!" (Young Goodman). Goodman Brown's pride is his tragic flaw, since he has too much therefore it causes his downfall.

Faith plays a major role in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown”. From the start of his journey to his arrival back home, Faith is always in the back of head, making him question his surroundings and own thoughts. It’s hard to determine when he’s speaking of his lovely wife Faith or his Faith in his God and religion. Through his many

Goodman Brown is showing both purity and corruptibility as he sways between having confidence in the intrinsic decency of the individuals around him and accepting that the demon has assumed control over the personalities of all his loved ones. At long last, he accepts that Faith is unadulterated and great, until the fiend uncovers at the service that Faith, as well, is corruptible. This instability uncovers Goodman Brown's absence of genuine religion. His conviction is anything but difficult to shake, and of the great and underhandedness sides of human instinct. Through Goodman Brown's enlivening to the malice ways of everyone around him, Hawthorne remarks on what he sees as the concealed debasement of Puritan culture. Goodman Brown has confidence in people in general callings of confidence made by his dad and the senior citizens of his congregation and in the societal structures that are based upon that confidence. Hawthorne recommends, notwithstanding, that behind general society face of piety, the Puritans' activities are not generally Christian. The demon in the story says that he is available when Brown's dad and granddad whip Quakers and set blaze to Indian towns, making it clear that the