Analysis of ‘Young Goodman Brown’ Essay Example

Despite being aware of his actions, he decided to take a chance which ultimately led to the forfeiture of both his religion and respect for his wife. Throughout his travels with a stranger in the forest, Brown repeatedly expresses his longing to return home - possibly due to uncertainty about whether or not he can withstand temptation or as a reminder of his objective to confront evil and recover his faith.

Initially, it seems like Brown's faith in religion is strong, as he journeys through the woods and discovers his own father was a sinner. However, when he encounters the town's holy folk en route to a witches' meeting, his conviction wavers. Despite considering going back, Brown perseveres. Hawthorne subtly hints that Brown's companion is the devil during their exchange. Brown's ironic statement about the devil's proximity precedes his sighting of the stranger. Although he claims religious devotion and resistance to evil, Brown converses with the devil.

Upon discovering something, the protagonist decides to halt his journey, leading us to speculate about the strength of his religious convictions. However, an event occurs prompting him to continue onward. Every notable individual from his hometown encountered during his trip into the forest symbolizes a gradual decline in his faith. Initially, it is his catechism instructor that represents a small aspect of his belief system. Subsequently, the deacon and minister, who supposedly embody the divine, shatter Brown's faith when he sees them. Witnessing these particular people results in him ceasing to pray at church and ultimately losing his religion entirely. The author, Hawthorne, meticulously includes details throughout the story. A significant detail occurs when a pink ribbon falls before

Brown, the same ribbon he describes as belonging to Faith at the tale's start.

According to the symbolization in the text, Brown is losing his faith and feels compelled to attend a meeting in order to regain it. However, this compromises the purity of his faith. Despite shouting that his faith is gone and that there is no good on earth, Brown knows he will never get it back but proceeds further into the forest. Hawthorne's depiction of the meeting and Brown's faith being present suggest that he is attempting to resist the dark side. Unfortunately, as Brown spends his remaining days, he becomes increasingly critical and distrustful towards others, forgetting that he too must repent for his sins.

The absence of any carving on his grave implies that the protagonist lost interest in his own religion and faith. This was due to his preoccupation with others' sins, ultimately leading to a somber passing. Although Nathaniel Hawthorne fails to clarify if Brown's forest encounter was real or imagined, I am convinced it was a dream. The scene serves to highlight the transition of the main character from an unwavering believer to a skeptic. While he did not entirely lose faith in religion, he no longer viewed it in others and instead only saw their sins. His distrust extended to those closest to him, including his wife, pastor, and relatives. Given that Brown resided in Salem during the era of frequent witch trials, it is relevant to note his constant exposure to such events and the abundance of witches brought forth for condemnation each day.

In the midst of the Salem Witch trials, Brown assumed that everyone was in

cahoots with the devil as those around him were being accused and executed. His unbreakable faith in religion and feeling of isolation amplified this belief. The strange dream he had, brought on by these events, felt so real that Brown lost his faith. Although initially proud of his ancestors’ religious devotion, he began to question everyone's true intentions after discovering their association with the devil. Nathaniel Hawthorne expertly employs symbolism throughout the story, not just when referring to Brown's wife named "Faith." For instance, the stranger's staff at first served as a supportive cane for the feeble old man before transforming into a threatening snake causing fear in all who saw it. Don’t forget to check out our article on Salem witch trials questions and answers.

Ultimately, the text suggests that at nighttime, Brown recoils from his wife's embrace due to the evil that is visible within her during those hours. This is a time when children imagine monsters lurking in their closets and thefts often occur. It is also the time when Brown perceives Faith's sins most acutely. Upon reflection, it becomes clear that Goodman Brown's name is reiterated numerous times throughout the text to emphasize his ordinary nature; he could be any man in the world.

Brown, a common name found countless times in today's directories, was a regular husband and household head. He epitomises humanity and illustrates the ongoing battle of good vs. evil that affects us all. Brown's time in history was particularly trying as people were frequently accused of witchcraft and subjected to unjust punishments such as burning at the stake without proof or certainty of who was right or

wrong.

Just like Brown, who believed in his strong faith until he realized that everyone sins, it deeply troubled him. Similarly, Young Goodman Brown surrendered to the Devil when he expressed, "come devil, for to thee is this world given." Essentially, he validated the Devil's earlier claim that all humanity has inherent evil within them, and this realization consumed him with mistrust, darkness, and melancholy for the rest of his life. This even extended to his beloved wife, whom he cherished before that fateful night.