Essay about Good and Evil in Young Goodman Brown by...

In the short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† Nathaniel Hawthorne sets the locale of the story during the Salem witch trials at his convenience to include the Calvinist theme of sin, that belief in which formed the early history of New England’s social and spiritual identity. As a dark romantic, Hawthorne includes the elements of human nature, mysticism, good and evil, and one’s own spirituality to convey his message to the reader. However, it is left to the reader’s own digression to interpret his ambiguous conclusions. At the beginning of the short story, Brown finds himself on a journey to the enchanted forest outside of his village for a mysterious appointment. Unknowingly, Brown is traveling into the heart of darkness in which he will be†¦show more content†¦The devil shows Brown that Goody Cloyse is a great friend of his. Goody Cloyse, the woman whose catechism taught Brown the way to heaven. Brown states, â€Å"What if a wretched old wom an do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven: is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?† Brown still believes that his confidence will get him into heaven. Finally, Brown realizes that his perception of his faith is mistaken. Realizing that Deacon Gookin and the minister are followers of the devil helped Brown make this realization. After the devils sermon at the meeting, Brown attempts to maintain his illusion that his faith will get him into heaven by saying â€Å"Faith! Faith†¦look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one.† Brown did not lose his faith at all; instead he learned the frightening significance of it. Other critics say that Brown was in a world of moral imagination. Reginald Cook states, ‘the magic forest, is always full of adventures.† While in the forest, Brown comes in contact with the forces of nature in their fearful aspects, assuming that Brown travels from the village into the forest as he moves from a â€Å"conscious world to a subconscious one.† When reading the short story, the beginning and end of the story are so real that when we get to the middle of the story, it seems like Brown is just in a horrific dream.Show MoreRelatedThe Forest of Good and Evil in Young Goodman Brown†by Nathaniel Hawthorne938 Words   |  4 PagesThe Forest of Good and Evil In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author tells a story of a man named Goodman Brow. From the beginning to the end of the story, Hawthorne uses suspense, mystery, and conflict to create an interesting journey for his protagonist, who walks through the woods at night. However, there is more in it than just the story by itself; it is full of many forms of symbolism for the character names in every part of the story. Throughout the many symbols and elementsRead More Good and Evil in Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essays857 Words   |  4 PagesGood and Evil in Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† there is a fight between good and evil with one main character being torn between the two sides and every other character seemingly on one side or the other through the reader’s view, although many characters do deceive Goodman Brown about whether they are good or evil. This fight between the two sides and the deception that causes confusion for Goodman Brown is the source of tension throughout the entire storyRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s Young Goodman Brown1543 Words   |  7 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne s short story of Young Goodman Brown, the author uses symbolism and allegories in order to showcase the Puritan faith as well as man s conflict between good and evil. This analysis will break down the techniques that the author uses to critique the puritan society and to show the difference between how people appear to be in society and the true colors that they are hidden inside of them. There has been a lot of great authors in our time, but none more interesting thanRead MoreShort Story Analysis: Young Goodman Brown Essay1115 Words   |  5 Pagesa great author, but none more intriguing than Nathaniel Hawthorne. 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Critics also debate interpretations of the main characters consciousness; is Brown awake or dreaming.   What is certain is that he lives and dies in pain because his belief in his righteousness isolates him from his community.   It is also certain that Hawthornes interpretation of Browns mid-lifeRead More Ambiguity and Uncertainty in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown1512 Words   |  7 PagesAmbiguity and Uncertainty in Young Goodman Brown   Ã‚  Ã‚   In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, through the use of deceptive imagery, creates a sense of uncertainty that illuminates the theme of mans inability to operate within a framework of moral absolutism.   Within every man there is an innate difference between good and evil and Hawthornes deliberate use of ambiguity mirrors this complexity of human nature. Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown, is misled by believing in the perfectibilityRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s Young Goodman Brown1492 Words   |  6 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story of Young Goodman Brown, the author uses symbolism and allegories in order to showcase the Puritan faith as well as man’s conflict between good and evil. This analysis will breakdown the techniques that the author uses to critique the puritan society, and to show the difference between how people appear to be in society and the true colors that they are hidden inside of them. There has been a lot of great authors in our time, but none more interesting than NathanielRead More Young Goodman Brown Essay1048 Words   |  5 Pages The main theme of the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, â€Å" Young Goodman Brown,† is the struggle between Goodman Brown’s faith, power to resist his own evil impulses and his own doubts within him. It is a story of Young Goodman Brown’s personal conflict over his inner desires and its greater meaning conflict between good and evil in the world. The characteristics of Young Goodman Brown are similar to the life of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne had his own doubts about his own Puritan life and beliefsRead MoreSymbols and Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pagesthe evils of the world therefore sin can forever bind them in chains for eternity. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveals a similar resemblance of the Biblical inherent evil among man, through a disturbing dream of a young Puritan man who journeys into evil and is forced to examine the nature of evil among the human race. The Wife of Goodman Brown symbolizes the love that a wife has for her beloved husband but also the love, faith and devotion that her husband Goodman Brown hasRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Hawthorne s Young Goodman Brown 1175 Words   |  5 Pages1101 7 July 2017 Symbolism in â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and was set during the 17th Century Puritan Era. The story was published in 1835 during the Romantic Era. Nathaniel Hawthorne was known for being the master of symbolism. His novels and short stories have been embedded with suggestion and imagination. The dense symbolism that Hawthorne writes could imply multiple interpretations. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† has quite a few themes and