...Another work that is also well-known throughout American literature is Hawthorne’s, Young Goodman Brown. Here, the reader is exposed to Hawthorne’s use of symbolism and ambiguity. Like The Scarlet Letter, the setting also took place in Salem. As Goodman Brown says his farewells to his wife, Faith, she is worried about being left alone while her husband embarks on a journey into the woods. Brown encourages his wife to say her prayers, as it will prevent her from any harm or evil. Throughout the story, one can notice the various symbols being portrayed with Brown and how he connects with God. Faith’s pink ribbons are one particular symbol that seemed to alter Brown’s own beliefs. Before the reader is introduced to Faith and Brown’s situation, we can see the images that are being illustrated at the beginning of the story....
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...The world today has faced many trials and tribulations. It is quite similar to the two short stories ‘Young Goodman Brown” and “The Lottery.” In these stories, characters are faced with situations beyond their own imagination and to makes things worse is how they are tested. They will encounter people and other things that are unjust. These stories bring a lot of comparisons such as the setting of the stories, but mostly there are contrasts such as the symbolism within the stories and the meaning each author put behind their stories. In comparing the two short stories “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Lottery,” it is easily noticed that both of these stories takes place well within the community setting. Each story has the involvement of the people who lives within the town. Details in the story showcase how the communities makes the characters feel accepted one way or another to a certain extinct. Within these communities, each has their own traditions, laws, and perimeters that justify the reasoning behind what they do. In turn it kind of makes these communities have a sense of uniqueness to them and that is why individuals are pulled in and want to be part of these communities. In addition, both of these stories showcase a sense of a happy ambience and exuberance. In “The Lottery,” the author, Shirley Jackson illustrates a perfect day by stating “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with a fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely...
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...Compare and Contrast “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Lottery” By: Melissa A. Reeves Professor Andrew Smith ENGL 102-B46 LUO Thesis Statement The stories “The Lottery” and “Young Goodman Brown” both appear to show that human behavior and judgment can be flawed, even if the person’s intentions appear good to them. There is a level of fear and underlying evil in Puritan settings in both stories. I. Introduction/Statement of Thesis II. Themes and Author’s Purpose A. The Lottery i. Just because something has always been done, does not make it right or just; following the crowd can be dangerously wrong and evil. ii. The author shows through symbolism and storytelling that people can be easily influenced by society and those around them. iii. Also, the themes or persecution is addressed. B. Young Goodman Brown i. The theme is that believing that you are a righteous person does not always make you righteous. ii. The idea of doing one evil thing, but justifying it because it is only one time and he will never do it again and will be a good man afterward is addressed. III. Conclusion Symbolism found within “The Lottery” and “Young Goodman Brown” Melissa A. Reeves Liberty University Professor Andrew Smith 08/03/2014 Symbolism is found within both stories “The Lottery” and “Young Goodman Brown”. In both stories, symbols help in conveying the theme to the reader. In Shirley Jackson’s...
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...Literature “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story that shows an evil perspective of the world. Hawthorne truly shows the truth that hides behind closed doors, or one could say the evil truth that hides deep into the woods. The journey he entailed was an eye opening experience that changed Young Goodman brown forever. In “The Ministers Black veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne the minister also has an experience that changes him forever. The minister openly chooses to show that he is a holy man, but evil is still present in his life. The veil symbolizes the evil that he has chosen to live with. Evil, Symbolism, and everlasting impact are all very present thematic connections in “Young Goodman brown” and “The Ministers Black veil.” In Hawthorne’s literature, “Young Goodman brown” and “The Ministers Black veil,” evil is the most prominent theme. To a certain degree the devil consumes both men in the literature. In “The Ministers Black Veil,” evil has already been explored, but evil is equally as present. (Barry 16) Hawthorne never reveals what...
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...Hawthorne’s work. On a personal level, Poe often disagreed with how often Hawthorne used allegory. As a literary element that many people use, Poe was not a fan. He once stated that: “I allude to the strain of allegory which completely overwhelms the greater number of his subjects, and which in some measure interferes with the direct conduct of absolutely all.” (Poe, 1847) It seems as though Poe regarded Hawthorne’s work as works of allegory. To say that this was the only literary element he employed, however, would be false. Throughout history, authors have endeavoured to master other forms of literary elements, to become the master of those elements, and equal to none in them. By comparing “The Cask of Amontillado” with “Young Goodman Brown”, is to study two masters, at odds with their specific forms of writing, but each a master in his own right. Each story shows how two people that can be so far apart on a scale, can use the same literary elements in similar and different ways without compromising their work as a whole. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is vital in the world of literature. Foreshadowing is always about being subtle. How can an author slip in a clue or help build a story to a dramatic, yet unforeseen conclusion? Foreshadowing in the hands of a master seems to be a piece of elegance and can be so subtle that the reader wonders how he or she missed...
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...A Comparison of Symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Lottery” Symbolism is when the author uses an object or reference to add deeper meaning to a story. Symbolism in literature can be subtle or blatant; it can also be used sparingly or considerably. An author may repeatedly use the same object to convey deeper meaning or may use variations of the same object to create an overarching mood or feeling. Many authors use symbolism to further foretell and capture the important elements of the story. Both Nathaniel Hawthorne in “Young Goodman Brown" and Shirley Jackson in “The Lottery’, use symbolism in these short stories. The stories both contain symbols describing evil. Hawthorne’s symbolism describes good versus evil, while Jackson's symbolism reflects the evil nature within society as a whole. The first two characters that Hawthorne introduces, Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith, are both symbolic in their names. Brown's name symbolizes youth and good nature. Brown is a young man throughout the story, and his youth suggests that he has yet to be corrupted by the world and is still innocent. Hawthorne writes, "Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons on her cap, while she called to Goodman Brown" (Hawthorne 331). Faith’s name symbolizes the trust and virtue that is found within a good wife. It may also hint at the faith that Young Goodman Brown struggles to hang Haney 2 onto. As...
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...FICTION ESSAY WRITING STYLE USED: APA OUTLINE I. THESIS: A thorough analysis of Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” reveals that different literary elements, such as tone and setting, are used to convey the characters’ arrival at dark, sinister places. II. INTRODUCTION III. SHIRLEY JACKSON’S “THE LOTTERY” A. Setting the tone: Peaceful and relaxing B. Irony: Even though the mood is relaxing, there is a premonition of something bad to come C. Ending: The ending is implied IV. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S “YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN” D. Setting the tone: feeling of something evil to come E. Symbolism i. Faith – the wife and commitment to Jesus ii. Venture in to the forest – Journey of life iii. Traveler’s staff – Satan in the Garden of Eden F. Ending: Was it real or was it a dream? V. CONCLUSION A thorough analysis of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” reveals that different literary elements, such as tone and setting, are used to convey the characters’ arrival at dark, sinister places. Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” are two short stories that use completely opposite ways to get to the same destination: a dark, sinister place. Both stories are very dark, and almost morbid, but one story keeps the reader oblivious to the tragic event that is being set up, while the other story lays it...
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...Analysis on “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne There has been much speculation and analysis on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown.” Each and every one has their own opinions about what Hawthorne really meant about this short story, but of course you can tell by their accreditation which source is more likely to be accurate. In “Young Goodman Brown”, the main character, Goodman Brown, experiences a life changing revelation at the beginning of this short story. The experience is a walk through the woods, something that he states his father and father’s father embarked on. This particular journey shapes his life and changes him forever. What is particularly peculiar about this journey is that it goes through the woods at night. And during this time period if you were caught in the woods at night you were considered a Satan worshiper, doing the Devil’s brood, or practicing witchcraft, which meant all the same things during this era. We know Young Goodman Brown is a Puritan based on his belief system, so this experience isn’t one he is looking forward to, but he knows he has to do it. Kind of like getting a shot, you know you have to do it, and it’s good for you, but you are hesitant about doing it. So along the journey he meets with a man that looks similar to him, but older. The man is kind of dark and shady, and he carries a staff that looks like a serpent. So the symbolism there represents that this man is the Devil. Throughout the duration of his journey...
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...In the stories of Young Goodman Brown and The Devil and Tom Walker, both include very similar signs and amounts of symbolism in them however, both have their own special meanings to it. The Devil and Tom Walker includes signs of greed, as well as a completely different form of devil which is also included in Young Goodman Brown. In that story, symbolism is more focused on innocence vs. evil. Besides having numerous amounts of different symbolisms, still both contain a devil and some form of temptation. In the story of “The Devil and Tom Walker” it begins by explaining the life of Tom and his wife, giving us a preview of how their lives are and what it consists of. Tom and his wife are very greedy towards each other, as well as miserly. Greed...
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...Life through Symbolism Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American writer who is very well known for his use of symbolism. In many of Hawthorne’s short stories, he uses symbolism to express the conflicts he faced within his life. Some of these short stories include “Young Goodman Brown,” “Minister’s Black Veil,” “The Birthmark,” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter.” Within his work, Hawthorne tells great tales where each character faces a different issue in which they must make a decision such as one’s that Hawthorne had to make. Some decisions Hawthorne made in his very own life were his families’ beliefs of Puritanism and if he should follow their beliefs, conflicts with learning about his father and grandfather, marrying his wife, and how he remained isolated, a recluse, away from the world. In “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne uses symbolism to tell the story of a young man who goes on a journey from his innocent world into an evil world. In the beginning of the story the reader is introduced to two characters, Young Goodman Brown and his wife, Faith. Hawthorne uses their names as the first piece of symbolism, Young Goodman Brown means a young man, who is good natured, and his last name “Brown” also means he is dull and just blends in the background. Morgan 2 Brown is married to Faith, whose name is also symbolic. Faith’s name is used as not only Goodman Brown’s wife, but it is also used as his faith. This is shown when he says, “My love and my Faith,” (Young Goodman Brown, 58), using...
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...Fiction Essay: Comparison of Setting ENGL 100 Jonathan Jones February 2, 2015 Thesis – Can two completely different stories have similarities in their setting and how the setting was used to support the story? I. Introduction – YGB and The Destructors took place during different time periods and in completely different locations. (Young Goodman Brown (YGB) – Nathanial Hawthorne published 1835, setting 17th century. The Destructors – Graham Greene published 1954 – setting mid 1950s) a. Different time period b. Different country c. Different time of day II. Why does the setting matter? d. Include character impact. e. The setting in both stories makes them believable III. Both stories rely on their settings to support the plot f. YGB – The setting creates a dark atmosphere. Allows the readier to believe there is witch craft happening and the devil is involved g. The Destructors – The setting creates a desolate location, much of a city after war time. The entire plot is based on symbolism and would not be able to occur if the town wasn’t recovering from war. The whole block was bombed, except the one house that the story is about. IV. Conclusion – both stories took place during different era’s, in different countries and had different conflicts. Similarly, the setting of each supported the plot that showcased conflicts true to the time period. Both stories were written by authors that were from the area....
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...ENC 1102 Final Exam Essay Years from today the piece “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne will most likely still be clear in my mind. This story is about one Puritan man who struggles internally with reality vs. imaginary and good vs. evil in an era and society that was so religious-oriented. It makes you wonder about hypocrisy that still goes on today. It’s no wonder “Young Goodman Brown” is considered a classic and with good reason too. The story contained symbolism, irony, and allusion. Its main theme could still be applied to issues in the modern day world. “Young Goodman Brown” takes place in a New England town during the 17th Century, a time when Puritan beliefs where still very much in practice. In the beginning of the story Brown is already burdened with guilt at the fact that he has lied to his wife, “Faith”, about going to a secret meeting in the woods. Faith, is not just a name, but is symbolic for what Brown is struggling to hold on to throughout the story. Her pink ribbon signifies innocence which can still be spared and she pleads him to stay. It’s ironic that Brown constantly tells himself he’ll turn back yet he never does. Brown is tempted and stunned by the sight of supposedly “pure” and well respected members of his town and of the church. Let’s not forget the mysterious old man that guides Brown through the woods. If you can remember Brown recalls seeing a snake that turns into a walking cane. I guess you could say this is a biblical allusion to...
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...Setting and Symbolism in The Young Goodman Brown and The Rocking-Horse Winner The battle between good and evil is as old as Satan’s rebellion against God and his being cast from heaven with his fellow fallen angels that the Bible tells about in the Book of Revelation chapter 12, verses 7-12. Writers of fiction have been using this struggle for just about that long. The short stories The Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and D.H. Lawrence’s The Rocking-Horse Winner illustrate the battle between good and evil with elements of symbol and setting. Drawn from the author’s Puritan background1, The Young Goodman Brown begins as the protagonist is embarking from his New England village home in the last light of the day, on a journey in the night. Hawthorne gives the first hint of the darkness as the setting for evil in Goodman’s farewell admonition to his newlywed wife Faith, when he instructs her to say her prayers and go to bed at dusk, the time when the light is gone and darkness reigns. The atmosphere at the beginning is clean and pure. The wind has a gentle, innocent feel as it plays with the pink ribbon on Faith’s cap. As Goodman’s journey continues the setting becomes progressively darker, and increasingly evil, as he travels through the haunted forest. At the end of his trip the darkness is dispelled by light in a clearing. It is not the good light of the setting sun, it is lit with an evil illumination from the fires of Hell. The setting is very different in The...
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...evil in his uncharacteristically dark short story, Young Goodman Brown. Hawthorne does this mainly through symbolism. There is an abundance of symbols throughout the tale. These range from hair ribbons to colors and names. Regardless of specifics, these symbols allow a plentiful amount of space for personal interpretation, but one conclusion that no reader can miss is the fact that Goodman Brown is fighting desperately between two opposing forces. Through the use of symbols throughout the short story, Hawthorne allows for the assumption that there is a constant battle between good and evil that is on occasions incomprehensible to distinguish between. Some readers might find it plausible that the use of names and colors have no influence on the story and are completely by coincidence. However, to say that it was random assignment of the chosen names and colors – Goodman Brown, Faith, black and pink – is to not give full credit to Hawthorne’s talent and intentions. These devices have a tremendous impact on the story as a whole. If the names were not what they were, then the story could be taken in a whole opposite direction. It would all be based on personal interpretation. Because Hawthorne chose the names and colors that he did, readers are able to distinguish the theme that he is trying to convey, that is of, as previously stated, the battle between good and evil. Readers may not comprehend at first the evil within Goodman Brown’s companion in the forest until the staff is...
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...Introduction "Young Goodman Brown" tells the tale of a young Puritan man drawn into a covenant with the Devil. Brown's illusions about the goodness of his society are crushed when he discovers that many of his fellow townspeople, including religious leaders and his wife, are attending a Black Mass. At the end of the story, it is not clear whether Brown's experience was nightmare or reality, but the results are nonetheless the same. Brown is unable to forgive the possibility of evil in his loved ones and as a result spends the rest of his life in desperate loneliness and gloom. Though a work of fiction, "Young Goodman Brown'' is widely considered to be one of the most effective literary works to address the hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Hawthorne is also remembered for helping to establish the short story as a respected form of literature and as a proponent of instilling morals and lessons into his writing. Source: Short Stories for Students, ©2012 Gale Cengage. "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne chronicles the disturbing dream of a young Puritan man in Salem. In the dream, Goodman Brown comes face to face with evil and is forced to examine the nature of evil in man. He is disgusted by the evil he encounters, not realizing his own involvement. Through a psychoanalytic approach to analyzing the text, the reader can see that the meaning of the text lies in discovering the meaning of Goodman Brown's encounter in the woods. The story begins...
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