...When Goodman Brown meets the man whom Hawthorne later reveals to be the devil, Hawthorne draws attention to the man’s staff, which resembles a black serpent. The staff strongly suggests the man’s supernatural and sinful nature, and it connects “Young Goodman Brown” to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s temptation by a serpent to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Goodman Brown and Faith, like Adam and Eve, are tempted to do what is forbidden in their community and lose their innocence for the sake of knowledge. The staff of the devil in this story is described as having, “…the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent.” (13) This is directly...
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...The Allegorical Young Goodman Brown The story about Young Goodman Brown centers around the allegory of a man pitted against his past and his desires to reach beyond that which his benighted heaven would put before him. The allegory is Christian due to the references in Young Goodman Brown to the devil and Satan; it only seems logical that the crux of the story is based upon the religious imagery of Hawthorne's New England in the times of Salem and active religious strife. The beginning of the story mentions the goodman's wife, Faith. The names of the characters alone serve as an indication of what Hawthorne puts as an obvious religious allegory with the goodman and faith soon to be pitted against an unspeakable evil. The goodman even swears that after this night he will "cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven." The devil awaits Young Goodman Brown as he states that the clock of the old south was striking but a few minutes past (Hawthorne is stating how quickly the devil can move--intensifying the airs of the preternatural). Young Goodman Brown replies to the devil that faith was keeping him away--Hawthorne's play on words should not be overlooked as this also leads to the realization that a man (a good one) can deal with the devil and possibly win. At this stage in the story the reader still has hope for the goodman who must now deal with what he feels is his duty honor-bound. A "good man" in Hawthorne's day was a person who came from a proper lineage. This very...
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...Similarities found in Hawthorne’s 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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...Title: The Problem of Faith in 'Young Goodman Brown' Author(s): Leo B. Levy Publication Details: JEGP: Journal of English and Germanic Philology 74.3 (July 1975): p375-387. Source: Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Juliet Byington. Vol. 95. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. p375-387. From Literature Resource Center. Document Type: Critical essay Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group, COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale, Cengage Learning [In the following essay, Levy examines Faith as a character, an allegorical figure, and a symbol.] Few of Hawthorne's tales have elicited a wider range of interpretations than “Young Goodman Brown.” The critics have been victimized by the notorious ambiguity of a tale composed of a mixture of allegory and the psychological analysis of consciousness. Many of them find the key to its meaning in a neurotic predisposition to evil; one goes so far as to compare Goodman Brown to Henry James's governess in The Turn of the Screw [Darrel Abel, in “Black Glove and Pink Ribbon: Hawthorne's Metonymic Symbols,” in NEQ 42, 1969]. The psychological aspect is undeniably important, since we cannot be certain whether “Young Goodman Brown” is a dream-allegory that takes place in the mind and imagination of the protagonist, an allegory with fixed referents in the external world, or a combination of these that eludes our ordinary understanding of the genre itself. The story is all three: a dream vision, a conventional allegory, and finally an inquiry into the problem of faith...
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...Hawthorne’s 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...
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...compare and contrast essay Nathaniel Hawthornes "Young Good man Brown" and Thomas Wolfe's "The Child By Tiger" @@@@@ ENGL: Literature and Composition 2011 Robert James Tebow 15 December 2011 Introduction: I. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown” and Thomas Wolfe’s short story “The Child by Tiger” show glaring similarities in many parts of each stories structure. Even though these stories were set in different time periods and different cultures, there is unity in their conflicts, themes, and author’s purpose. a. In Hawthorne’s piece the basic conflict arises early in the story, this is Goodman Brown’s choice to either join in the satanic activities or maintain his puritan beliefs. b. Goodman Brown realizes the public’s weakness in morality and faith. Brown experiences a great deal of disappointment especially when he sees his old bible teacher Goody Cloyse and Deacon Goonkin with the devil. c. Although Brown saw the people in his community participating in these activities that are contrary to his beliefs, he still was not sure if it was true or only a dream. d. My deepest sympathy goes out to the main character Goodman Brown. He distanced himself from the community after their alleged sinful activity according to Brown, but it could have been a dream which shows what can happen to those who have unproven assumptions of others. II. “The child by Tiger” wrote by Thomas Wolfe shows the ever present uncertainty...
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...Essay #2 Interpretations of Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story of Young Goodman Brown is a story of an impressionable and curious young man who ventured into the forest in Salem, Massachusetts to witness the witches Sabbath. Brown leaves his young bride Faith against her wishes to go on this journey, feeling some guilt as he walked away from her, “Poor little Faith!” thought he, for his heart smote him. “What a wretch am I, to leave her on such an errand!” (Hawthorne 606). Once in the forest Brown meets the Devil. As Brown and the Devil continue their walk through the woods the Devil tells him stories of his own Father and Grandfather walking this same dark path that Young Goodman Brown has taken. “Good goodman Brown! I have been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; that’s no trifle to say” (Hawthorne 607). Goodman Brown enters the woods and has many ghostly and confusing experiences that changed his life forever. Brown wasn’t sure when he awoke in the woods if his experience was a dream or if it really happened however; the events that he witnessed changed his life forever. “Be it so if you will. But alas! It was a dream of evil omen for the young goodman Brown. A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man, did he become, from the night of that fearful dream”. (Hawthorne 614). Michael Tritt wrote his interpretation of the Hawthorne’s story, “Young Goodman Brown” and The Psychology of Projection...
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...1: “Young Goodman Brown” Written by: Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, and raised by his widowed mother. Hawthorne’s ancestors were several of the earliest settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Hathorne (original spelling of the family name), was his great-grandfather, who served as a judge at the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Hawthorne felt fascination and shame for his family’s involvement in the witch trials and integrated those feelings into his fiction. Nathaniel Hawthorne believed in the existence of the devil and believed in predestination. “Young Goodman Brown” attests to Hawthorne's symbolic habit of mind and to his interest in the past, myth, and human psychology.” (Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism). This suggests how Hawthorne’s novels, led critics to consider him a pioneer of psychological fiction. Topic 2: “Young Goodman Brown” Goodman Brown is a young faithful Christian whose begins to question his faith after a meeting in the forest with the devil. Goodman has always believed that everyone around him is of one accord not only with them-selves but also with God. When he meets face to face with the devil, Goodman is astonished that the devil appears to him as a resemblance of himself. “…and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, though perhaps more in expression than features.” (Kennedy and Gioia 343). This suggests that Goodman may...
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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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...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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...Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Massachusetts in 1804, “he was the descendant of Puritan worthies and son of a ship’s captain who died at sea” (2603). During his studies he rejected the normal jobs that everyone was seeking like medicine and law. However, he was more into religion, reading, and writing, therefore he started publishing his own novels. One of his best stories was called “Young Goodman Brown”. Hawthorne’s story used allegory as he talks about Young Goodman Brown that leaves his wife for a night to make an appointment, however, he learns about the “secret deeds” that impact him. In Hawthorne’s story after Brown leaves his house along the way he encounters a dark figure that may be the devil. He says, “There may be a devilish...
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...The Nature of Evil in Young Goodman Brown The Nature of Evil in Young Goodman Brown In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the tale of a man and his discovery of evil. Hawthorne’s primary concern is with evil and how it affects Young Goodman Brown. Through the use of tone and setting, Hawthorne portrays the nature of evil and the psychological effects it can have on man. He shows how discovering the existence of evil brings Brown to view the world in a cynical way. Brown learns the nature of evil and, therefore, feels surrounded by its presence constantly. Hawthorne creates a serious and somber tone throughout much of the story. From the start, the audience gets a sense that Brown will go through relentless agony from the devilish stranger. His diction in the opening paragraphs is a good indicator of this. He uses words such as “melancholy”, “evil”, “dreary”, and “grave” to evoke a certain mood in the reader. There is little relief from this seriousness that would suggest that Hawthorne’s attitude about the story be hopeful. Brown’s attitude and actions portray a negative view of Salem and its people. He ponders the hypocrisy of the town as well as that of the Puritans. He examines the possibility that evil and corruption exist in a town that is supposedly characterized by piety and devout faith. The story is set in seventeenth-century Salem, a time and place where sin and evil were greatly analyzed and feared. The townspeople, in their Puritan beliefs...
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...Good Men “My love and my faith”, replied young Goodman Brown, “of all nights in the year, this one night must I tarry away from thee” (Hawthorne 158). Hawthorne gives a very small and at first unnoticed hint in one of the very first sentences. Although undersized, the hint is showing a bigger picture, and underlines how the rest of his story will unfold. Since the story is filled with so much controversy surrounding Faith, and the loss of the one thing a man needs most, it’s a very effectively utilized allegory. Deception, corruption, and sheer hate cause complete and utter destruction, which is what Young Goodman Brown found himself bound by. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story is not just another problematic tale that gets your mind ruminating. With all of the detailed symbols and metaphors used by Hawthorne, it takes time to see that his story has significant ties to several Biblical narratives. It embodies the chronicles of mans fall, and his separation from God and faith. This story bleeds symbolism, even the most clear cut things like Young Goodman Brown’s name has a meaning behind it. Hawthorne didn’t just use any old name, he put meaning behind it. Young Goodman Brown 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. Browns wife Faith undoubtedly symbolizes actual faith in God; just as God is with us, during Browns journey in the forest she was with him. She...
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...self-conflict in the fictional short stories of “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence. Both main characters want to be pleasing and accepted in their tumultuous worlds. However, both fall short in finding their place in a dark, cold world. Outline 1) Fictional Short Stories to compare and contrast a. “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence b. “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorn 2) Main Characters a. Young Goodman Brown b. Paul 3) Nature of Characters (Similarities) c. Confused d. Lost e. Torn between two worlds f. Wanting to do well, but pressure pushes them to give in to temptations and wants. 4) Story Similarities g. Other people’s actions or feeling seem to drive the characters h. Family and other relationships are important i. Both characters seem pulled towards “worldly” forces 5) Story Ending j. Although they both try so hard to succeed and do well, they fail. Torn Between Two Worlds In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”, (Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, D. 2013. p.90), you are quickly thrust into the world of a young man who appears to have it all; passionate love...
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...A Young Man’s Inability to Accept Reality A choice that everyone has in life is to decide whether or not to be good or evil. Not everyone will choose the path of well-being and righteousness, In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne illustrates a young man’s inability to accept the reality that there will always be evil in the world due to his strong Puritan belief. Goodman Brown was part of a religious sect that expected human begins to act a certain way. In the beginning he is faced with a decision to stay at home in Salem Village with his wife Faith, or to venture into the forest to meet with the devil himself. This is symbolic to Brown because if he makes the decision to meet with the Devil, then he is leaving his faith in God behind. When Goodman Brown decides to leave his village, he begins to worry about how the town’s people will react when finding out about his meeting with the devil. He states, “My Father never went into the woods on such an errand, not his father before him” (Hawthorne 625). This explains the matter of his father and grandfather, and how they...
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