The great 19th century writer Nathanial Hawthorne uses certain themes in his classic writings. I will be discussing Hawthorne's themes of sin, guilt and punishment in Young Goodman Brown; and how they affect Goodman Brown throughout the story. .
Not long into the story, we come to Hawthorne's first theme, sin. Goodman Brown is surprised to learn from the Devil that many people in his community are associated with sin and the Devil; including his own father and grandfather. Brown tells the Devil "we are a people of prayer and good works, to boot, and abide no such wickedness." (Hawthorne, 160) Brown immediately denies his own sin and condemns the flaws in others. By denying sin, Brown is clearing his own conscience to continue on his journey.
Brown next comes upon a woman who taught him his catechism, Goody Cloyse, on the path of sin. It is ironic, because Goody Cloyse is a woman that Hawthorne's own great-grandfather condemned to death. Hawthorne is telling us that no matter how good and pure a person is, sin is prevailant in all people. Brown says to his traveling companion "what if a wretched old woman do choose to go the devil is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith, and go with her?" (Hawthorne, 611) Goody Cloyse does not "choose" to go to the devil, she realizes that she is capable of sin and accepts the fact. Brown, however, does not accept that he is a sinner. He is not only saying that he does not want to quit his wife Faith, but he believes in his faith in God and that will protect him. "All people are sinful and can connect with each other honestly and directly only often facing and confessing this aspect of themselves." (Bunge, 13, 14) Until Brown can be honest with himself, and can face his own sin, he can never face others in an honest way. .
The last example of sin reveals itself after Goodman Brown is congratulating himself for not continuing on with the devil.
In "Young Goodman Brown," there are many layers to read through. ... "Young Goodman Brown," is a symbol in the story. ... Goodman Brown's desire to journey without Faith leads to her sacrifice. ... For example, the names Faith and "Young Goodman Brown" symbolize more than a name. The name "Young Goodman Brown" symbolizes the average immature Puritan. ...
In "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown breaks apart after he realizes that not everything is perfect and neither is he, after he takes a journey and meets the devil. I This story uses allegory by the names Faith and Young Goodman Brown 1. ... Young Goodman Brown 3. ... Young Goodman Brown and Devil Hawthorne uses the name "Young Goodman Brown" as a symbol in the story. ... The name Young Goodman Brown symbolizes the average untainted man. ...
As Goodman Brown and the old man continue walking, the old man offers Goodman Brown the staff and tells him that it will help him walk faster. ... Since Goodman Brown is Christian, he repels evil and since the staff represents evil, Goodman Brown cannot tolerate touching it. ... However, Goodman Brown does not want to explain why he is with the old man and where he is going, so Goodman Brown hides in the woods. ... Goodman Brown is shocked and yells, "Faith! ... Goodman Brown does not say hello to her. ...
It was through his short story "Young Goodman Brown" that Hawthorne uses it to explain Young Goodman Brown's excessive pride. ... Goodman Brown let his wife down because of his journey. ... The Devil leads Goodman Brown down a "dreary road" that made Goodman Brown skeptical. ... Goodman Brown is so angry that he challenges evil. ... Goodman Brown steps forward and does not have the power to stop. ...
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown,"" Nathaniel Hawthorne gives the characters in the stories symbolic names and shows the naivety of Goodman Brown and how he changes his thinking at the end of his journey. Goodman Brown is very nave. ... Each of the three parts of Young Goodman Brown's name has meaning of their own. ... Goodman calls for the question of whether or not Goodman Brown is in fact a "good man."" ... Goodman Brown's last name, Brown has symbolism in the color of it alone. ...
This tells us that Goodman Brown is not particularly old of age. 2. The protagonist is Goodman Brown. Hawthorne does not characterize Goodman Brown by his physical appereance. ... Goodman Brown's fellow-traveler tries to pull over young Goodman Brown to the dark and evil side symbollically by offering Goodman Brown his staff because Goodman is "so soon weary". ... I think that the author's tone towards the protagonist, Goodman Brown, is somewhat neutral. ...
As the story begins, Goodman Brown, a Puritan, is leaving his house around sunset. ... The devil drops his serpent-like staff before her astonishing Goodman Brown. ... Finding his wife's pink ribbon in the woods was a breaking point for Goodman Brown. ... Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" can be viewed in several ways. ... Goodman Brown was tempted with evil. ...
Goodman Brown remarks, "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!" ... The abyss in "Young Goodman Brown" is when he sees his wife, Faith. ... The cloud of voices sweeps away and Goodman Brown is left in solitude. ... Young Goodman Brown returns to his home the next morning as a new man. ... Even Young Goodman Brown's " dying hour was gloom" (pg. 100). ...
Soon after getting into the forest, Goodman Brown spots a figure in the mist ahead. ... He (the figure) was an older man, which resembled Goodman Brown. ... Goodman Brown is surprised at the tales that he is hearing. ... Next, Goodman Brown is exposed to the evil in his religion. ... Goodman Brown was very fond of his wife. ...
