motives of goodman brown

Though Brown is disturbed by these revelations he moves on persistent in warding off evil temptations and returning to his normal life after this trip.
             During his journey through the forest, Young Goodman Brown comes across instances to find his religious faith in quandary. The devil creates the illusion that of all the acquaintances of Goodman Brown are involved in deviltry. When the devil asks Goodman Brown to join them initially, Brown replies, "Friend, my mind is made up. Not another step will I budge on this errand. What if a wretched old woman 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?" With this statement Brown indicates that he is dubious about of his future actions. He is questioning the devil rather than telling him bluntly that he isn't going to join his ranks. After the devil leaves him to sit and think about his decision, Goodman Brown encounters more leading figures in the community coming to the devil's communion. He then vigorously insists his opposition to joining the ranks of the devil by saying "By heaven above and faith below, I will stand firm against the Devil!" Hence, Goodman Brown retains his faith in God. But in the process of retaining his piousness, Goodman Brown loses his faith in humanity. Essentially, Young Goodman Brown's perception of his faith abandons him because he lacks a clear understanding of his experience in the woods. He was not able to perceive the devil's trickery and the illusion of the people he created. Goodman Brown simply continues to criticize others due to the events that have taken place in his misguided journey. He resolves that those he had previously considered as pious, are now hypocrites in his eyes. "Men of dissolute lives and women of spotted fame, wretches given over to all mean and filthy vice and suspected of horrid crimes" (640).