Story Analysis
Man is corruptible because Man has free will. Free will makes Man weak. In Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorn portrays Man's true nature and that Man is not as pious as he pretends to be.
In the beginning of the story Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith are about to part ways. He is going on a Journey that is shrouded in mystery,and he wants Faith to know nothing about it, "t'would kill her to think it" this forecast that the purpose of his Journey is not benign. Goodman Brown continues his Journey on this "dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest". He then meet a Man and it is evident by the first word this man says that he is the reason for Goodman Brown coming out to the middle of the woods in the middle of the night. Goodman is late and he replies by say "Faith kept me back a while,". Faith, his dear wife, is more than just his wife she symbolizes his Faith, hope and goodness and if she kept her husband back from this man he can only be the Devil. This premise is reaffirmed by the description of the Man, " the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake." Goodman Brown then starts to have doubts saying "My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him." not knowing that they were more than acquaintances with the Man. After learning this Goodman Brown continues to follow the man until he can no longer stopped by his Faith.
Goodman Brown no longer wishes to continue on this Journey but then he learns that the old woman Goody Cloyse is a worshipper of the devil. This woman "taught [him his] catechism" and her following the Devil reinforces the premise that esteem is not a sign of virtue. She follows the Devil his, Father and Grandfather also follow the Devil, why shouldn't he follow the Devil. As they continue on their path to their rendezvous Goody Cloyse ask the Devil for his arm but instead he gives her his staff which comes to life but this is lost on Goodman Brown, he still can't believe this woman has gone to the Devil. He then again decides he does not want to make this Journey because he still has his Faith and he will not after a woman who "thought was going to heaven" but has actually chosen the Devil. The Devil then gives him a staff, tells him that it will lead him once he has thought better of this and leaves. Goodman Brown sits there and thinks but when he hears voices that he recognizes to be Deacon Gookins and the Ministers he hides.
Deacon Gookin and the Minister have also been corrupted and are also headed to the meeting which once again reinforces the previous premise. Goodman still has his Faith though and "With heaven above and Faith below, [he] will yet stand firm against the devil!" A cloud then "though no wind was stirring, hurried across the zenith and hid the brightening stars". This cloud, which blocks his view of the heavens while he prays, symbolizes that his resolve is not solid, although he pans on "standing firm against the devil" something way. This cloud blocks his view of heaven above and Faith will block his view/path below. Goodman Brown then hears Faith and sees her pink ribbon has been removed. His resolve is broken, he accepts evil/sin and cries "My Faith is gone! There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given."
The significance of Faith removing her pink ribbon lies in what it symbolized. It was a symbol of her virtue and for her to remove it is for her to abandon her Faith. If she has lost her Faith Goodman Brown has lost his. Goodman Brown hurries to the rendezvous and as he nears he hears a hymn. The likeness this meeting has to a religious sermon symbolizes hypocrisy, these people are devoted Christians by day and Devil worshippers by night. When he arrives at the meeting Goodman sees highly esteemed people among the Devils followers but he does not see Faith and he his hope is renewed. "Bring forth the converts!" cried a voice that echoed through the field and rolled into the forest." Goodman than sees his dead father and we can no longer be sure that everything he head seen and will see this night is real. "Welcome, my children," said the dark figure, "to the communion of your race. Ye have found thus young your nature and your destiny. My children, look behind you!" Behind them are all those whom they reversed in their youth, they are followers of the Devil so these "converts" who " deemed them holier than themselves"should also be. "Evil is the nature of man kind" and this night they are born into it and abandon their virtue/religion and all other sources of goodness. This night is when Goodman will lose his Faith. Faith is up there about to be brought into communion for the Devil and He is yelling at her to resist the wicked one to look up at heaven but whether she does so he doe not know. The next morning Young Goodman Brown heads back to the village but he is not the same. Everyone has returned to their usually activities and although Goodman Brown is unsure of whether the previous nights events actually transpired he no longer has his Faith/belief.
In Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorn depicts human nature. Evil. Goodman Brown lost his Faith because it was never strong and even Faith who was the epitome of goodness was corrupted.
In the beginning of the story Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith are about to part ways. He is going on a Journey that is shrouded in mystery,and he wants Faith to know nothing about it, "t'would kill her to think it" this forecast that the purpose of his Journey is not benign. Goodman Brown continues his Journey on this "dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest". He then meet a Man and it is evident by the first word this man says that he is the reason for Goodman Brown coming out to the middle of the woods in the middle of the night. Goodman is late and he replies by say "Faith kept me back a while,". Faith, his dear wife, is more than just his wife she symbolizes his Faith, hope and goodness and if she kept her husband back from this man he can only be the Devil. This premise is reaffirmed by the description of the Man, " the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake." Goodman Brown then starts to have doubts saying "My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him." not knowing that they were more than acquaintances with the Man. After learning this Goodman Brown continues to follow the man until he can no longer stopped by his Faith.
Goodman Brown no longer wishes to continue on this Journey but then he learns that the old woman Goody Cloyse is a worshipper of the devil. This woman "taught [him his] catechism" and her following the Devil reinforces the premise that esteem is not a sign of virtue. She follows the Devil his, Father and Grandfather also follow the Devil, why shouldn't he follow the Devil. As they continue on their path to their rendezvous Goody Cloyse ask the Devil for his arm but instead he gives her his staff which comes to life but this is lost on Goodman Brown, he still can't believe this woman has gone to the Devil. He then again decides he does not want to make this Journey because he still has his Faith and he will not after a woman who "thought was going to heaven" but has actually chosen the Devil. The Devil then gives him a staff, tells him that it will lead him once he has thought better of this and leaves. Goodman Brown sits there and thinks but when he hears voices that he recognizes to be Deacon Gookins and the Ministers he hides.
Deacon Gookin and the Minister have also been corrupted and are also headed to the meeting which once again reinforces the previous premise. Goodman still has his Faith though and "With heaven above and Faith below, [he] will yet stand firm against the devil!" A cloud then "though no wind was stirring, hurried across the zenith and hid the brightening stars". This cloud, which blocks his view of the heavens while he prays, symbolizes that his resolve is not solid, although he pans on "standing firm against the devil" something way. This cloud blocks his view of heaven above and Faith will block his view/path below. Goodman Brown then hears Faith and sees her pink ribbon has been removed. His resolve is broken, he accepts evil/sin and cries "My Faith is gone! There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given."
The significance of Faith removing her pink ribbon lies in what it symbolized. It was a symbol of her virtue and for her to remove it is for her to abandon her Faith. If she has lost her Faith Goodman Brown has lost his. Goodman Brown hurries to the rendezvous and as he nears he hears a hymn. The likeness this meeting has to a religious sermon symbolizes hypocrisy, these people are devoted Christians by day and Devil worshippers by night. When he arrives at the meeting Goodman sees highly esteemed people among the Devils followers but he does not see Faith and he his hope is renewed. "Bring forth the converts!" cried a voice that echoed through the field and rolled into the forest." Goodman than sees his dead father and we can no longer be sure that everything he head seen and will see this night is real. "Welcome, my children," said the dark figure, "to the communion of your race. Ye have found thus young your nature and your destiny. My children, look behind you!" Behind them are all those whom they reversed in their youth, they are followers of the Devil so these "converts" who " deemed them holier than themselves"should also be. "Evil is the nature of man kind" and this night they are born into it and abandon their virtue/religion and all other sources of goodness. This night is when Goodman will lose his Faith. Faith is up there about to be brought into communion for the Devil and He is yelling at her to resist the wicked one to look up at heaven but whether she does so he doe not know. The next morning Young Goodman Brown heads back to the village but he is not the same. Everyone has returned to their usually activities and although Goodman Brown is unsure of whether the previous nights events actually transpired he no longer has his Faith/belief.
In Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorn depicts human nature. Evil. Goodman Brown lost his Faith because it was never strong and even Faith who was the epitome of goodness was corrupted.