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Essay / A Walk with the Unknown - 1886
The development of literature in America began to spark the creation of stories related to the events taking place at the time. One of the most popular elements of the story is the Salem Witch Trials, in which the people of Salem were accused of practicing black magic or worshiping Satan. In "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Goodman Brown leaves his wife, Faith, to venture out at night to take care of his business. During his journey, Goodman Brown discovers that he is not alone on his journey when he meets an old man. Hawthorne uses the characters and settings to define the proverbial journey into the darker side of faith and humanity's involvement, much of which has been observed through changing times. Hawthorne uses the character of Goodman Brown as a representation of the human struggle with faith. After his lesson with the old man, Brown finds himself alone arguing with his findings in the woods. He is undecided whether to end his journey or continue, after discovering that many of those he trusted in his faith had mingled elsewhere. Before the old man leaves, Brown admits he can't go on, "another step...in this race." What if a miserable old woman chose to go to the devil, when I thought she was going to Heaven! Is this any reason why I should leave my dear Faith and pursue her? (Hawthorne 609). Brown wonders why he should do like Goody Cloyse before him and choose the dark side and leave his Faith behind. Although Brown states that he is unsure of his choice as to what the devil is asking of him, the question leads to the idea that Brown had seriously considered following the old man. As Brown represents humanity, it is humanity that then questions the text...... middle of paper ......ung Goodman Brown. Explainer 65.3 (2007): 143-145. Academic research completed. Internet. November 19, 2011.Jaynes, Michael. “Toward an Understanding of Evil”: Young Goodman Brown, “Freshmen and Semiotics.” Eureka Studies in Teaching Short Fiction 7.1 (2006): 66-77. International Humanities completed. Internet. November 19, 2011 Paulits, Walter J. “Ambivalence in ‘Young Goodman Brown’.” American Literature: A Journal of Literary History, Criticism, and Bibliography 41.4 (1970): 577-584. MLA International Bibliography. Internet. December 17, 2011Walsh Jr., Thomas F. “The Bedeviling of Young Goodman Brown.” Modern Language Quarterly 19.4 (1958): 331. Academic research completed. Internet. December 15, 2011.Zhu, Xian-chun. “Allegory and Symbolism in Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown.” US-China Foreign Language 6.1 (2008): 56-60. Academic research completed. Internet. December 15. 2011.