Temptation In Young Goodman Brown

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Sins Temptation Through the eyes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown remains a symbol of sin, isolation, guilt, and mystery. Hawthorn is able to communicate the meaning behind his story by returning to his Puritan past in the 1800`s. Through the multiple characters, themes, symbols, and images, Hawthorn’s deeper meaning in the story is expressed by demonstrating the fight within every human being, such as the struggle between right and wrong, good and evil, and innocent and guilty. Many of Hawthorns readers are left wondering if Goodman Brown dreamed of going into the forest, or if he really had taken the “dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest”. While this question may never be answered, the question of …show more content…
While in their brief time together, Hawthorne emphasizes her “pink ribbons”. In the story, the ribbons signify innocence and purity, which represents Goodman Browns faith to his religion. When sin is there to tempt Goodman Brown though, his faith always intervenes. For example, Brown says, “My love my Faith of all nights in the year, this one night I tarry away from thee”, shows that young Goodman Brown denies his faith and aims to make an agreement with the devil. In human nature, the struggle is real for many because numerous individuals are tempted to give in to sin even when they know the consequences can be wrong. His journey into the forest indicates that Brown lets go of his faith and is beginning to surrender to sin. His faith slowly fades away the farther away he gets from his …show more content…
He soon encounters Goody Cloyse, which the devil refers to himself as an “old friend”. Surprisingly enough, Goody Cloyse has been around the devil many times previously for the devil to call her an “old friend”. This information is shocking to Young Goodman Brown because he thought that Cloyse always has been a “Christian woman”. Goody Cloyse soon cries that “there is a nice young man to be taken into communion tonight”, which can mean that with a little bit of guidance and peer pressure, Goodman Brown will give into the temptation of sin and give in to the devil. Shorty, Brown sees Deacon Gookin and the minister conversing with the devil. This news shockingly upsets Goodman Brown because he has always looked up the Deacon Gookin. He soon believes that if even the minister, the most Godly of men in the village has a pact with the devil, and then there may not be hope for many other. Eventually, in the distance, he hears his Faith scream. Brown then says, “My Faith is gone”, signifying that there is no good left on earth and that everyone eventually gives into sin. Thereafter Goodman awoke in the Salem village; unsure of who he should

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