The Forest of Change
In the short story, “Young Goodman Brown” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author discusses innocence versus corruption by telling the story of Young Goodman Brown, a man who leaves his wife Faith to venture into the forest. During his journey in the forest, the devil tempts him by exposing him to everything he thought was good in the world, and showing him that underlying all of that goodness is pure evil. Goodman Brown then begins to believe that those around him have been toying with his mind for his entire life, and as a result of this realization, he cuts off every connection he has with the world, and becomes increasingly wary and mistrustful of his surroundings. Hawthorne illustrates the importance of people acknowledging …show more content…
In the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown speaks to Faith about the journey he is set to embark on. He announces that, “My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ‘twixt now and sunrise.” This quote demonstrates his temptation of wanting to explore what the world has to offer. However, instead of acknowledging the idea of evil, Goodman Brown takes no account to what he will find on his journey, and stringently holds onto the notion of leaving his Faith for one night. He also mentions to the devil who he meets in the forest, “Faith kept me back awhile,” which highlights how he used his faith as an excuse for wanting to accept the fact that he is drifting way from what he knows solely for the need to see what else the world has to …show more content…
The devil shares of how his family have done horrible things, how the people who taught him how to be considered “good” are dealing with the devil. Young Goodman Brown that he cannot believe that “the woman who taught him his catechism is dealing and talking and has relations with the devil. This is ironic, for isn 't Young Goodman doing the exact same thing at that very moment. Goodman Brown is enhancing the idea that being so blind to the idea of evil gives the belief that the person, in this case Young Goodman Brown Himself, is somehow immune to evil even while dealing with the devil. This is just the first spark of losing his faith in humanity, for he has physically left his wife Faith at home, but also cannot believe that everyone in his life is known to be evil, and has lied to him his entire life. He asserts his frustration by saying, “With heaven above and Faith below, I will stand firm against the devil!” This response from Goodman Brown is the third refusal he has given to the devil since the moment he has started to speak to him. Yes, Goodman Brown is refusing, but as each refusal goes he is losing his faith. There is a moment in the forest where the devil takes his Faith. Faith was the only reason he refuse the only reason he was kept a “good man”. His faith that there is “good” in the world, for even on the long list of those who
In the short story, “Young Goodman Brown” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author discusses innocence versus corruption by telling the story of Young Goodman Brown, a man who leaves his wife Faith to venture into the forest. During his journey in the forest, the devil tempts him by exposing him to everything he thought was good in the world, and showing him that underlying all of that goodness is pure evil. Goodman Brown then begins to believe that those around him have been toying with his mind for his entire life, and as a result of this realization, he cuts off every connection he has with the world, and becomes increasingly wary and mistrustful of his surroundings. Hawthorne illustrates the importance of people acknowledging …show more content…
In the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown speaks to Faith about the journey he is set to embark on. He announces that, “My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ‘twixt now and sunrise.” This quote demonstrates his temptation of wanting to explore what the world has to offer. However, instead of acknowledging the idea of evil, Goodman Brown takes no account to what he will find on his journey, and stringently holds onto the notion of leaving his Faith for one night. He also mentions to the devil who he meets in the forest, “Faith kept me back awhile,” which highlights how he used his faith as an excuse for wanting to accept the fact that he is drifting way from what he knows solely for the need to see what else the world has to …show more content…
The devil shares of how his family have done horrible things, how the people who taught him how to be considered “good” are dealing with the devil. Young Goodman Brown that he cannot believe that “the woman who taught him his catechism is dealing and talking and has relations with the devil. This is ironic, for isn 't Young Goodman doing the exact same thing at that very moment. Goodman Brown is enhancing the idea that being so blind to the idea of evil gives the belief that the person, in this case Young Goodman Brown Himself, is somehow immune to evil even while dealing with the devil. This is just the first spark of losing his faith in humanity, for he has physically left his wife Faith at home, but also cannot believe that everyone in his life is known to be evil, and has lied to him his entire life. He asserts his frustration by saying, “With heaven above and Faith below, I will stand firm against the devil!” This response from Goodman Brown is the third refusal he has given to the devil since the moment he has started to speak to him. Yes, Goodman Brown is refusing, but as each refusal goes he is losing his faith. There is a moment in the forest where the devil takes his Faith. Faith was the only reason he refuse the only reason he was kept a “good man”. His faith that there is “good” in the world, for even on the long list of those who