The Loss of Faith and Innocence
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown,” he illustrates the duplicity of man’s mind and the struggles to understand truth. By the end of the dark story, the author does not articulate if Young Goodman Brown really took part in a heathen experience in the night described in the story or if it was all made up. Whether part of his imagination or real, the experiences of Brown changed his life forever. It changed everything he knew about faith, love, mankind and society. “A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream.” As a result of his night of “evil purpose,” Brown lost his faith and innocence.
Very intentionally and creatively, Hawthorne demonstrates Browns innocence of life via symbolism. The lives of each character exemplify Brown in some way. Firstly, the protagonist, Young Goodman Brown serves as every man and woman, the common man, anyone. As the story begins, he initiates his journey leaving his wife at home. He is full of faith and high spirits. As he leaves, he thinks about his wife, Faith, “‘Well, she 's a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night I 'll cling …show more content…
Just as in the tale, “The Chief’s Daughter,” things may be different once you take a deeper look; things are not always what they seem. Young Goodman Brown has lost the innocence of life. Every image of god in the world let him down during this experience. The foundation and structures of life, whether, his love, Faith, society, religion, and even himself were compromised and capable of being corrupt. This story echoes experiences all go through at some point in life. It also exemplifies the trial of one’s faith. Though he loses his innocence and trust of others, he attempts to sustain his shattered faith, even until his dying hour of
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown,” he illustrates the duplicity of man’s mind and the struggles to understand truth. By the end of the dark story, the author does not articulate if Young Goodman Brown really took part in a heathen experience in the night described in the story or if it was all made up. Whether part of his imagination or real, the experiences of Brown changed his life forever. It changed everything he knew about faith, love, mankind and society. “A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream.” As a result of his night of “evil purpose,” Brown lost his faith and innocence.
Very intentionally and creatively, Hawthorne demonstrates Browns innocence of life via symbolism. The lives of each character exemplify Brown in some way. Firstly, the protagonist, Young Goodman Brown serves as every man and woman, the common man, anyone. As the story begins, he initiates his journey leaving his wife at home. He is full of faith and high spirits. As he leaves, he thinks about his wife, Faith, “‘Well, she 's a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night I 'll cling …show more content…
Just as in the tale, “The Chief’s Daughter,” things may be different once you take a deeper look; things are not always what they seem. Young Goodman Brown has lost the innocence of life. Every image of god in the world let him down during this experience. The foundation and structures of life, whether, his love, Faith, society, religion, and even himself were compromised and capable of being corrupt. This story echoes experiences all go through at some point in life. It also exemplifies the trial of one’s faith. Though he loses his innocence and trust of others, he attempts to sustain his shattered faith, even until his dying hour of