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What symbols does hawthorne use in young goodman brown
What symbols does hawthorne use in young goodman brown
What symbols does hawthorne use in young goodman brown
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Research Essay
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, “Young Goodman Brown,” is a short story that the main character, Young Goodman Brown, travels on a journey through the forest encountering more and more troubles and trying to resist evil until finally, he meets the devil. Eudora Welty’s short story, “A Worn Path,” is of similar nature in that an elderly woman named Phoenix Jackson is traveling down this remote path that is hard and enduring on her old body to retrieve medicine for her sick grandson. The two short stories have many similarities and differences in the elements that are presented in both stories. Elements such as characterization, plot, symbolism, and setting are relevant and explored in both “Young Goodman Brown” and “A Worn Path.”
“Young
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Goodman Brown” uses the element of characterization to progress the story and make the character of Young Goodman Brown more dynamic and interesting.
Young Goodman Brown encounters many evils when traveling through the woods alone. Being set in a Puritan setting and having Young Goodman Brown be from a Puritan town, he is innocent and afraid of the influence of the devil. However, he continues past all of these evil influencers until he finally meets the devil himself. Goodman Brown eventually escapes this encounter and it changes him. Young Goodman Brown becomes angry and distrustful of everyone around him and keeps to himself. He even snatches a child away from the supposed witch, Goody Cloyse, because he had seen her talking to the devil in the woods and saying, “The devil! … Ah, forsooth, and it is your worship, indeed?” (393) Steven Olsen who wrote an article titled “A History of the American Mind: ‘Young Goodman Brown.’” goes as far to say that for Young Goodman Brown, “He needs to hide himself, his own evil, from them, and he needs to shield himself from the fact that there might be evil in them. In effect, in this complex and conflicting psychological state Brown must isolate himself from his community and hide himself from himself.” (Olsen) This is a big contrast from the Goodman Brown that is during the beginning of the short story who was outgoing …show more content…
and full of love. Differing from “Young Goodman Brown” Phoenix Jackson stays true throughout her short story. Be it her old age, stubbornness, or her will to help her grandson she does not sway from traveling to the doctor’s office. Even when a passing hunter helps her up and tells her to “take my advice and stay home, and nothing will happen to you.”(94) she does not falter like Goodman Brown. Also unlike Hawthorne's, “Young Goodman Brown,” Eudora Welty’s, “A Worn Path” does not feature much progression in the form of characterization for the main character Phoenix Jackson. Goodman Brown has a clear character arc from start to end. Phoenix Jackson is a static main character that does not have any kind of change in her motives or ideals. “A Worn Path” has a plot that in general is similar to “Young Goodman Brown,” however, when analyzed, the details of the plot differ in various ways. Both plots have a character that needs to get from one place to another. Goodman Brown needs to travel from the town of Salem through the woods and Phoenix Jackson needs to travel from home to the doctor’s office in a distant city. Both short stories have a few conflicts that get in the way of the main character’s goal. Goodman Brown had the evils in the forest and the devil himself trouble his journey. Phoenix Jackson got caught in a thorn bush, had to cross a creek on a log, crawled under barbed wire, had a dog knock her over, and has a hunter point a gun in her face. The general plot similarities stop there. Goodman Brown has conflicts of faith and self-doubt, meanwhile, Phoenix has physical conflicts due to her old age where most things are a challenge. The resolution to each short story is also completely different. Phoenix Jackson completes her journey and accomplishes her goal of retrieving medicine. Goodman Brown, however, is unable to complete his journey and is permanently has his faith harmed from the experience. Each story also has a climax that differs dramatically from each other. Hawthorne’s climax happens when Goodman Brown is at a witch meeting with both the devil and his wife Faith. Welty’s climax is short and lack-luster, but perfectly fits the story, when Phoenix finally arrives at the doctor’s office. Symbolism is a huge element in both “Young Goodman Brown” and “A Worn Path.” The symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown” is mostly religious and evil while the symbolism in “A Worn Path” is more literal and carries more wisdom.
Hawthorne’s religious symbolism in greatly tied up in faith, both the idea and character. Faith can be a symbol for Goodman Brown’s actual faith. When talking to the traveler, which is the devil, Goodman Brown tells him that, “Faith kept me back awhile” (392) which could mean that his wife had literally kept him back from entering the woods, or that his faith in his religion had kept him back from meeting the devil for this long. Charles E. May in an article titled “Young Goodman Brown: Overview” similarly explains how “Goodman Brown's wife Faith is not merely a two-dimensional allegorical figure embodying the quality of her name; she is also a realistic example of the necessity of faith.” (May) agreeing that Faith is a symbol of Goodman Brown’s need for faith. The snake headed staff held by the traveler is also a symbol for evil and cunning. Snakes have symbolized deception and evil in a number of other works and this holds true in “Young Goodman Brown.” The traveler’s staff only helps to symbolize the evil intentions that the traveler has for Goodman Brown. The woods is also a significant symbol in the short story. Simply put, the woods is where bad things happen. There is reason why Goody Cloyse has her head down and is uttering prayers when Goodman
Brown spots her, even though she may or may not have been real. People during this time period are afraid of the woods and the evils that could lurk within. As Goodman Brown finds out, these evil rumors may hold true in that the woods may actually symbolize evil. At least Goodman Brown can hold solace in that he knows that faith cannot always protect him.
Young Goodman Brown was a man who was naïve to the world around him. Ever since he was a child, he had always practiced a very Godly life. Not only does he believe that everyone around him follows the same path, but he also believes that it is the only path. This naivety and innocence was taken from him by the Devil, who opened his eyes to the world of evil around him. After the pagan ceremony, which Brown attends, the Devil even states “Now are ye undeceived! Evil is the nature of mankind” (Hawthorne 9). By saying this, Hawthorne is trying to say that it is better to know the whole truth than to live a lie. By not knowing the truth about evil existing in Salem village, Brown has essentially been living a life that is not complete or accurate. This perfect and fair world that was found in the Bible is not the real world that surrounds him. When his innocence is stolen from him so abruptly, he begins to lose both his faith and stability in the world.
"Why did Goodman Brown leave his wife to fulfill an evil purpose?" "What was his evil purpose?" "Who did he meet in the woods?" "Was it a dream or was it reality?" These are just a few of the questions that ran through my head after reading the short story, Young Goodman Brown. After several nights of reading, rereading, thinking, and debating I've received many revelations of this story; one being the true identity of the "fellow-traveler" mentioned throughout this adventurous tale. You see, he was not just any man, he was the devil himself.
In “Young Goodman Brown” The woods are characterized as devilish, frightening, and dark as said in the story, “..the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and thick boughs overhead, so that, with lonely footsteps, he may yet be passing through an unseen multitude.” (Hawthorne 3) In this Hawthorne shares the point of view of 17th century Puritans, who believed that the New World was something to fear and then dominate. He as well mentions Salem in context to the Salem Witch Trials. For example, Hawthorne uses the names of Goody Cloyse and Martha Carrier. Two of the “witches” killed at Salem, for townspeople in his story. The devil refers to seeing Goodman Brown’s grandfather whipping a Quaker and handing Goodman Brown’s father a flaming torch so that he could set fire to an Indian village during King Philip’s War. Hawthorne usage of this shows that the Salem Puritan town has always had a dark dubious side lurking behind them. His wife Faith, is, of course, symbolic of his faith, and is used as a foil to develop Goodman’s fall into evil. “Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons on her caps while she called to Goodman Brown” (Hawthorne 1 ). The pink ribbons that Faith has on her cap represent her purity. The color pink is associated with innocence and ribbons are a modest, innocent decoration Faith is a stand in for the beliefs of his Christian faith. All the evil people he meets in the woods are trying to lead him away from her/it, but he resists. Still, the awful things he sees means that, when he eventually returns, he finds her/it not as comforting as before. Hawthorne also conveys allusion and allegory within his story by the reference of Genesis from the bible. As well as the story
Hawthorne uses the main character, Young Goodman Brown, to lucidly convey the story’s main theme of corrupted innocence. When one carefully analyzes Young Goodman Brown’s character the main concept that comes to mind is that the character appears to be an implied part of his religion-pure. The reader should keep in mind that purity is often associated with innocence. The sense of purity within the character of Young Goodman Brown will later appear to be awkward. In the beginning of the story when he meets the Devil in the forest the narrator states that the Devil “was about fifty years old, apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown, and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, (Hawthorne, 337).” Through this statement the reader now knows that Young Goodman Brown is not young as his name implies, he is actually
The story begins with Goodman Brown leaving the house at sunset while his wife, Faith, trying to persuade Goodman to depart at sunrise. Brown starts his journey to the darkness that awaits for him in the forest where Puritans believe the devil lives. Hawthorne seems to be using many symbolisms in the story such as Goodman's wife Faith which symbolizes his real faith in God. Goodman leaves his faith behind him and set forth into his journey with his own strength and power. Although he felt guilty leaving his Faith back home in their early stage of marriage, he justifies this guilt by swearing that after this night he will "cling to her skirt and follow her to heaven." However, will there be another day for Goodman Brown to share his life with Faith? Although his faith, described with "pink ribbon," is sincere, pure, and innocent, is his will stong enough to walk though "a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest?" Goodman believes nothing can tempt his faith, not even a devil.
In both stories, the devil manipulates the characters and lures them in making the wrong decision. In “Young Goodman Brown”, the stranger, also the devil in this case, approaches Brown and tries to be his guardian when he says “[Brown’s parents] were [his] good friends ... merrily after midnight” (Hawthorne 3). Thus, Brown is finally convinced to make a wrong decision and continues on the journey with the stranger. His intense desire to know what he would find in the forest is greater than his feeling insecure to follow the devil. Unexpectedly, in the darkness of the forest, he meets almost every Puritan citizens of his town who he believed to be honorable and pious such as Goody Cloyse, the minister of the church and Deacon Gookin. He also sees some who seem to be the unwelcomed guests of the “celebration” - the sinners and criminals. Brown 's family is also believed to be in the woods as Hawthorne describes: “As nearly as could be discerned, the second traveller was about fifty years old, apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown, and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, though perhaps more in expression than features. Still they might have been taken for father and son” (2). Everything soon goes from
Though Brown attempts to hide when he sees her, she identifies the man who had been walking with Brown as the devil and she identifies herself as a witch on her way to the devil’s evil ceremony. Goodman Brown knows Goody Cloyse from his childhood because she was the very woman who taught him his catechism. Therefore, learning that she was corrupt destroys the very basis of religion that he was taught as a child. Furthermore, learning that the old man who Brown had been walking with was the devil illustrated the idea that the devil does not always come in the supposed red cape and horns, but rather man’s greatest
Hawthorne skillfully uses Goodman Brown’s wife’s name, Faith, as a symbol of Goodman Brown’s strong faith when Brown’s reassuring response to Faith imply that his faith cannot be weakened: “Amen!’ cried Goodman Brown, “Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee” (Hawthorne 22). Brown leaves Faith; whom he describes as a “blessed angel on earth,” and journeys to the forest (Hawthorne 22). Taking the dark, dreary road into the forest symbolizes his act of jumping into the path leading to despair. The forest represents sin, and the evil grows stronger and stronger as Goodman walks further into the
Young Goodman Brown is about a young, newly wedded man who leaves his wife, Faith, and to go on a journey into the forest one night. Young Goodman Brown has an innocent and maybe even naïve soul and was looked upon by townspeople as a “silly fellow” (Hawthorne 83). He is accompanied by a mysterious, older man who is later on revealed to be the devil. As they are walking, Young Goodman Brown tries to turn back several times and at one point succeeds in getting rid of the devil. However, when he sees that even his wife has surrendered to the same evil path that he was on, he stops resisting and continues into the forest. He ends up at a witches’ sabbath where he sees familiar faces of people whom he previously looked up to for spiritual guidance; he also finds Faith there and becomes devastated. In the end, he cries out to resist the devil and then wakes up to find himself alone in the forest.
“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is based on an elderly African-American grandmother named Phoenix Jackson, who goes for a walk to the town of Natchez on a cold December morning to get some medicine for her ailing grandson. This story speaks of the obstacles Phoenix endured along the way and how she overcame them. The theme, central idea or message that the author wishes to convey to his or her readers, in “A Worn Path” is one of determination. Phoenix Jackson is determined to get to Natchez, in order to get medicine for her grandson; she does not let any obstacles get in her way. The theme of determination is shown in many ways throughout this short story.
In “Young Goodman Brown” Hawthorne uses the hypocritical nature of Young Goodman Browns neighbors and friends to show the hypocritical nature of the puritan people. In the story, Young Goodman Brown is led by the devil to a witching party in the woods. At the witching party he sees all the people he thought to be honorable and pious. He sees his minister, and Goody Cloyse, the woman who taught him his catechisms, meeting with the devil. He even sees his wife about to join the commune but doesn’t see whether she does or not because he resists the devil and wakes up by a tree. After witnessing these things in the woods Young Goodman Brown can’t look at the people he loved and looked up to in the same way anymore. He becomes a bitter and distrustful old man because of their hypocr...
Goodman Brown, a young man who was only married for three months, left his home and his wife, Faith, to go into the forest and spend the night on some mission that he will not explain. Even though Faith has strong feelings about his journey and begs him not to leave, Brown has made his decision and leaves everything behind. Faith is appropriately named, because she represents Browns faith and what he believes in. The name is genuine, religious and hopeful. It represents the good side of Brown and his hope for life. He feels bad for leaving her because he knows what he is about to do is evil and goes against his faith. Brown swears that after this night he will be good and not do anything evil again and vow his life to Faith. Brown is upset about leaving her because he knows that what he is about to do in the forest is evil and goes against his Faith. Hawthorne describes Browns journey as "crossing the threshold", meaning that he is going from one part of his life to another, he is leaving the genuine good side to go to the bad evil side.
In Eudora Welty’s, “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson went great lengths risking her own life for her grandson, who couldn’t help himself. On her worn path she faced the world with courage. Although she faced difficulty in her early life, her faith remained the same to help those who were dear to her heart. She walk a worn path relentlessly facing obstacles along the way with a mind that is diminishing overtime. Through the problems that she is faced with, she remains humble. She is admirable because considering her old age, weakness and loss of memory, she is determined. Welty’s details of character, symbolism, conflict and theme creates a compelling and fierce Phoenix Jackson. The moral message in this short story is to show the setting and characterizations
Goodman Brown embarks on his journey into the forest with the fervent belief that his potent dedication is indomitably ironclad, and thus will be able to overcome even the most tempting persuasions of the devil. As Goodman and the devil continue sauntering along the serpentine path, they encounter Goodman’s old catechism teacher, Goody Cloyse, and it is eventually revealed that she is heading to the satanic occult meeting at the core of the forest. Goodman is absolutely confounded at the sight of her, as he had always considered Cloyse as a moral and spiritual guide in his life. Goody Cloyse’s appearance is the first moment where Goodman begins to question his faith. Brown's illusions about the purity of his society are finally obliterated when he discovers that many of his fellow townspeople, including religious leaders and his wife (aptly named Faith), are attending a Black Mass or “witch-meeting”. At the end of the story, it is not clear whether Brown's experience was a nightmare or biting reality, but the results are nonetheless the same. Brown is unable to forgive the possibility of evil in his loved ones, and as a result spends the rest of his life in desperate loneliness and gloom.
Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and A Worn Path, by Eudora Welty, are two distinct stories with similar elements. Young Goodman Brown and A Worn Path are both short stories that share similar elements, such as: point of view, characterization, conflict, protagonists, setting, symbolism, and irony. Both stories also differ in elements such as: conflict, setting, epiphany, and theme.