Essay Comparing Young Goodman Brown And The Rocking Horse Winner

In the short stories of “The Rocking-Horse Winner” and “Young Goodman Brown”, the main characters depict themselves as a conflict driven hero. The two main characters, Paul from “The Rocking-Horse Winner” and Goodman from “Young Goodman Brown” face similar circumstances which plays a part in the traits they portray, and the internal battles faced by both, insinuate they’re very nature, along with their characteristics. D. H. Lawrence and Nathaniel Hawthorne developed their conflict-driven heroes using setting, conflict and characterization.

“The Rocking-Horse Winner” takes place in London, England after World War I. The main character Paul was born in a family without financial stability. Due to recent events and his young age, Paul

feels like conflict has been around him all his young life. Since he is from a poor family his main goal is to acquire money, as the passage states, “And so the house came to be haunted by the phase, There must be more money! There must be more money!” (5) implying the constant need to find financial stability in the home. Which leads to the main characters conflict with his mother, Hester’s, sinuous love of money and his constant need for the love of his mother.
“Young Goodman Brown” takes place in Salem village during the times of Salem witch trials.

Whether or not the main character, Goodman, is informed about the witch trials is not given, but having a Puritan upbringing and resident of Salem, he must of knew something about the trails that took place. Which brings us to his constant battle of good or evil. His world is turned upside down when he observes the whole town, including his respected religious leaders of Salem village, taking part in satanic rituals. Which again stirs up this enter conflict of remaining good or becoming evil. Even though those around him are secretly committing acts that are

evil.
Therefore, the element of conflict in both the main characters of “The Rocking-Horse Winner and “Young Goodman Brown” are vividly seen through their constant mental battles.
In the story “Young Goodman Brown” it is quoted as saying, “That old woman taught me my catechism,” said the young man; and there was the world of meaning in that simple comment.” (34-37) Goodman was devastated when he realized that his old mentor Good Cloyse, the one that had taught him to deny evil was committing evil herself. His constant battle in his mind takes him to wonder if he had been taught good or evil.
“The Rocking-Horse Winner”, Paul’s internal battle is due to his strong emotions about receiving his mother’s undying love and attention.

A quote from the story, states, “The boy saw she did not believe him; or rather, that she paid no attention to his assertion. This anger in him somehow, made him want to compel her attention.” (40) His deep seeded desire to please his mother and receive her attention was nothing more than a little boy wanting his mother’s approval of his existence. This began to devour him and warp his mind to constantly get validation of his existence, only to kill him in the end. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” and Young Goodman Brown” both face to please the ones they love and at the same time causes them to lose

themselves.
Both heroes display same or similar behaviors and traits. Goodman is a Puritan who has strong emotion about being good, but temptation is ever present and steers him toward the evil side. This emotional imbalance with both characters, Paul and Goodman, leads them to individual realities. Paul’s emotional conflict of constantly wanting his mother’s attention that he is consumed his entire being of his life and whether or not his mother notices him. Goodman also, is a emotional conflict-driven with trauma when he observes the entire town, even his wife, Faith, whom he thought to be so innocent, taking part in satanic ceremonies. Both Paul and Goodman face mental battles that determines decisions and actions along with maintaining their mental stability.
These two conflict-driven heroes are portrayed by the very conflict that goes in their mental, emotional, and physical lives, but left them ultimately in undesirable circumstances and endings of death. D. H. Lawrence and Nathaniel Hawthorne combined these elements of setting, conflict and characterization to bring about the heroes that would thrive in those condition and in term created two amazing pieces of literature.