The Power Of Imagination In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

Imagination is one of the many fundamentals to a healthy mental life. It has many positives and some negatives which are conveyed in different ways. Authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne and James Thurber express the power of imagination in their short stories through the protagonists by demonstrating that imagination can be used to overcome obstacles of the daily life or how it can bring about fear.

As Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” Imagination is one of the most powerful gifts someone can have. It is what has advanced our world to the degree it is at now through new inventions and ideas.

Young Goodman Brown’s imagination causes him to be fearful. He starts to question his own faith because he meets with the devil in the forest. As Young Goodman Brown makes his journey through the forest, he gets nervous of what could potentially be there with him. Eventually, he meets a man who seemed to be waiting for him and offers Goodman a walking stick. He refuses at first because he knew something was not right about this situation and he is a faithful man who is loyal to his religion and family. “Young Goodman Brown caught hold of a tree for support, being ready to sink down on the ground, faint and overburdened with the heavy sickness of his heart. He looked up to the sky, doubting whether there really was a heaven above him.” From this quote, the reader can see that Young Goodman Brown has realized how strong his imagination is, in a negative manner. This is the point in the story when Goodman begins questioning his relationship with God. He gives into the devil’s coaxing and temptations, then his imagination imprisons him with his own

He constantly is putting himself and the others around him in dangerous situations because of his daydreaming issue. Daydreaming is a common thing however, Walter Mitty is a middle aged man and should have outgrown this phase by now. He may have an ongoing imagination like this to escape from everyday life or everyday struggles. Walter Mitty seems to be insecure with himself. In every daydream episode he has, he is someone important or someone in power. This could be because he is not happy with himself or the role he plays in this world. He wants to feel important so he uses his imagination to give him the ability to feel this way. "You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty. "It's one of your days. I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look you over." It is unhealthy because he ongoingly worries his wife. She is concerned with his mental health and their safety because he starts to drive dangerously if a daydream is