Dreams In Young Goodman Brown

Dreams play an important role in our lives. Dreams are an opportunity for us to experience a life with no limitations. However, not all dreams are meaningless fiction. Sometimes, a dream can be identical to everyday life. In some cases it is extremely difficult to tell the difference between a dream and reality. Throughout history, studies show that dreams provide an insight into one’s own self. Dreams can show us who we really are and what we want out of life by tapping into our subconscious mind. They have the ability to be inspirational, life changing, and revealing. Certain aspects of the story “Young Goodman Brown” lead us to believe that he is merely dreaming.
The fact is that Young Goodman Brown does have a life changing experience
It just so happens that after thinking that, he hears horses and the voice of Deacon Gookin. Although it seems that Goodman Brown is hearing Deacon Gookin as he goes to the ceremony that is not the case. It is not said how much time passes between Goodman Brown beginning to rest, and his sighting of Deacon Gookin. Young Goodman Brown has already fallen asleep at this point, and Deacon Gookin is mentioned immediately because that is whom Goodman Brown thought of last, while awake. Goodman Brown has an experience with a dark cloud overhead and then sees his wife’s pink ribbon floating down. At this point he thinks Faith has been unfaithful to him. In this story, the name Faith is very symbolic. Faith, his wife, is depicted in the beginning of the story has a good Christian and faithful. Faith was innocent, and would not be going to the meeting. Perhaps, subconsciously Goodman Brown actually viewed Faith as evil. Then, Young Goodman Brown grabs the staff, which the old man gave him, and traveled through the forest “at such a rate, that he seemed to fly along the forest path rather than to walk or run” (Hawthorne, 396). When he got to the clearing surrounded by trees on fire, all he could see were the fire lit faces of respectable people in his community. Subconsciously, this is his vision of Hell. Goodman Brown thinks he sees his father beckoning him forward and his mother trying to hold him back. Young Goodman Brown realizes that he has been questioning his own faith and this part of the dream is basically the good (his mother) against the bad (his father) of his subconscious. Goodman Brown then sees Faith, who tells him look up to the heavens and resist the devil. Goodman Brown looks up to the heavens and finds himself alone in the forest. It is now that he is waking up. Because his dream took place where he fell asleep, and was