Faith In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
“Young Goodman Brown” Elbert Hubbard was an American publisher, philosopher and a writer. He once said “Faith is the effort to believe what your common sense tells you is not true.” In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” Goodman Browns faith is destroyed when he embarks on a journey through the woods; where he encounters a mysterious man who is a devil figure. His temptation brings him to a ceremony where he sees people he knows, including his own wife. Seeing people he once trusted at the ceremony makes him think twice, and in the end he loses his own faith. Young Goodman Brown showed that even the most self-righteous people can lose faith. When Goodman Brown’s temptation leads him to the ceremony, he does not realize what he
will come upon. In the story Hawthorne states “Good old Deakon had arrived” (Hawthorne 196). Good Old Deakon was part of the church and he was supposed to be in charge along with the minister, which is very surprising to Goodman brown. Not only is Deakon Gookin there, but Goody Cloyse is also present at the ceremony. She was spotted talking to the strange man in the forest. When Goody Cloyse sees the strange man she says “So as I was saying, being all ready for the meeting” (Hawthorne 197). He is appalled to see that Goody Cloyse is fickle and may possess evil. This creates doubt within himself as he begins to question his own faith. Furthermore Goodman Brown talks about being so self-righteous. He states “We are a people of good works and to boot and would abide no such wickedness.” Goodman Brown gloats about being so holy, when in truth the devil got to him and he lost faith. Young Goodman Brown is not willing to accept that society is a mix of both good and evil. Ultimately Goodman Brown decides that everyone is evil. Choosing his own punishment; he became an aloof from society. He had too much doubt within himself; a man who was once so pious became unrighteous. The story shows us that even the most self-righteous can lose faith.
will come upon. In the story Hawthorne states “Good old Deakon had arrived” (Hawthorne 196). Good Old Deakon was part of the church and he was supposed to be in charge along with the minister, which is very surprising to Goodman brown. Not only is Deakon Gookin there, but Goody Cloyse is also present at the ceremony. She was spotted talking to the strange man in the forest. When Goody Cloyse sees the strange man she says “So as I was saying, being all ready for the meeting” (Hawthorne 197). He is appalled to see that Goody Cloyse is fickle and may possess evil. This creates doubt within himself as he begins to question his own faith. Furthermore Goodman Brown talks about being so self-righteous. He states “We are a people of good works and to boot and would abide no such wickedness.” Goodman Brown gloats about being so holy, when in truth the devil got to him and he lost faith. Young Goodman Brown is not willing to accept that society is a mix of both good and evil. Ultimately Goodman Brown decides that everyone is evil. Choosing his own punishment; he became an aloof from society. He had too much doubt within himself; a man who was once so pious became unrighteous. The story shows us that even the most self-righteous can lose faith.