Intertextual Connections: Comparing Brown And Brown
The intertextual connections I see in both of these stories are that both are on a quest to feed their curiosity as characters put themselves in dark circumstances and question if they have what it takes to get out of it. Even though both needed time alone, Gary was dealing with the loss of his brother and for Brown, this was a journey he just had to take. Both were headed towards the dark forest. Both had encounters with one who looked like any other person. Though well dressed, one was in a black suit and the other one “having a considerable resemblance” to the main character they meet like Brown. Something about their demeanor made them stand out knowing automatically they're the devil. However, it’s unclear whether or not Gary had fallen
asleep like Goodman Brown.
Primary universal theme in both works are the darkside of human nature, testing of faith & strength.
How/Why do these texts still resonate? There is a desire to find ourselves, but have our own encounters of our own devils. We have goals to reach, but are blocked with obstacles. We get tempted to take short cuts and break rules. Going through life like normal is a challenge after losing someone close. We're tempted to believe lies and words left unspoken. We’ve all done things that might have been so terrible only God knows that as we try to move on, it comes back to haunt us. There’s also that possibility that people want to justify bad behaviors or blame it on something else mainly the devil, having the attitude of ‘why even bother trying to do good? We’re all screwed anyway’.
There’s also need for redemption. A story wouldn’t be a story without the devil, “no plot, no complication and consequently no story.” Characters can either relate or need to defeat the (or inner) devil.
These stories connect with the human condition because we’re all broken. We have our struggles, and our ‘skeletons’. Some people are able to cope with tragedies while others “strive to laugh ourselves out of our fears and grin away our apprehensions.”
asleep like Goodman Brown.
Primary universal theme in both works are the darkside of human nature, testing of faith & strength.
How/Why do these texts still resonate? There is a desire to find ourselves, but have our own encounters of our own devils. We have goals to reach, but are blocked with obstacles. We get tempted to take short cuts and break rules. Going through life like normal is a challenge after losing someone close. We're tempted to believe lies and words left unspoken. We’ve all done things that might have been so terrible only God knows that as we try to move on, it comes back to haunt us. There’s also that possibility that people want to justify bad behaviors or blame it on something else mainly the devil, having the attitude of ‘why even bother trying to do good? We’re all screwed anyway’.
There’s also need for redemption. A story wouldn’t be a story without the devil, “no plot, no complication and consequently no story.” Characters can either relate or need to defeat the (or inner) devil.
These stories connect with the human condition because we’re all broken. We have our struggles, and our ‘skeletons’. Some people are able to cope with tragedies while others “strive to laugh ourselves out of our fears and grin away our apprehensions.”