Walk Of Life In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

Hunter Winsauer
Professor Massengill
English 1302
2 August 2010
The Walk of Life “Young Goodman Brown,” a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, conveys the tale of one young man as he travels with the Devil to understand the truth behind human society. Brown realizes that he has kept a naïve “Faith” in the world, and begins to doubt the very beliefs he has held his entire life. Goodman suspects that there is much more to life than what his Puritan upbringings and his conviction would want him to believe. Consequently, Brown allows himself to abandon his “Faith” ,for just one night, in hopes that he will come home with the true understanding behind the outside world. Sadly, what he finds on this journey will be something that will forever change outlook on life. In the allegory, “Young Goodman Brown”, author Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes character depiction, interpersonal dialogue, symbolism, and setting to convey the theme that as an individual matures, he/she interprets the world in an entirely different manner. Throughout this tale, Hawthorne establishes precise character traits, specifically in Goodman Brown, that convey the
Goodman’s “Faith” urged him to postpone his journey through the “Dark Forest” (Hawthorne); however his passion for knowledge and understanding forced him onward. Brown’s statement of “I tarry away from thee. My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done 'twixt now and sunrise,” expresses the urgency instilled by Goodman. Brown makes it apparent that this expedition cannot be suspended, but instead it is a task that must be done within the night. Sadly, Brown’s conversation with his wife leaves no options; Goodman has made it obvious through his dialogue that he must take this journey to forbidden