Young Goodman Brown Analytical Essay
Poe set the standard for what a good short story should be. A person should not only be able to read it in one sitting, you needed to be able to grab the reader’s attention immediately, and the mood needs to be set from the very beginning. No one wants to read a short story that builds up so much suspense, that the reader becomes distracted from what it is that they are supposed to focus on. Poe’s themes can be found while analyzing, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story “Young Goodman Brown”, Poe’s admiration for Hawthorne clearly showed through his review. Poe had the ability to not only create great work, but to recognize it as well. He was one of the first people to distinguish the pure genius of Hawthorne. Prior to Hawthorne, short stories were nothing short of a drawn out essay. They had no mystery, there
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was no excitement, nothing that challenged your mind, just long drawn out suspenseful stories.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" is a story written as an allegory.
In the story, Brown trusted his group was valid in their commitment to God. Moreover, Brown trusted he had a solid Puritan confidence. On his journey through the woods, he realized he wasn't as confident in his religion as he thought to be. In addition, the respectable individuals of the town were not who Brown expected them to be. The main character was gone up against with enticement, in which he would have a few opportunities to turn back, however his interest inevitably defeated him. "Youthful Goodman Brown" is a story speaking to individuals being stood up to with ordinary allurements. Nathaniel Hawthorne utilized setting, interior clash and imagery to depict the battle between Brown's sentiment vulnerability and the malice attempting to force him in. What made a short story great was what Poe defined as the "unity of effect". The "skillful literary artist" ought to construct a story to make a "preconceived effect". What Poe basically said was that short fiction should be composed in the way of a verse, it needed to be lyrical, and his is exactly what Hawthorne included in his
works.
All of these elements that Hawthorne used is what enticed authors such as Poe. After Poe’s review there was much attention brought to the both of them. Poe being recognized as a respectable reviewer and the other being viewed as an excellent writer. “As it cannot be read at one sitting, it deprives itself, of course, of the immense force derivable from totality.” Poe is explaining that this isn’t something that could just be understood after reading it just once, you had to read it more than one time to completely understand it. And this is how Hawthorne works, he left you completely confused about what you just read. Your job as the reader is to draw conclusions, such as the story Young Goodman Brown, at the end you’re confused whether or not if this is a dream or if it’s reality. If it was truly a dream, why would they way feelings towards his wife change? Why would he try to protect the little girl, from the “devil”?
was no excitement, nothing that challenged your mind, just long drawn out suspenseful stories.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" is a story written as an allegory.
In the story, Brown trusted his group was valid in their commitment to God. Moreover, Brown trusted he had a solid Puritan confidence. On his journey through the woods, he realized he wasn't as confident in his religion as he thought to be. In addition, the respectable individuals of the town were not who Brown expected them to be. The main character was gone up against with enticement, in which he would have a few opportunities to turn back, however his interest inevitably defeated him. "Youthful Goodman Brown" is a story speaking to individuals being stood up to with ordinary allurements. Nathaniel Hawthorne utilized setting, interior clash and imagery to depict the battle between Brown's sentiment vulnerability and the malice attempting to force him in. What made a short story great was what Poe defined as the "unity of effect". The "skillful literary artist" ought to construct a story to make a "preconceived effect". What Poe basically said was that short fiction should be composed in the way of a verse, it needed to be lyrical, and his is exactly what Hawthorne included in his
works.
All of these elements that Hawthorne used is what enticed authors such as Poe. After Poe’s review there was much attention brought to the both of them. Poe being recognized as a respectable reviewer and the other being viewed as an excellent writer. “As it cannot be read at one sitting, it deprives itself, of course, of the immense force derivable from totality.” Poe is explaining that this isn’t something that could just be understood after reading it just once, you had to read it more than one time to completely understand it. And this is how Hawthorne works, he left you completely confused about what you just read. Your job as the reader is to draw conclusions, such as the story Young Goodman Brown, at the end you’re confused whether or not if this is a dream or if it’s reality. If it was truly a dream, why would they way feelings towards his wife change? Why would he try to protect the little girl, from the “devil”?