Young Goodman Brown Symbolism Analysis

In the story, “Young Goodman Brown”, its characters end up going to the dark path even if they were good people. The characters get tempted to keep going with the devil when they sin and can’t seem to go back, some though, try to resist temptation from the devil like Goodman Brown. As he goes deeper into the dark path he always looks back and tries to resist. Throughout Hawthorne’s story it is shown that when people the temptation to go down the dark path, even when resisting, they keep going down that path and cannot turn back. This symbolically demonstrates that the devil will always get his way. When Goodman first gets tempted was when the devil first tells him to go down the dark path with him and Goodman starts to go with the devil. The devil tells Goodman ”this is a dull pace for the beginning of a journey. Take my staff if you are soon weary” (Hawthorne 2, ¶3). The devil brings up his staff and is showing temptation because he said to take his staff whenever he can. When Goodman notices he is deeper in the dark path he yells “Too far, too far!” exclaimed the Goodman, [but then] unconsciously resuming his walk” (Hawthorne 2, ¶5), he starts walking again. Goodman did not notice he was walking further down the dark path. This shows that no matter what it is hard not to get tempted.
As “they continued to walk onward, while the elder traveler exhorted his companion to make good speed and preserve his path” (Hawthorne 4, ¶3) shows how the devil is making sure that Goodman Brown does not turn back, but instead goes deeper in the dark path. Goodman, though then resists and tells the devil “Not another step will I budge on this errand” (Hawthorne 4 ¶4). Even though he tries to resist, Goodman keeps going to the dark path. This shows that no matter what resistance will not work because the devil’s temptation