Not long into the story, we come to Hawthorne’s first theme, sin. Goodman Brown is surprised to learn from the Devil that many people in his community are associated with sin and the Devil; including his own father and grandfather. Brown tells the Devil “we are a people of prayer and good works, to boot, and abide no such wickedness.” (Hawthorne, 160) Brown immediately denies his own sin and condemns the flaws in others. By denying sin, Brown is clearing his own conscience to continue on his journey.

Brown next comes upon a woman who taught him his catechism, Goody Cloyse, on the path of sin. It is ironic, because Goody Cloyse is a woman that Hawthorne’s own great-grandfather condemned to death. Hawthorne is telling us that no matter how good and pure a person is, sin is prevailant in all people. Brown says to his traveling companion “what if a wretched old woman do choose to go the devil… is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith, and go with her?” (Hawt

Hawthorne’s next theme deals with guilt. The first sign of guilt is evident when Goodman Brown first sets off on his journey. When he meets the devil, the Devil asks Brown why he is late, to which Brown replied “Faith kept me back awhile”. (Hawthorne, 608) In a literal sense, his wife may have kept him back, but figuratively speaking, his faith in his religion kept him from immediately starting down the path of sin with the devil. Brown knows where he is going, by then he has second thoughts of the guilt he would have to endure on his path. He is not feeling guilt from sin, but from faith. Brown is afraid he will loose his faith in God if he travels down the road with the Devil.

The next example of guilt presents itself after Goodman Brown parts ways with the devil and he hears horses approaching “and deemed it advisable to conceal himself within the verge of the forest, conscious of the guilty purpose that had brought him thither.” (Hawthorne, 611) Brown is not only hiding himself from other travelers, but he is hiding himself from his own guilty conscience. He hides himself on the “verge of the forest”, which could mean on the edge of the path of sin and his own guilt. Brown is trying to escape guilt, by the fails to recognize what exactly he is hiding from.

Hawthorne’s last theme is punishment. At the end of the story, the only one punished is Goodman Brown. Not because he went on a journey with the devil, but because he fails to find himself and to forgive others.

The last example of sin reveals itself after Goodman Brown is congratulating himself for not continuing on with the devil. He hears his wife fly past and finds her pink ribbon. Brown then exclaims “My Faith is gone” (Hawthorne, 612). Again, he is not only referring to his wife, but his faith in Good is now broken. By loosing his faith, Brown is

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