In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”, Goodman Brown is a young professing Christian from Salem, Massachusetts, who prepares for a journey through the forest on an evil errand. His wife of three months, Faith, has no idea of her husband’s purpose and

After Brown awakes from his dream, he begins to show is arrogance when he takes a child away from Goody Cloyse as if he were taking the child away from fiend. His anger and arrogance is also displayed when he sees Faith, who is overjoyed to see him return. Instead of greeting her, Brown “...looked sternly and sadly into her face” and continued on his way.

The characteristic of arrogance was also discussed in Flannery O’ Connor’s “Good Country People”, but the arrogance that the main character, Helga, possesses is drastically different than the arrogance demonstrated by Goodman Brown.

The arrogance that is discussed in “Good Country People” is ironically displayed through a thirty- two year old handicapped woman named Joy Hopewell. Joy, who later changes her name to Hulga, is said to be a large blond woman who had an artificial leg. She lost her leg in a hunting accident when she was younger and continues suffer from a chronic heart condition. We also learn that Hulga is quite intelligent and achieved a Doctorate in Philosophy. If her life permitted, “she would be far from these red hills and good country people. She would be at a university lecturing to people who knew what she was talking about.” Unfortunately, due to her ailments and attitude, Hulga is forced to live at home with her mother and sister where she stomps around in an irritable state, looking for any opportunity to belittle her mother.

The arrogance and beliefs that Hulga had constructed to protect herself allowed her to become a victim of a true nihilist, Manley Pointer. Hulga’s arrogance and ego was solely based upon her education. She tried to mask her physical deformities by overcompensating with her education. She also carefully constructed her beliefs and faith in “nothingness” as a way to deal with her fears and used her education to deal with her doubts. Her education made here feel secure and superior to others. Tragically, it’s her arrogance that leaves her vulnerable. Even with all her education and self p

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