First of all, is it a coincidence that the setting is in Salem Village? The story could have taken place anywhere but it does not. It takes place in a village that is symbolic of evil. Salem Village has a rich history of witch-hunts that ended in witch trials in 1692, where of the two hundred accused, nineteen people were hanged and four died in prison awaiting trial (Tucker 624). The fact that the story takes place in Salem Village could lead the reader to believe that something dark and evil is going to happen somewhere in the story because some people associate the name Salem with witches. On the other hand, Hawthorne speaks of a minister, a deacon, and a teacher of catechism so this could lead one to believe this might be a story about a man on a religious journey.

Was Faith Goodman Brown?s wife or was it his faith in God? What did the pink ribbons really symbolize? Was the traveler a mortal man or was he Satan? Was the journey real or was it only a dream? The story, which may have been a dream, and not a real life event, planted the seed of doubt in Brown?s mind, which consequently cut him off from his fellow man and leaves him a miserable and bitter man.

In my opinion, the most important ambiguity in ?Young Goodman Brown? is the journey itself. Brown may have really gone on a journey or then again the journey might have been only a dream. Whenever this story begins, it seems as though this evil purpose is a realistic journey. The journey seems realistic because Brown and Faith exchange goodbyes and then part from each other in a traditional way. This goodbye between Brown and Faith seems rather common and realistic. During the journey, Goody Cloyse comes along behind Brown and the traveler; the traveler touches her with his snake-like staff and she screams, ?The Devil!? (202). The journey then starts to look unrealistic because from there on the events that take place seem to be more unnatural such as the time when Brown tells Faith to resist the wicked one and the

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