In my reading of Nathaniel Hawthornes classic “Young Goodman Brown” I was left with the impression that Browns tribulation involved a battle in which both good and evil were present. I feel an appropriate theme for this work would be “faith should be placed in God, not in man.” Because one professes to be true with God does not necessarily mean that he is. In this story it is made clear that man is only flesh and cannot be held accountable for any man but himself. Young Goodman Brown was a tragic victim of deception.
Brown the main character in the story represented everything that was good. He was a loving faithful husband, a good Christian and a pillar of the community. His wife, Faith’s outward appearance would indicate the same. Brown simply adored her. Throughout the story Hawthorne used the wife as a symbolic representation
In conclusion, “Young Goodman Brown” failed in his quest to rebuke the devil and vindicate the Lord’s holy name for two reasons. He placed his faith in himself and those around him whom he respected and admired. Brown placed his faith in his own ability in matters where only God is able. The people Brown admired taught him to have faith, but in whom is what they left out. Faith should be placed in God, not in man.
The binary oppositions in this story are abundant. …“Faith peeping after him with a melancholy air, in spite of pink ribbons.” (351) Represents deception and innocence. The deception being her forward reluctance at his departure, when actually she was glad to see him leave. The innocence being the pink ribbons associated with virtuousness and purity. “It was strange to see that the good shrank not from the sinners and
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