... to consume all that is his very essence, Arthur 3 Dimmesdale illustrates Hawthorne's theme of a sin-stained conscience and redemption only through truth. The novel begins to seek into the heart and conscience of Arthur Dimmesdale when Roger Chillingworth questions him about his thoughts on sinners and their secrets. Feeling full well the distress of his own secret, Arthur proclaims that those who hold such "miserable secrets will ... very important in the development of the novel. 6 "Images of color, and of light and shade are more numerous than any other images in the novel" (Waggoner ...

• Word Count: 2338
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... by God. This shows that the immense guilt within Dimmesdale has an effect on how he portrays things. The meteor also allows the group on the scaffold to be spotted by Roger Chillingworth. The meteor in the dark sky enlightens Roger Chillingworth to the point at which his, "Smile and scowl So vivid was the expression that it seemed to remain painted on the darkness, after the meteor had vanished, with ... an effect as if the street and all things else were at ... where, seven years since, I should have stood." (220). Dimmesdale said this to finally confess his sin to the world. His sin ...

• Word Count: 1995
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... evil itself" (Adams 165). At Brown's confrontation with the devil, the devil says to him that he is late. Goodman excuses his lateness by replying, "Faith kept me back awhile" (Hawthorne 261). This passage shows literally and figuratively, Brown left his unquestionable "Faith" in God behind when he entered the forest of darkness. Brown also says to the devil that he "kept covenant" (261) by showing ... up. Perhaps he made a subconscious pact to meet with the devil, his darkness. At the ceremony, the devil says to Goodman, "Ye deemed them holier than yourselves, and shrank from your own ...

• Word Count: 1393
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... that he seemed to fly along the forest path rather than to walk or run. The road grew wilder and drearier and more faintly traced and vanished at length, leaving him in the heart of the dark wilderness, still rushing onward with the instinct that guides mortals to evil" (Hawthorne 1212). Goodman Brown has consciously turned into a product of the devil. Upon midnight, Goodman ... Brown arrives at the grounds were he and Faith are to be converted. He believes he sees the people from his church all gathered in ... conscience. As he sinks deeper into both, they become more complex. The devi...

• Word Count: 1398
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to achieve this goal. He enters the darkness of the forest on his heroic journey not knowing what lies ahead. Darkness, in this case, doesn't only mean nighttime. Darkness refers to the mysteries of what lies in the shadows, the truth about the people of Salem village, and the fear inside of Goodman Brown. Another important aspect of the hero's quest in "Young Goodman Brown" is that what the hero seeks is usually no more ... than a symbol of what he really finds. (Stillman 41) ... grace did not exist. It taught that one could not trust anyone. (McCabe 3) Although Goodman Brown felt a "....

• Word Count: 1815
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life." (Hawthorne, 48) The way that Dimmesdale speaks to Hester shows that he wants his name to be revealed, he just cannot bring himself to do it ... . He pleads with her to reveal his name, but she takes it as him being the innocent minister he is supposed to be. This first ... returns to him and he says he will stand with them, but not tomorrow. The minister finally gets the courage to mount ...

• Word Count: 1498
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... into the darkness of the Salem woods is a symbol of evil and question of faith. Goodman Brown is about to begin his struggle between the evil temptations of the devil, and the church abiding life he knows as reality. He will challenge his faith in himself and the community in which he resides. He must venture into the local forest where puritans believe the devil resides, refuse the temptations of the devil, and return to the village ... . Brown tries to rationalize what he heard. He tries to figure out why these two men would be in the woods at such an hour of the night. Brown's faith i...

• Word Count: 1650
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... than the ominous darkness and corruption of the world surrounding it. The natural purity of their love is addressed earlier as the two share and intimate conversation in the woods and the sun breaks through the clouds. "Such [is] the sympathy of Nature -- that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth -- with the bliss of these two spirits! Love ... must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance ... that it overflows upon the outward world" (186). Extending this metaphor of the radiance of ! love, Hawthorne oft...

• Word Count: 1485
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... she feels that the child's impish ways are the result of the sin she has committed. The significance of the scarlet letter in the life of Dimmesdale, whose guilt remains hidden, is suggested by a hidden scarlet letter on his heart. Pearl notices that the minister is always holding his hand to his chest, as if to hide the shame of the "A" engraved there out of sight. His suffering is escalated by the secrecy of his scarlet letter ... years earlier. Ironically, Hester and Pearl walk past the scaffold, and the minister calls for them to join him, for it is protected by the cover of darknes...

• Word Count: 1285
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School