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goodman brown

            The setting of "The Lottery" supports the theme. Settings are constructed to help build the mood and foreshadow things to come. In the lottery though, the setting foreshadows exactly the opposite of what is to come. The story begins with a description of a seemingly cheerful environment. Jackson creates a comfortable atmosphere by describing the activities of the residents of the town. She describes children breaking into "boisterous play and their talk still of the classroom" (310). Men and women are gathered in the center of the town talking about farming and taxes or into gossip. The date of the story is June twenty-seventh which Helen E. Nebeker states in American Literature, has "symbolic overtones which alerts us to the season of the summer solstice with all its overtones of ancient ritual" (102). Jackson's description of the setting supports the theme of the story by showing how mankind is capable of cruel acts regardless of their environment. Symbolism in the story also supports the theme of "The Lottery". The very names of the characters in the story are laden with meaning. The names of Summers, Graves, Warner, Delacroix and Hutchinson hint at the true nature of the characters. Mrs. Delacroix's name means of the cross in Latin; therefore hinting at Tessie's sacrificial killing. Even tough Mrs. Delacroix seems to be a friend to Mrs. Hutchinson it is she who is shown to pick up the largest rock and promotes other people to stone Tessie. Mr. Summers" name symbolizes life but in reality it is he who is in charge of the lottery which instead of giving life to its winner it gives death. Graves is the man who carries in the black box and the three-legged stool. His name hints to what will happen to Tessie Hutchinson. It is also from Mr. Graves whom the citizens get the papers from, therefore it is almost like he is the one who has the most influence over whose grave it will be next. Old Man Warner, as his name indicates, warns the villagers of the unknown danger of stopping the yearly ritual.


Essays Related to goodman brown

1. Evil in Young Goodman Brown

... world is considered evil. Some might consider the source of evil coming directly from the distorter, also known as the devil. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, "Young Goodman Brown," a Christian named Goodman Brown attempts to meet the devil by taking a trip into forest during the night. To not worry his wife, Faith, he tells her that he is only running an errand ... is pink because pink represents innocence and happiness. Hawthorne mentions Faith's pink ribbon several times at the beginning of the story, connecting Faith's character with youthfulness and contentment. Faith pleads G...

  • Word Count: 1921
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Downfall of Young Goodman Brown

... led him directly to the Devil who was the first person Goodman Brown met. Goodman Brown did not know this man was the Devil, therefore, he followed his every lead. The Devil leads Goodman Brown down a "dreary road" that made Goodman Brown skeptical. Goodman Brown was afraid a devilish Indian would be in the woods when all ... He overhears the discussion that "there is a goodly young woman to be taken into communion" and the meeting and fears it may be Faith (618). Goodman Brown declares "With Heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!" (618). Again, he makes a...

  • Word Count: 1752
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Goodman

... of his imagination. He feels that he can never be consciously aware of anything again, and he "was borne to his gave, a hoary corpse" (Hawthorne 1215). In this story, Goodman Brown's journey into the forest represents a symbolic journey into the depths of consciousness. His entrance into the forest signifies an entrance into his own thoughts and conscience. As he sinks deeper ... into both, they become more complex. The devil causes Goodman Brown to change his perceptions of life. Goodman Brown travels through four stages of consciousness, represented by time: dusk, darkness, midnight, a...

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

4. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

... of his happiness. Hawthorne shows through the description of events, with the forest at night as a creepy setting, and also thoughts that Young Goodman Brown is experiencing, that evil is surrounding him. Hawthorne plays with the Puritan views shared by the people of Salem, creating an allegorical meaning in ... pg. 23) and then "the young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon" (pg. 23). To Young Goodman Brown the pink ribbon represents Faith. Goodman Brown at this point doubts the people around him and whether they are truly the good people he thought them to be. Upon seeing ... Puri...

  • Word Count: 1193
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

5. Young Goodman Brown

... believe the devil resides, refuse the temptations of the devil, and return to the village before sunrise. After going into the woods and testing his faith, Goodman Brown sees his community as it truly is instead of the illusion he once knew as reality. Although his faith, described with "pink ribbon" is sincere, ... and she asks the devil for help so that she may get to the meeting. The devil drops his serpent-like staff before her astonishing Goodman Brown. Goodman Brown is excited to tell the story of the forest to the minister the next morning. He thinks to himself that he has done a ...

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

6. young goodman brown

... been proven that God exists; similarly, it has not been proven that humans are kind, honest, and good by nature. Young Goodman Brown is a character in "Young Goodman Brown," who leaves his known world in Salem village and travels an unknown road in a dark forest in the middle of the night ... journey out till the end, or turn back and not learn the truth about himself and other humans. The story "Young Goodman Brown," by Nathaniel Hawthorne traces Young Goodman Brown's experiences, physical and psychological, paralleling the Hero's Journey and showing how he discovers that humans are tru...

  • Word Count: 1258
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Analysis of Young Goodman Brown

... 6. The setting is mostly located in a dark, gloomy forest. Hawthorne is able to create a dark gloomy setting through little description. The encounter of Goodman Brown with the villagers and his wife is the time when the setting is greatly explained with words such as "shadow", "dark", "blazing" "candles" etc ... the atmosphere is very gloomy and dark as well as frightening. Even in the beginning, the setting is gloomy because the story reads "Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset into the street at Salem village". The sunset gives the setting its gloominess and the wors "Salem" makes...

  • Word Count: 1235
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Young Goodman Brown's Faith

... that character sadder but wiser, or just sadder. A good example of this transition is in a literary work by the name of "Young Goodman Brown". In the Story a character named Young Goodman Brown is faced with what most consider to be life's inevitable journey; a journey which consists of two paths, one which is corrupted by ... the devil that neither his father nor his grandfather has ever been on a journey such as this (Hawthorne 26). At this point it seems that Goodman Brown is ready to return to faith and Faith. Then, the devil replies, "I have been as well acquainted with your family ...

  • Word Count: 1236
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Young Goodman Brown

... his normal Puritan train of thought and shouts, ""With Heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!"" (1240). Goodman Brown had finally gathered enough strength to still, after all of this, have faith in heaven, but he is then given his final blow. For ... darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man, did he become, from the night of that fearful dream" (1244). After his journey into the forest, goodman Brown doesn't feel like he is a part of society. This is mostly because he realizes there are no completely good people; that is, everyone but hims...

  • Word Count: 958
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Young Goodman Brown

... few aspects of the hero's quest include the following: the hero endures, the hero has a goal, and he has a guide. (Stillman 32,37,39) Goodman Brown endures in this story by continuing to go deeper and deeper into the forest no matter what the consequences may be. He does this because he has a goal that ... whether to stay home with his wife, Faith, or take off on his journey. Heroes often face a struggle on their quest. The struggle for Goodman Brown is going on inside of his own head. He must decide between remaining innocent and having blind faith in the nature of man or embarking on t...

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

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