Name of the Writer]

[Name of Instructor]

[Subject]

[Date]

American Literature

Introduction

Young Goodman Brown is a short story written by an American writer; Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1835. The story sets in the early 17th century Puritan New England and concentrates on the Puritan/Calvinist beliefs, stating that humanity tends to exist in a state of depravity, hence in turn eliminating all those who are born in a state of grace. (Eberwein& Jane Donahue.2005) The story maintains a figurative approach and trails the Young Goodman Brown's journey of self search subsequently resulting in his loss of faith. (McCabe, Michael E. 2000)

Discussion

The story of Young Goodman Brown begins at an evening sunset in Salem Massachusetts as he leaves behind his newly wedded wife; Faith, in order to run an un foretold errand deep into the midst of a forest. Young Goodman Brown's wife of three months, pleads her husband to stay with her, yet he insists on moving ahead with his journey and persists on completing it within that same night. Once he sets on, Brown comes across a man who looks and dress quite similar to he himself. Just like Goodman Brown, the stranger was dressed in simple, ordinary clothes but carried a black colored serpent shaped staff. Once in the woods, the two of them then come across an old woman hobbling through the woods, which Goodman Brown recognizes as Mistress Goody Cloyse , who Goodman recognizes as a pious old, respected woman from his village. Goodman is immediately stunned and hides, embarrassed of being seen with the stranger. However, to his dismay, the old Goody Cloyse seemed to be somewhat surprisingly friendly to the stranger but carps about her need to walk and thus accepts the stranger's snake staff. (Eberwein& Jane Donahue.2005) As soon as she receives the staff, she immediately identifies herself as the devil and changes into a witch and quickly flies away to her intended destination (i.e. the devil's evil forest ceremony)

After hearing that revelation from the old woman, Goodman Brown expresses his intent to turn back to his wife Faith, but the stranger insists on him sitting down and resting. However, before disappearing, he hands over his staff to Goodman Brown in order to assist him in transportation, in case Brown changes his mind. Soon after the stranger disappears, Goodman Brown hears distant voices of church minister and Deacon Gookin, who themselves also seem to be on the way to the much talked about and anticipated ceremony. Shocked at the situation in front of him, Goodman swears to stay away from the ceremony eagerly waiting to return home to Faith. (Eberwein& Jane Donahue.2005)

As the story proceeds further Goodman Brown also comes across many other people from his town, travelling within the same direction. However, much to his surprise, he suddenly hears the voices of his wife Faith coming from the nearby trees. He instantly calls out to his wife but is not answered. As the story proceeds Brown is shown to be seemingly flying through the forest with the help of his ...