Young Goodman Brown

Antonia Sanders
October 20, 2009
AP English III
Yong Goodman Brown
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
The forest is a big part in the story because it is where everything happens and where readers find out the shocking news. The forest however is described in sort of a gothic style. “He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through… it was all as lonely as could be”. This quote is significant because readers can get a vivid image on how this place looked. This forest represents sin because it was where all the evil people did their dirt.
The names used in this story play an important role. The names given to the people in the story doesn’t fit their character at all. Faith’s name sort of fits how she acts like she’s so religious but she really isn’t because she attends the witches sabbath. The ribbon she wears in her hair is pink which is probably to persuade people that she is this innocent figure. Deacon Gookin is supposed to me this man who goes to church and does good by people, but instead he commits sin by attending the witches sabbath. When readers look at the name Goody Cloyse when you first think that he is a good person and does nothing wrong to people, but as readers can see he isn’t. Martha Carrier seems like a nice lady by the name, but is a Salem resident who wants to be the queen of hell.
Goodman Brown I think has problems with the good and bad as far as religious reasons. He called himself a good Christian and that he has been a race of honest men. When his wife, Faith, and he talk they speak with very religiously. “Then God bless you! said Faith… Amen! cried Goodman Brown… Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee”. In these statements I find it kind of funny on how they communicate because they talk to each other so religiously. In these lines it is significant because it shows readers how religion played an important role in their marriage. I find Faith’s name important because it represents a lady who strongly beliefs are in God. Readers don’t know if the whole story was a dream or reality that Goodman had though. I find it strange that a man who thinks he’s so Christian has such a dream (if it was). While getting lead by the Devil he learns that not everyone are good people and they own have their secret lives, even ones close to you. The situation that occurred in his life made him a different person. He now finds it hard to trust people and lives miserable.