Assignment: Read The Short Story Young Goodman Brown
Assignment Read The Short Storyyoung Goodman Brownby Nathaniel Hawtho
Assignment : Read the short story Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In 500 words and at least 5 paragraphs (should consist of an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion), identify some major and minor characters in the short story. What role did they play in changing Goodman Brown’s character and personality near the end of the story? Did the environment influence play a role in Goodman’s personality? Use quotations and examples from the story to explain. Use MLA style to document a passage. You are to double space, use Times New Roman; indent each paragraph; use at least 12-inch font; be sure to include Works Cited page at the end. Read the Story Here: Young Goodman Brown Click link to open resource.
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Assignment Read The Short Storyyoung Goodman Brownby Nathaniel Hawtho
“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne explores complex themes of faith, morality, and the inherent nature of evil through the journey of its protagonist, Goodman Brown. The story’s characters serve to challenge and transform Goodman Brown’s perceptions of virtue and human nature, ultimately leading to a profound change in his personality and worldview by the story’s end. Significant characters such as Faith, the devil, and the villagers embody influences—both external and internal—that reshape Brown’s understanding of morality and truth.
The first major character, Faith, appears as Goodman Brown's wife and symbolizes innocence and religious virtue. Her presence and her name itself evoke the importance of faith in Brown’s life. Her character influences Brown to embark on his spiritual journey, and her symbolic presence underscores the theme of faith’s fragility. When Brown encounters Faith in the forest, her pink ribbons and gentle plea serve as poignant reminders of innocence lost. Hawthorne writes, “My Faith is gone!” (Hawthorne, 1835), reflecting Brown’s internal crisis and foreshadowing his later distrust and disillusionment. Faith’s role initially appears as a source of moral guidance, but her symbolic betrayal signifies the corruption of innocence, profoundly affecting Brown’s perception of virtue.
The second significant character, the devil figure, plays a pivotal role in challenging Brown’s assumptions about morality. The stranger’s allure and sinister influence lead Brown into the dark forest, symbolizing the temptation and evil lurking beneath societal veneers. The devil’s role is to reveal the hypocrisy embedded within the community, and his conversation with Brown unveils the universality of sin. Hawthorne describes the devil as “a figure with a mockery of virtue,” pushing Brown to confront the idea that evil resides within everyone, not just outcasts or sinners (Hawthorne, 1835). This encounter causes Brown to distance himself from his community and his faith, fostering suspicion and mistrust that alter his personality, turning him into a bitter, isolated individual.
The villagers and townspeople, minor characters, function as reflections of human fallibility and societal pressures. Their participation in hidden evil, revealed through the devil’s accusations, highlights the moral duplicity prevalent in the community. Brown’s realization that many respectable villagers secretly engage in immoral acts deepens his disillusionment. Hawthorne notes, “The whole village was like a mask of hypocrites,” emphasizing the theme of appearances versus reality (Hawthorne, 1835). This realization influences Brown’s personality, as his faith in human goodness diminishes, leading to a life marked by suspicion and despair. The environment, filled with religious and societal expectations, profoundly influences Brown’s psyche, prompting him to see morality as a façade.
In conclusion, the characters in “Young Goodman Brown” serve as catalysts for Brown’s transformation from innocent idealist to a cynical, distrustful individual. Faith’s symbolism of innocence, the devil’s embodiment of temptation and evil, and the community’s facades all influence his personality profoundly. The environment, with its religious and societal elements, accounts for much of Brown’s disillusionment, demonstrating how external influences can shape internal beliefs. Hawthorne’s story vividly illustrates the struggle between faith and doubt, good and evil, and the destructive impact of revealing human hypocrisy. Ultimately, Goodman Brown’s journey underscores the complexities of morality and the corruptibility of human nature.
Works Cited
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." 1835. Available at [insert URL or source].