Theme Of Ambivalence In Walter J. Paulits's Young Goodman Brown

In Ambivalence in “Young Goodman Brown”, Walter J. Paulits argues that Hawthorne draws on the point of ambivalence of the main character, rather than focusing on the main character is just doubtful throughout the story. Paulits begins his argument with a quote from Angus Fletcher, author of Allegory: The Theory of a Symbolic Mode, to explain what Hawthorne uses as allegorical intent. Paulits even incorporated another one of Hawthorne’s works, “Rappacini’s Daughter” to state that Hawthorne has done this method of writing in other works of his. Paulits states that the first evidence we have as readers of ambivalence is in the beginning of the story. It is where Goodman Brown is torn between leaving his wife Faith and meeting the Devil in

Paulits’ Ambivalence in “Young Goodman Brown”, I agree with his idea that “Young Goodman Brown” is an example of ambivalence that all individuals might endure. His amount of evidence and the use of defining ambivalence help make his ideas clear to the reader. I did like how he made the connection of how the Devil was offering Goodman Brown two promises. With my first reading, I did not see it this way. I was confused with the “Black mass” that appeared above only directly above Goodman Brown (Hawthorne 174). I liked the word choice Paulits used to describe what kind of character Goodman Brown is. He described him as a “Hanging-Judge” which I would agree fits Goodman Brown after the incident occurred. Another good word choice is when he calls Goodman Brown a “Begetter”. Using this word shows that Goodman Brown is physiological ability to have children, but does not contain the emotional capacity or compassion to care and raise his children and be a good father. However one concept I cannot get past, is the fact after Goodman Brown went through his transformational journey, he still stayed in Salem, married to Faith. He spent the rest of his life judging everyone in the town everyday. Not only the fact that he was constantly judging the town, but he even continued on his married life with Faith and had children together. In the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown stated “After this one night I’ll cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven” (Hawthorne 168). Obviously towards the end of “Young Goodman Brown”, this is not how Goodman Brown feels towards his