Analyzing Young Goodman Brown "`Lo! there ye stand, my children In the first line of this passage, Satan is addressing the community of Salem village. He calls them `my children' making it seem as if he is there to protect or save them from the misery found on God's earth. He speaks to the people of Salem village in an `almost sad' tone in order to seem sympathetic or sorry for the downfall of mankind from good to evil. It appears that Satan is trying to relate to the human race through making it seem as if he was once good (`his once angelic nature'), and he went through what each one of them had or was about to go through in order to become evil. He then goes on to say that,`Depending on one another's hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream' indicating that some of his listeners may, up to this point, still hope that goodness would overcome evil. Satan then brainwashes the community to believe that `evil is the nature of mankind' and that they are `undeceived' in coming to this conclusion. He repeats the word evil and say's that it is the only way that the human race as a whole can obtain happiness. In conclusion, Satan, welcomes them, once again, as his children, to sacrifice their souls to him through the `communion of your race'. As "Young Goodman Brown" begins, we are introduced to goodman Brown and his wife Faith as they bid farewell to one another on the streets of Salem village. It is sunset and goodman Brown is setting off on a journey to run a secret errand. We later find out that he is planning on meeting Satan and sacrificing his soul to pure evil. Throughout the story, goodman Brown is tormented by the idea of evil and he is doubtful of weather or not he should continue on his journey. He is finally persuaded, however, when he hears Faith turn herself over to Satan. Toward the end of the story we find out that this whole excursion may have been a dream, but even so, goodman Brown was so impacted by it that he will never recover to live a peaceful, happy life. He will die a miserable death, with no hopeful verse carved upon his tomb, for as we are told in the final line of the story, `his dying hour was gloom'. "Young Goodman Brown" seems to deal with evil and secret guilt, as do many of Hawthorne's works. This story illustrate's that man's sense of guilt can distort his judgment of good vs. evil. It is apparent that goodman Brown is overcome by some form of this guilt and therefore is obsessed with evil. From the beginning of the story, goodman Brown is already faced with guilt over what he is about to do. As he states, `Poor little Faith! What a wretch am I, to leave her on such an errand!', he is already condemning himself. As he proceeds on his secret journey, he begins to view everything in terms of good or evil. The further he gets, the harder it is for him to distinguish between the two. As we are never told for sure whether or not goodman Brown was dreaming, it seems to me that he was. I feel that he conjured up the image of Satan in his head in order to deal with the secret guilt he was experiencing. He lets this image of Satan lead him through the forest and, inevitably, to the site where the evil meeting would take place. Every time goodman Brown would begin to have doubts about continuing on his evil journey, Satan would either tell him a story such as the one about how he and his father and grandfather had all been very close, and he had led them down this path many a time, or he would point out an upstanding member of the Salem village community who was heading down the same path to partake in the same evil meeting. Goodman Brown is trying to make himself feel better by viewing the people he thinks the highest about as doing the same thing he is. He is justifying his actions by making it appear in his own head that anybody would do what he is doing and therefore it is okay for him to continue down the path leading to ultimate evil. He is using the good in others such as deacon Gookin, Goody Cloyse, and even his wife Faith in order to create the evil that may lessen his own guilt about taking the path he has chosen to take. This is all leading up to the climax of the story in which Satan is addressing the community before him and explaining how mankind is evil by nature and can find happiness in nothing that is good. Here goodman Brown is, once again, creating this image in his head. He is being torn between good and evil as he has been throughout the story but here it is different because it is the moment of truth in which he would either choose good over evil or evil over good. We never know which he ended up choosing, but it appears that he chose evil because for the rest of his life, he can see no good in anything or anybody. Evil rules his existence as he is haunted by guilt that will not let him enjoy the beautiful things in this world. There is much symbolism throughout this story. First of all, the fact that goodman Brown's wife is names Faith is extremely ironic since it appears that goodman Brown has none. Faith seems to represent the good that remains on earth. As goodman Brown states, `she's a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night, I'll cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven.' The fact that goodman Brown claims that she is an angel put here on this earth demonstrates the fact that he doesn't want to associate Faith with the evil he may see in mankind. He uses Faith throughout the story in ironic ways. For example, `Faith kept me back a while' can be taken to mean that goodman Brown is late meeting Satan because of his wife or because of his actual faith in the good in himself and mankind. This happens again when goodman Brown cries out, `Faith! My Faith is gone!'. He could be referring to his wife's encounter with Satan or he could be indicating that he has lost his faith in God or in mankind. A second symbol is Satan's staff. It is portrayed as being crooked and black like a serpent. A serpent is thought of as being an evil creature so it is appropriate that Satan be carrying such a staff. It is also symbolic that every living thing Satan touches withers up and dies. This demonstrates how this evil apparition can suck the beauty as well as the life out of anything with which it comes in contact. The dark forest itself symbolizes the dark and evil nature of goodman Brown's journey. Finally, the fact that the story takes place in Salem village is ironic in the sense that the Salem witchcraft trials took place there. The town, itself, has a history of being filled with evil so it is a good place for this story to take place. The complete passage: "`Lo! there ye stand, my children,' said the figure, in a deep and solemn tone, almost sad, with its despairing awfulness, as if his once angelic nature could yet mourn for our miserable race. `Depending upon one another's hearts, ye had still hoped, that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived! Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome, again, my children, to the communion of your race!'
The biggest symbol in Young Goodman Brown is the idea of faith. Before he goes on his “errand,” he is talking to his wife, promising he will come back, but in actuality he is talking to his faith, as in religion. He subconsciously knows he is going against his faith on this errand, but will return. “My love and my Faith,” replied young Goodman Brown, “of all nights in the year, this one night must I tarry away from thee. My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again…” When Brown says later in the story “I am losing my Faith”, he is not only about his wife, (which is shown through her pink ribbon in the tree), but more about his religion, which is flashing before his eyes. This errand was a test of Goodman Brown’s faith. When Brown hears people singing hymns in swears, it is a symbol of the corruption of the church. The name Goodman Brown I think is very ironic. Is he a good man after this errand?
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"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, and closed immediately behind." While he journeys through these woods, he couldn't help but be scared because of what evil could be lurking behind the tree line. Some time later he finally meets up with the old man, who is going to accompany him on the journey. The old man is very well acquainted with Goodman Brown's family. He tells Goodman Brown about the different encounters where he helped Goodman ...
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"Young Goodman Brown" begins in the street at Salem village where Goodman Brown will soon leave to begin his journey. Faith, Brown's wife, does not want him to go on this journey as she says to him, “ ‘prithee put off your journey until sunrise and sleep in your own bed tonight’ ” (Hawthorne 310-311). Goodman Brown replies, “ ‘of all
The use of dark imagery throughout the story gives you a sense of fear of the unknown that lies ahead of Goodman Brown on his journey. The beginning sentence of the story illustrates an image of a sunset and the approaching of night as Goodman Brown sets off on his mission. ?Young Goodman Brown came forth, at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold.? (196) Here, the light of the sun represents the knowledge that Goodman Brown already has. The imagery of darkness setting in is the unknown knowledge Goodman Brown is out to discover. Goodman Brown must first travel through the darkness of the unknown before he reaches the light of enlightenment and truth that is why he is embarking on his journey throughout the night hours. ?My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ?twist now and sunrise.? (197)
Goodman Brown embarks on his journey into the forest with the fervent belief that his potent dedication is indomitably ironclad, and thus will be able to overcome even the most tempting persuasions of the devil. As Goodman and the devil continue sauntering along the serpentine path, they encounter Goodman’s old catechism teacher, Goody Cloyse, and it is eventually revealed that she is heading to the satanic occult meeting at the core of the forest. Goodman is absolutely confounded at the sight of her, as he had always considered Cloyse as a moral and spiritual guide in his life. Goody Cloyse’s appearance is the first moment where Goodman begins to question his faith. Brown's illusions about the purity of his society are finally obliterated when he discovers that many of his fellow townspeople, including religious leaders and his wife (aptly named Faith), are attending a Black Mass or “witch-meeting”. At the end of the story, it is not clear whether Brown's experience was a nightmare or biting reality, but the results are nonetheless the same. Brown is unable to forgive the possibility of evil in his loved ones, and as a result spends the rest of his life in desperate loneliness and gloom.
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Young Goodman Brown a religious puritan, and his newlywed wife faith are both portrayed as being doubtful and naive. He starts his journey by encountering his wife Faith, who doubtful of his nights journey tries to persuade him into staying home. Naively she allows him to proceed on after Brown criticizes her dubious remarks. She replies by saying " then God bless you!... and may you find all well when you come back" (220). Brown leaves her by telling himself that "after this night I'll cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven" (220). He feels better that he promises a brighter future once he returns, and that he will not leave her side again . From the start of his journey he acknowledges the impious adventure he was about to take. His wife even doubted his errand, and gave him a reason to retreat from his voyage. Goodman Brown didn't want to end his journey atrocious as it was, he needed to discover for himself the truth as it may be called of mankind.
In “Young Goodman Brown,” there is a fight between good and evil with one main character being torn between the two sides and every other character seemingly on one side or the other through the reader’s view, although many characters do deceive Goodman Brown about whether they are good or evil. This fight between the two sides and the deception that causes confusion for Goodman Brown is the source of tension throughout the entire story. In “Young Goodman Brown,” every character’s traits and dialogue, the setting, and even colors mentioned have double meanings and are symbolic to the main binary oppositions of either good or evil.
In the story of "Young Goodman Brown" setting plays an important role. It provides symbolism to certain events and provokes emotions amongst the characters, especially those of Goodman Brown. The story of "Young Goodman Brown" is that of a man on an adventure to feed his curiosity and to visit the dark side of his Puritan town. Once he arrives at the destination of his adventure, he realizes that many of his elders have followed in the paths of evil and that holiness and innocence has been vanquished from his once thought to be holy Puritan town. The central idea of "Young Goodman Brown," is the conflict in Goodman Brown between joining the devil and remaining "good." It is a very difficult journey for Brown, as he travels through the woods, all the while thinking of the "good" things (like his wife Faith) he would be leaving behind. This internal conflict ultimately destroys the Young Goodman Brown and creates a new man.
How much sexual knowledge adults should give to adolescents has been discussed for decades to decrease teenage pregnancy and sex related diseases. According to The National Campaign to prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (2013), the U.S. has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy among developed countries, and about sixty eight girls per thousand became pregnant in 2008. To change this situation, the U.S. provides two kinds of sex education: abstinence-only sex education and comprehensive sex education. In contrast, Japan has one of the lowest rates among developed countries. Summing up the birth and abortion dates, at least 34,220 girls became pregnant in 2011 (Japanese Ministry of Health, 2011). Even though Japan has less teen pregnancy, lack of practical sexual knowledge has caused several tragic incidents in recent years. To give sexual knowledge to children, Japan provides fact-based sex education. Moreover, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are becoming serious problem recently. According to World Health Organization, 490 million people get STIs yearly (2013). To avoid teen pregnancy and STIs, sex education plays an important role for adolescents. However, because there are several programs, what adolescents learn is different depending on the kinds of sex education. Among the three kinds of programs provided in the U.S and Japan, comprehensive sex education is the most effective one. This paper focuses on the sex educations in the U.S and Japan and describes their features and effectiveness.
The tale of Goodman Brown is an unfortunate one, yet not enough to pity him. Brown declared that he would venture on the road that should’ve been left abandoned, an epiphany manifesting in Brown’s mind. Following after, came the arrival of Brown’s conflict with himself. As Brown encountered truly wicked things from the result of his doubt, in the end it changed Brown for the worst, as the world he saw in his nightmare was now his