Inside The Forest In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story Young Goodman Brown takes place right after the Puritan events where a man named Goodman Brown discovers the dark truths about the people living in his town. It all began when Brown decided to embark his journey into the forest late one night. He comes upon a mysterious man who leads Brown to choose between his faith toward God and devil worshipping. Things become difficult when his wife, the only thing keeping him from staying a true “christian”, is seen in the forest, part of the devil’s cult. Throughout the story the author shows how Brown’s experience inside the forest changed his viewpoints and trust on not only his loved ones, but himself too.
In the beginning Hawthorne’s writing shows us the first perspective …show more content…

In many ways parts, of his innocence were lost. From the beginning Brown doesn’t seem to be thrilled walking at night. When he came crossed the old man he questions whether or not he could trust him and believes he is contradicting his actions towards being a good Christian. He mentions his father and grandfather to the man and says by taking part in this walk he will bring shame. It was at this moment how he discovers who the mysterious man really is. The old man laughs at his worries and states how close he actually is to Brown’s family as well as many of the people in town and state. When Goody Cloyse runs into them and shouts “The devil,” he then realizes he is the devil. After then being forced to join the cult, the truth of the others comes out. As he was being captured, he recognized voices such as the Minister, Deacon Gookin and after seeing Faith, he was more shocked than ever. Seeing his wife, who he viewed as an innocent and truthful Christian joining the cult upset him and longed him to leave the forest immediately. Coming back from the forest in the morning he views everyone in town different. He trusted the people, especially, his wife, for whom they presented themselves during the day, good Christians. Seeing them for who they really are changing the trust. From that moment, he no longer seemed oblivious yet lived in fear because he truly stuck in believing in God as opposed to the

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