The Effects Of Sin In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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Nathaniel Hawthorne does a good job at showing the effects of guilt and sin in his story “Young Goodman Brown” The story presents the will to fight, as well as the fall to temptations. The moral of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” is, a submission to temptation will make a man see excessive evil forever, which is shown through the use of symbols.

The path on Young Goodman Brown’s journey symbolizes his temptation. Young Goodman Brown falls to temptation and temptation traps him. This is shown when he begins his journey down the path, “darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind.” (Hawthorne 1) The path closing immediately behind symbolizes Brown being trapped.

Young Goodman Brown feels the presence evil Indians on the path in the woods. After getting trapped down the path, falling to temptation, he becomes paranoid of Indians surrounding him. Young Goodman Brown says, “There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree.” (Hawthorne 1) He felt the presence of evil at that moment. …show more content…

The Reverend and Deacon Gookin boast about their skill in deviltry. “They tell me that some of our community are to be here from Falmouth and beyond, and others from Connecticut and Rhode Island besides several of Indian powwows, who, after their fashion know almost as much deviltry as the best of us,” (Hawthorne 4). This left Young Goodman Brown in a very confused state, and in disbelief like most would. “Young Goodman Brown caught hold of a tree for support, being ready to sink down to the ground, faint and overburdened with the heavy sickness of his heart.” (Hawthorne

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