Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne was at first a boring read. However the more I read it and began to break it down by sections it was interesting. The short story was written in 1895 it deals with a man and testing his faith. Ultimately this story displays how betrayal can affect someones state of mind and actions. The story begins with Goodman Brown and his wife Faith. Faith does not want her husband to leave for a midnight walk in the woods. Goodman Brown convinces Faith to let him leave. Little to Faiths knowledge, her husband has just left to meet with the Devil.
Goodman brown goes to this meeting because he knows his faith strong enough to withstand the Devils tricks. Goodman Brown is the protagonist. The most obvious antagonist is the Devil. The Devil wants Goodman Brown to follow him deeper into the woods and Brown is against that. The Devil wants Goodman Brown to take his staff, and he wants no part of that. Browns pride is what is keeping him there, after each time the Devil makes an attempt to convert Brown, he stays in the woods waiting for the next trick.
When he should have left after the first couple of attempts. There were several conflicts that contributed to the climax of the story. The first conflict was between Goodman Brown and his wife Faith. Faith did not want Brown to leave. After he was half way into the woods, he thought that Faith might have been trying to protect him by keeping him at home.
This is exhibited when Faith says Dearest heart she whispered softly and rather sadly, when her lips were close to her ear, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed tonight………… Pray, tarry with me this night, dear husband of all nights in the ear! Then Goodman Brown says Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight! The second conflict is that between the Devil and Young Goodman Brown. The Devils goal is to convert Goodman Brown from worshiping God to worshiping him. The Devil makes several attempts to get Brown on his team. The Devil tries to get Brown to take his staff Come Goodman Brown! Cried his fellow traveler, this is a dull pace for the beginning of a journey.
Take my staff, if you are soon weary The Devil lso makes attempts to conform Goodman Brown by destroying the reputation of people of people he respected for their belief and strong faith. Wickedness or not, said the traveler…… The deacons of many a church have drunk the communion wine with me, the selectmen make me their chairman, and a majority of the Great General Court are firm supporters of my interest The Devil goes on to have a wild witch meeting in the woods with the pastor, deacons, and church choir all while Goodman Brown is a witness to these events.
