Young Goodman Brown

                The entire story of “Young Goodman Brown” is a religious allegory, containing names and events that represent a deeper religious meaning.

                First, Goodman Brown constantly faces temptation throughout the story which results in him going against his faith and beliefs. Hawthorne wrote the story in the time period of the Salem witch trials in which people believed the woods to be evil. Goodman Brown felt curious, however, and felt his first temptation to enter the woods. As Goodman Brown first enters the woods, he says to his self, “What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!” Goodman Brown understands that entering the woods is against his faith, but he continues on his journey through the woods. Then, a man approaches Goodman Brown and notifies him that he is late. Goodman replies, “Faith kept me back awhile.” Goodman Brown’s faith helped him question whether he should enter the woods and continue through them, but he continued anyways. He changes his faith based on others and based on temptation, representing a religious allegory.

                Next, the character of Goodman Brown’s wife, Faith, is a major religious character. The name Faith contains the meaning in itself. When Goodman Brown mentions the word “faith” in the story he is not only talking about his wife but also about his literal religious faith. At the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown tells, “Faith kept me back awhile.” However, as his journey continues and his faith weakens, he loses faith. Goodman cried out, “My faith is gone. There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.” Goodman’s trust in his wife, Faith, is gone along with his religious faith. The name of his wife has a religious meaning and adds a deep effect to the short story.

                Through the middle of the story, Goodman Brown continues to travel through the forest. As he “lifted his hands to pray, a cloud, though no wind was stirring, hurried across the zenith and hid the brightening stars,” he once again loses faith and hope to avoid temptation. In the Christmas story, the star of Bethlehem led the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. In Goodman Brown’s case, he had the opportunity to follow the star and follow his faith, but instead the dark cloud of the devil and temptation covered the star.