Surname 1

Student

Professor

Course

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Young Goodman brown

The history of Salem with its witchcraft allegations is the ideal location for this story.

Most of the encounters take place in the forest after Goodman says goodbye to his wife, Faith,

and departs on his journey. The forest is described to be gloomy as he felt afraid of what might

be lurking behind the trees such as the devil or Indians. He first meets a man who is dressed in

regular clothes with a walking stick carved like a serpent. They meet with Goody Cloyse, an old

pious woman who is revered in the village. She reveals herself to be a witch and the man to be

the devil. He also hears the voices of the deacon and minister on their way to the devil’s evil

forest ceremony. After hearing what sounds like Faith’s voice he holds the staff that the devil

had left and is pulled through the forest to the ceremony. He believes everyone is evil at the end

of his journey and becomes suspicious of everyone he sees.

The name Young Goodman indicates the character’s morality and innocence. The name

Young suggests his innocence and inexperience with evil while Goodman indicates his moral

value. His wife’s name is Faith which is significant to his faith to God. He believes since his

wife's faith is inherently good and pious, then he has faith in God. Goodman’s religious

convictions are based on the belief of Faith’s righteousness. His actions of feeling embarrassed

and how he hides from the voices of the minister and deacon while he had chosen to interact with

the devil symbolizes he was focused on public morality rather than his personal morality. The

falling of Faith’s pink ribbon symbolizes the loss of purity on her part. The ceremony in the
 Surname 2

forest can be interpreted as either a dream or a true event. I believe it is a dream that shows the

loss of faith in religion and God. Young Goodman is the fiend as he seeks to embrace his dark

side.