Summary On Allegory In Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown

We are born into this good versus evil war and it’s almost impossible to ever come out a winner in it. This war dates all the way back to the beginning of time to Adam and Eve. They had one restriction and still the temptation that overcomes us all caused their fall. Nathaniel Hawthorne explains this theory in his â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† story, where evil overcomes and defeats the good. Hawthorne does this by using these allegorical figures Young goodman Brown, Faith, and the old unnamed man. These allegories are put in this story to represent this theory, the innocent thrown into the good versus evil war. The Puritans in this 1600’s era painted men and women as a perfect imaged, well mannered, purified, and religious people. Goodman Brown†¦show more content†¦As our faith is always trying keep us safe, it also is always within us if we believe. This is demonstrated here as good tries to stay in this everlasting battle goodman Brown states â€Å"With Heaven above, and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!† (350). Just as easy as it is to keep our faith it is that easy to lose it being as goodman Brown completely loses both his faith and, Faith, when curiosity and temptation takeover and evil takes reign in this ongoing battle. Finally, the infamous unnamed old man whose allegory represents the evil in this story Hawthorne makes him that of the devil. The narrator introduces the old man with this staff that resembles the one of the Adam and Eve story â€Å"†¦ bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself, like a living serpent† (347). The devil tempts and deceives goodman Brown throughout the story, it’s safe to say that the evil here has great powers on overcoming the innocent which he does. When goodman Brown finally gets a peek at all the people he loves at this witchcraft meeting that the devil is leading that’s when it’s over. All good is gone from goodman Brown thanks to the conniving devil and evil wins. The meaning behind this devil is thatShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Hawthorne s The Man s Fall 1438 Words   |  6 PagesCalvinistic, and ancient beliefs that form the basis of Hawthorne’ s work (Hawthorne 392). Besides, the researcher notes that Hawthorne’s life is authentic although fictional. There is a psychological aspect of the story in that the man’s fall is unavoidable. The narration contains metaphoric and literal journey of the newlywed male character. However, he is making the treacherous journey with the devil himself therefore creating a spiritual crisis. Goodman Brown’s decision is ambiguous to his audience becauseRead MoreEssay on Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown and its Author1272 Words   |  6 PagesInitially, of course, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s literary works went unranked among those of other American and British writers. But his reputation grew gradually even among contemporary critics, until he was recognized as a â€Å"man of genius.† Edgar Allen Poe, in a review of Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† which had been written 12 years prior, said in Godeys Ladys Book, November, 1847, no. 35, pp. 252-6: It was never the fashion (until lately) to speak of him in any summary of our best authors. . Read MorePoe vs Hawthorne1992 Words   |  8 Pageswrote several critiques of Hawthorne’s work. On a personal level, Poe often disagreed with how often Hawthorne used allegory. As a literary element that many people use, Poe was not a fan. He once stated that: â€Å"I allude to the strain of allegory which completely overwhelms the greater number of his subjects, and which in some measure interferes with the direct conduct of absolutely all.† (Poe, 1847) It seems as though Poe regarded Hawthorne’s work as works of allegory. To say that this was theRead More Analyses of Short Stories Essay examples4756 Words   |  20 PagesHawthorne, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† Goodman Brown was not asleep in this short story. As I read, I believed that Goodman did indeed meet the devil in the forest. If he had indeed dreamt about the trip he was sent on and meeting the devil, I think his nervousness would have been described in more detail then it was. Concentrating more on the anxiety he was feeling would have led the reader to believe that the events were not real. I also saw this story as an allegory. I saw the allegory after readingRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesas description, dialogue and action. Other incidents will be given relatively less emphasis through deliberate subordination. In the latter case, the author may shorten the dramatic elements of the scene or eliminate them altogether in favour of summary – in favour of telling, rather than showing. All these episodes, major or minor, need to advance the plot in precisely the same way or at the same pace, although the reader does have the right to expect that each will contribute in some way to a completed