Analysis of Setting in Young Goodman Brown Essays - 877 Words

An analysis of the setting in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown In the story of Young Goodman Brown setting plays an important role. It provides symbolism to certain events and provokes emotions amongst the characters, especially those of Goodman Brown. The story of Young Goodman Brown is that of a man on an adventure to feed his curiosity and to visit the dark side of his Puritan town. Once he arrives at the destination of his adventure, he realizes that many of his elders have followed in the paths of evil and that holiness and innocence has been vanquished from his once thought to be holy Puritan town. The central idea of Young Goodman Brown, is the conflict in Goodman Brown between joining the devil and remaining†¦show more content†¦The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, is letting the readers know that something horrible is about to happen to Goodman Brown. As Brown starts on his adventure he recalls that his wife, Faith, had dreams of this particular adventure, dreams that warned him not to go; this feeling of uncertainty sparks a feeling of anxiety in Brown as he continues walking through the forest and on with his journey. As he walks on, the scenery around him begins to change, He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind. (310). This quote describes the dark and gloomy surroundings that Brown is walking through on his journey, it also creates the mood of fear and hesitance as he continues on his way. Then as Brown is walking along he comes to encounter a man dressed in grave and decent attire. The man states You are late, Goodman Brown, and Brown replies by saying, Faith kept me back awhile. (310) In literal terms he is speaking of his wife, but metaphorically he could be speaking of his faith in god and ho w it almost kept him from embarking on his journey. Hawthorne creates many metaphors in his story of Young Goodman Brown. Later on in Browns journey he meets a man with a cane that resembles a snake, the serpent is a symbol of evil, and then when Brown protests against the devil, With heaven above, and Faith below, I will yet stand firmShow MoreRelatedFiction Essay - Young Goodman Brown and the Lottery1051 Words   |  5 PagesFICTION ESSAY WRITING STYLE USED: APA OUTLINE I. THESIS: A thorough analysis of Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† and Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† reveals that different literary elements, such as tone and setting, are used to convey the characters’ arrival at dark, sinister places. II. INTRODUCTION III. SHIRLEY JACKSON’S â€Å"THE LOTTERY† A. Setting the tone: Peaceful and relaxing B. Irony: Even though the mood is relaxing, there is a premonition of something bad toRead MoreYoung Goodman Brown882 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of Young Goodman Brown Many aspects of human nature have changed over the centuries, but one thing that people have in common is the temptation of evil. From Adam and Eve eating fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden to the Iraqi hijackers who flew two airplanes into the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001 killing thousands of innocent people, evil has always been a part of this world. In an effort to portray the corruption of the Salem witch trials, NathanielRead MoreYoung Goodman Brown from a Moral Standpoint1352 Words   |  6 PagesHawthorne discovered that his ancestors were founders and Puritan leaders of the Salem witch trials. Shortly after this tragic finding, he wrote â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† a tale that is considered one of the greatest in American literature. 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