Young Goodman Brown by Nethaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
This story was confusing for me at first but when I finished the story it all came together. At first when he left his new wife Faith I was wondering what he was going to do especially when it mentioned the devil and the evil thing he was going to do. My thoughts jumped from adultry to murder to theft. The way Goodman Brown changed throughout the story really made me think about how we react to and are vulnerable to the daily temptations encircling us. During my reading I tried applying it to my own life and the trials I have gone through. This really hit home and I made the connection of how we fall into snares all the time. The way Mr. Brown knowingly went into the forest of temptation scared me. When I think of a temptation or trail and I know that it is there I try to avoid it at all costs! I was once told to know your weaknesses and not to ever go there! It is called a temptation because the devil knows your weaknesses and he tries to tempt you to weaken you and make you his slave. With Faith in his mind he is able to overcome and return home to grow old with his wife and pass with happiness. I truly know this from experience. As I struggle through my temptations what helps me through each day are my loved ones. They make my weaknesses strong! Family and friends are angels sent from above to help you become your best.
Although I agree with what you say about temptation, I was lead to believe that Mr. Brown didn't end up happy. In the end of the story it says "And when he had lived long, and was borne to his grave...they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom" which to me, means that he died cynical without any hope for a cure and unable to trust his wife and neighbors. I do agree with you that he fell into great temptation, but I don't think he was ever able to over come it.
ReplyDeleteBrown was certainly susceptible to temptation, and that was why it intrigues me that chose to go to forest to begin with. I am wondering if he was unaware of his own vulnerability, so he thought that would not be swayed by the devil. Also, it certainly was not a happy ending because Brown had a grim outlook on life.
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