the events themselves" (76). Because he is speaking of what we later would come to call the unconscious, Hawthorne extensively employed the use of symbolism, which bypasses the conscious, logical mind to tap into its more dreamlike processes.

"The story begins as a conventional allegory, creating the expectation that the characters will consistently exhibit the abstractions they symbolize" (Levy 116). "Young Goodman Brown" is an allegory whose characters play a major role in displaying the determination of what to believe and what not to believe. The short story represents one man's wild journey to leave his faith, home, and security temporarily behind to take a chance with the devil on an adventure into a dark forest. In

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." Discovering Literature: Stories,

Now, in Christianity childlike faith is not a bad thing. Jesus said, for example, "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it" (Mark 10:15). Christianity historically has been a religion of obedience and piety much more than one of reason or logic, as much as the framers of the Age of Reason would like to argue otherwise. As the story opens, we find Faith characterized by childlike confidence and purity, contrasted with "the man with the snakelike staff" (Hawthorne 266), who attempts to persuade Goodman Brown by "reasoning as we go" (265). Faith, it should be noted, does not attempt to dissuade her husband out of his intentions through reason but through affection; with "her lips . . . close to his ear" (264), she asks Goodman Brown not to go into the forest on his mysterious errand.

Having read the entire story, one can interpret this on two levels. Goodman Brown may feel, as he says, that the exploration of this inner forest may be a sin. It is easier by far to follow the accepted path of faith, to walk, as the Church itself often

response to a vow of some sort; and, "having kept covenant by meeting thee here, it is my purpose now to return whence I came. I have scruples touching the matter thou

Some common words found in the essay are:
Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Roth, Faith Faith, Riding Hood, Goodman Brown's, Nathaniel Hawthorne's, QD Leavis, Goodman Faith, goodman brown, Age Reason, nathaniel hawthorne, short story, story goodman brown, ed york, 2nd ed, goodman brown's, setting characters, characters plot, story goodman, setting characters plot, allegory determination conscious, prentice-hall 1966, determination conscious unconscious, abstracted allegory determination,
Approximate Word count = 1830
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)