The Devil in Humanity
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The Devil in Humanity
“”The Devil!” screamed the pious old lady.(1) It is interested. If this old woman was really a pious person as Goodman Brown thought, “…in whom Goodman Brown recognized a very pious and exemplary dame, who had taught him his catechism in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser……”(1) why this old woman didnt scream out “Goddness!” but “Devil!” ? It is evident that the old lady believed in devil, not god. And this shows that even a good person will have evil thoughts in his mind. The old lady taught Goodman Brown catechism in youth, and was his spiritual adviser. It was a good behave, but the old lady believed in devil. And next, we will find out that other characters also have evil thoughts in their mind in the story.
“Young Goodman Brown was neither an evil nor purely a faithful character, but he was as normal as everyman is his society could have been.”(2) A normal man, which means peoples bad thought will take over his good mind when he meets temptation. “A normal man whose bad desires could win over his faith on a moment of temptation urged to him persuasively by any other member of the society”(2) And
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we can see Goodman Browns normality in the story. “”What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too. Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight……With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose.”(1) Boodman Brown struggled between the faith and the devil. Although he knew what he is going to do is evil, Goodman Brown still decided to go on. Because he met someone who persuaded him – The old man with a staff. “”Badman” Brown, a man who lost his faith in the others” (3) Badman Brown lost his faith. And it was him to convinced Goodman Brown to join the communion. “”Friend,” said the other, exchanging his slow pace for a full stop. “having kept covenant by meeting thee there, it is my purpose now to return whence I came. I have scruples touching the matter thou wotst of.” …… “Sayest thou so?” replied he of the serpent, smiling apart. “Let us walk on, nevertheless, reasoning as we go; and if I convince thee not thou shalt turn back. We
are but a little way in the forest yet.””(1) After being persuaded by Badman Brown, Goodman Brown entered the journey of losing faith. “His journey to the forest is symbolic of Christian “self-exploration” in which doubt immediately supplants faith. At the end of the forest experience he loses his wife Faith, his faith in salvation, and
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his faith in human goodness.”(4)
With Goodman Browns journey, we can find that many people in the Salem village had evil thought. In the first paragraph, we had found that the pious old lady – Goody Cloyse had bad thought. Know, we will find Deacon Gookin and the minister also appear in this forest. And their purpose seemed to be the same with Boodman Brown. “”Of the two, reverend sir,” said the voice like the deacons, “I had rather miss an ordination dinner than to – nights meeting. They tell me that some of our community are to be here …… Moreover, there is a goodly young woman to be taken into communion.”…… “Mighty well, Deacon Gookin!” replied the solemn old tones of the minister. “Spur up, or we shall be late. Nothing can be done, you know, until I get on the ground.”” (1)Also, Badman Brown recovered the secret that Goodman Brown didnt know. “… I have been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; and thats no trifle to say. I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly though the streets of Salem; and It was I that brought your father a pitch – pine knot, kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in king Philips war. They were my good friends, both; and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path, and returned meerily after midnight.”(1) According to this, we can see that even Goodman Browns father,
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grandfather had evil thought. And they were not lofty as Goodman Brown thought. “”My father never went into woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest men and good Christians since the days of the martyrs; and shall I be the first of the name of Brown that ever took this path and kept.””(1)
Faith, Boodman Browns wife, appeared in the beginning and the final of the story. And she seemed to play an important role to Goodman Browns faith in humanity. In the beginning, Faith was like other wives. She didnt want to be left alone, so she begged Goodman Brown not to go. “”Dearest heart,” whispered she, softly and rather sadly, when her lips were close to his ear, “prithee put off your journey until sunrise and sleep in your own bed to – night. A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts that shes afraid of herself sometimes. Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights