Double Language In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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Hawthorne uses Young Goodman Brown’s declining relationship with his wife, Faith, as a method of demonstrating Goodman Brown’s loss of faith in God. At the beginning of the story, Brown and his wife seem to have a well established relationship, calling each other “Dearest heart,”(9) and even “My love.” (9) Brown is reluctant at first to leave his wife for his journey, but some unknown force calls him into the forest. After meeting his mysterious guide in the forest, who later turns out to be the devil, Brown is hesitant to continue on his journey with the devil because of his Faith. Hawthorne uses double language here. Literally, Brown is worried about his wife being at home alone all night. At the same time, Brown’s current alignment with