How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Dynamic Elements In Young Goodman Brown

“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story about a young Puritan man named Goodman Brown who sets out on a journey into the forest, leaving behind his wife Faith. During his journey, he encounters various evil characters who test his faith and cause him to question the goodness of those around him, including his wife. In the climax, Goodman Brown is confronted with the vision of his wife participating in a black mass, which shatters his faith in her and leaves him in despair. He returns to his village with a broken spirit, is no longer able to trust anyone, and remains bitter and distant for the rest of his life. Hawthorne suggests that even a small hint of doubt can lead to the loss of innocence and the corruption of faith in

Hawthorne presents this characterization indirectly, through the use of symbols, imagery, and allegory. Through his writing, Hawthorne creates an atmosphere of ambiguity, which contributes to the reader's understanding of the character of Goodman Brown and his journey of self-discovery. This journey, like all journeys, has a beginning. For this one specifically, it is to understand Goodman Brown. Dynamic characters are those who change and develop over the course of a story and in the case of Goodman Brown, we see a marked transformation in his beliefs, values, and behavior as the story progresses. Over the course of the beginning of the story, Hawthorne tells us that Goodman Brown is deeply devoted to his faith and his wife, Faith. He is portrayed as an innocent and virtuous character, representing the best of the Puritan community. “‘Poor little Faith!’ thought he, for his heart smote him. ‘What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too’” (Hawthorne, 585). This shows that most of his private thoughts included, which in a way, kept him pure. The beginning of the story up until he enters the forest has shown how much he trusts in Faith and showed his sinless life so far. As the story takes place, this testing of faith allows Goodman Brown to come

As he embarks on his journey into the forest, he begins to question the faith and goodness of those around him, and his own beliefs and values are challenged. The conflict that he faces throughout the story enables his character development, as it challenges his beliefs and values, leading to his eventual transformation. “Young Goodman Brown caught hold of a tree for support, being ready to sink on the ground, faint and overburdened with the heavy sickness of his heart. He looked up to the sky, doubting whether there was a heaven above him” (Hawthorne, 589). Here, he has begun to realize that his love for Faith, and the hope and faith he has in her won’t be enough for him to go to heaven because of his sins. Through the course of his journey within the forest, we see Goodman Brown's faith being eroded and his descent into evil and corruption. The climax of the story, where Brown witnesses a gathering of members of his community, including some of the most respected members, participating in a demonic rite, further exacerbates his crisis of faith and solidifies his change into a distrustful and pessimistic person. The conflict that he faces throughout this enables his character development, as it challenges his beliefs and values,