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Presentation Of Faith In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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According to Merriam Webster, faith is defined as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God” and as described by Merriam Webster, Nathaniel Hawthorne presents examples of what faith truly is in his story, “Young Goodman Brown” From the beginning Nathaniel Hawthorne presents faith to the reader by naming Young Goodman Brown’s wife Faith. As Young Goodman Brown sets off on his journey, he tells his wife to; “Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee.” (3) From there alone faith is already being subsequently lost because Young Goodman Brown is leaving faith at home as his journey starts. He notices before he loses visual contact with Faith that she is still awaiting for him to return home from his journey, …show more content…

Although he was considerably similar in expression compared to features. The only thing about this man that was out of the ordinary or as mentioned as “Remarkable” was his staff that was aside to him. “... his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that is might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent.”(4) This man who is unnamed, could be referred to as the Devil himself, is just the ignition that starts a conflagration of subsequent loss of faith for Young Goodman Brown. As the two men are walking along this path in their journey Young Goodman Brown is walking at a speed that this unknown man does not like. He cries out to Young Goodman Brown and says; ”This is a dull pace for the beginning of a journey. Take My staff, if you are so weary.”(4) Once said, Young Goodman Brown comes to a halt and mentions how he must go off on his own now and that it is his reasoning to return to where he came from. This unknown man, who can be believed to be the Devil himself, tries to persuade him and disregard the little faith he just regained as Young Goodman Brown tries to flee back to where he must

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