Young Goodman Brown Rhetorical Analysis

Puritanism attempts to regulate forms of worship; It applies strict concepts and beliefs upon its adherents. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the short story “Young Goodman Brown”. A story about a 17th-century puritan man named Goodman Brown, the protagonist, on his nighttime adventure. On this adventure, he leaves his wife against her wishes into the night. He meets a mysterious man who shares similar characteristics to the devil; This man leads Brown to a demonic ritual in which he witnesses all of his fellow townspeople partaking. As this occurs he snaps out of it to leave himself to question if it was even real. The character of Goodman Brown challenges the reader's understanding of puritan ideals through rhetorical appeals, tone, and figurative

Using ethos, this presumed devil tries to convince Brown that it is okay to continue on into the forest as he has done prior with his family and others when he proclaims,“I have been as well acquainted with your family as well as ever a one among the puritans”(Hawthorne). Goodman now views it as ethical to associate with this devil and stray away from his puritan ideals because all the other puritans are doing so. Ethos is shown once again when Goodman continues to converse with the devil; Goodman remains listening to him as he says,” I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem”(Hawthorne). Goodman listens to the wicked that this traveler has seen and done leaving an impression on him. An impression that it is ethical to be alongside him because his family has beforehand which again contrasts his religion. The rhetorical device of ethos as seen in both examples is used as the author's demonstration of Goodman believing it is ethical to do unholy things that contradict his

The author begins to build religious doubt in Goodman Browns as he uses specific diction to make the tone darker. Such diction is seen when he states,” Faint and overburthened with the heavy sickness of the heart. He looked up into the sky, doubting whether there was really a heaven above him”(Hawthorne). Tone words are being used such as overburthened and sickness to build a darker tone in instances when Goodman is doubting puritanism. This is also conveyed when Goodman is crying aloud his wife's name in desperation to try to remain faithful to puritanism. These efforts are shown when Hawthorne proclaims,” “Faith!” shouted Goodman Brown in a voice of agony and desperation; and the echoes of the forest mocked him crying– “Faith! Faith!”” (Hawthorne). Using Goodman shouting his wifes name in desperation creates this vocal sentiment that he wants to keep true his beliefs in which he contradicted prior in the story. These tone words help build a dark, self-doubting, and self loathing-tone to show Goodman going against his religious