Journal 12

Journal #12 - “Young Goodman Brown”

1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?

Young Goodman Brown –Represents a young good man who was influenced and changed for the worse. The last name Brown can be thought of as a stain on the type of person that he was.

Faith – Represents faith that Brown had in society until he saw what he saw. He lost his faith, implying he lost her and his faith in the good of mankind.

The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – the devil and temptation that men have to deal with in their lives.

Goody Cloyse –Showing something on the outside but not being the same on the inside, she is shallow and fake as Brown sees who she truly is.

The Ceremony – accepting the flaws and sins of the human race.

The Pink Ribbon – represents the good leaving the world, the ribbon falls and Brown realized that everything he once thought may have just been an allusion.

Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – The journey that everyone must go through at some point. Everyone will be tempted and question their beliefs, but it is important to stay strong, not lose faith like Brown did.

2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:

Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish

The theme is losing faith and the message of the theme is that the world may not be as it seems. You can never really tell what is true and what is not, you have to use your judgment to try and decide.

In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.

“But, irreverently consorting with these grave, reputable, and pious people, these elders of the church, these chaste dames and dewy virgins, there were men of dissolute lives and women of spotted fame, wretches given over to all mean and filthy vice, and suspected even of horrid crimes. It was strange to see that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the sinners abashed by the saints. “

“By the sympathy of your human hearts for sin ye shall scent out all the places—whether in church, bedchamber, street, field, or forest—where crime has been committed, and shall exult to behold the whole earth one stain of guilt, one mighty blood spot.”

“Come, devil: for to thee is this world given.”