The Eternal Battle between Good and Evil
The Eternal Battle between Good and Evil All good men face temptations. Some men may fall, but the choice to admit mistakes and become better for it is what matters most. In the stories of “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis, there are many examples of human nature between good and evil. These examples are portrayed by characteristics, symbols, and themes found throughout the story lines. In both stories, there is one idea in common that both authors used by means of symbols. On the other hand, there were also some unique differences. The good and evil of life and human nature clashing can be represented by attributes, symbols, and themes described in both stories. First, in both stories, each author addresses a particular attribute: while Hawthorne talks about fear, Lewis mentions forgiveness. Young Goodman Brown goes into the forest to meet the devil in spite of the fact that his wife has prohibited it. From that point onward, Goodman Brown expresses his fear of the forest, which is the devil’s domain and is described as “a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind” (Hawthorne 81). In the meantime, meeting with the devil brought him anxiety and fear, and eventually he lost his faith, mentioning, “My Faith is gone” (Hawthorne 86). Lewis, however, talks about forgiveness, showing Edmund’s betrayal being forgiven by his brother and sisters as well as Aslan, the king of Narnia. Even though Edmund negotiated with the White Witch to make himself superior, and was betrayed and held hostage by the Witch, Aslan rescued him and brought Edmund to his siblings, saying, “There is no need to talk to him about what is past” (Lewis 139). In this respect, it is clear to see that both stories have difference in attributes. Secondly, both stories deal with two similar