Young goodman brown
The story of young goodman brown takes place in what was a very different time period in history. It takes places approximately in the early 1700’s when church god and faith was found in pretty much every household. This story contains a lot of religious aspects. Goodman browns wife is a very religious woman, as long as the rest of the entire community. When Goodman is walking through the forest on his journey, he meets a man, this man is dressed normally and looks quite normal. This man greets him, and offers him a walking stick, or cane. This cane doesn’t look like any other ordinary cane. the can has a lifelike serpent slithering across the handle and body. This cane is a symbol for evil, and its ability to pull people into its ways. Goodman Brown was originally a very decent man, who had good views and beliefs, but once he met this man, who later reveals himself as the devil, he is changed forever. “On he flew among the black pines, brandishing his staff with frenzied gestures, now giving vent to an inspiration of horrid blasphemy, and now shouting forth such laughter as set all the echoes of the forest laughing like demons around him. The fiend in his own shape is less hideous than when he rages in the breast of man.” (5 Nathaniel Hawthorne). Goodman Brown gives up on trying to resist the devil’s temptations, takes up the devil’s staff, and makes his way toward the ceremony. As soon as Goodman Brown reaches for the staff, after he believes he hears faith, his wife's voice, he is sure that faith and all others have turned evil. He is transported to the ceremony that is taking place, with the witches and devil. He not only accepts the cane of the devil, but the role that comes with this cane. Goodman Brown was not only brought to the meeting with this cane, but brought into the role of a demon, or even devil. The walking staffs importance is that once he decided to give in and use support he was changed. The serpent on the walking staff symbolizes the fact