An Analysis of Young Goodman Brown and The Tell Tale Heart

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story that follows the exploits of Goodman Brown over a night where he gets a glimpse for the souls of the people around him. The story starts innocently enough - Goodman Brown is leaving to go on a short trip, one that after it he says he will "cling to her skits and follow her to Heaven." Goodman Brown then proceeded to enter the dark forest, and meet with another traveler. After a few conversations, and some traveling, Goodman Brown finally decides that his original plan for the night was not something that he wished to partake in, but was persuaded to go forward upon hearing the voice of his wife, Faith, in the wind. Goodman Brown followed the path until it ended, where there was a ceremony for the devil attended by those whom he previously saw as the most upright in their faith with God. Goodman Brown struggled with joining the group, and eventually was able to shrug off all else and rejected the evil ways that the group represented, leaving him alone in the middle of the forest. …