Young Goodman Brown Questions

• What do you think Hawthorne's purpose was for writing this story?

I think the purpose for Hawthorne's writing of the story was to show that people aren't always as they seem to be and that even those you give such high appraisal to can let you down, or do bad things. It was also to show readers that coming to your own conclusions of people can sometimes be one sided conclusions and that doubting your faith is bound to happen how you let that influence you is completely up to you. 

• Hawthorne states that Brown's wife is "aptly named" Faith.  After reading the story, do you agree?  Does Faith's name fit her personality?  Does Brown have true faith in her?

I think that Faith is a suiting name because it gave away the idea that Faith canbe tempted and you can doubt your faith without necessarily losing it. It's how you react or thing about the events that occur in your life that cause you to make tough decisions like losing or keeping your faith altogether. After going through what he went through Goodman Brown began doubting everything in his life because of words whispered to him by the devil. 

What do you think the pink ribbons signify?

• Was everything Brown witnessed real, a figment of his imagination, something conjured by evil, or a dream?  Support your answer with passages from the text. 

• Who do you think the old man really is?  What textual clues tell you this?

I think the old man is the devil because it is suggested that it could be the devil revealing all the truths to him. There was a line where Goodman Brown says, "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!". This gave a sense that irony was being used because we knew that the mysterious old man was in fact the devil. Showing him the ways of the wicked and revealing to him the truths about the people he had in his life. It got him to question his faith as well.

• What does the staff represent?  Do you think the staff leads Brown onward or is the primary motivator Brown's own conscience/mind?

I think the staff is a symbol of the decision Goodman Brown has to make at the point, whether to keep going onward clinging to his faith or to continue onward with his doubts and losing his faith altogether. 

• If Brown had not ventured into the forest, how would his life be different?  If he'd stayed home, would Brown still have Faith?  Would he still trust his wife and his fellow townspeople?

If Brown had stayed home i feel like he would have still been closed off to the possibility or any doubt whatsoever about the people in his life, the walk through the forest was a revelation and the things revealed to him are some that would affect him for the rest of his days never being sure whether he can trust someone or not. I feel like if he had stayed Brown would still have his Faith and would only doubt her/it if he she showed reason to, like if she did something questionable. I feel like he would still trust the people in his life and go on believing his ancestors were saints and that everyone was pure and good in the eyes of God. 

• What do the pink ribbons signify?