Young Goodman Brown's Realistic Hopelessness

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I did not like this short story at all, even the second time around reading it. (Just felt like I needed to preface that.) But I understand (I think) why Hawthorne wrote it.

It's realistic in showing the tensions of good and evil, the two faced-ness in religion, and how doubt leads to disbelief... or does it? This is my disappointment in this story. Doubting as skepticism is painted in a negative light, rather than showing that a healthy criticism to one's religion as actual faith and goodness can be positive and strengthening to a sole trust being found in Christ alone. Instead, doubt is an ugly confirmation for depravity and prevalent evil, which is suffocating and life-sapping for Goodman Brown. He allows this doubt to isolate himself from his community (whether their distortion is true or an illusion), chaining him to a skeptic's life, keeping him from vulnerability with his fellowman and growing closer to Christ through the church. I get this reality that not all choose hope in Christ our Lord and Savior, but it is just so heavy to portray this hopeless emptiness so blatantly. In the end, the devil actually does win, as far as Goodman Brown's soul goes. He is so consumed by his skepticism that he can't grasp sight of faith anymore.

I commented on Abigail and Zelda's.

Comments

  1. Sophia ColbertNovember 6, 2017 at 4:11 PM

    This is something I think should be emphasized to more believers. Just because you have questions does not mean that you are sinning. It is through trails that faith is strengthened. Unfortunately, not everyone gets a happy ending, as this story illustrates.

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  2. Darby CallicuttNovember 6, 2017 at 8:39 PM

    Though I agree with you Olivia, I do not think that Brown's doubt or skepticism is what traps his soul. I think it was his arrogance in believing that after just one more time, he could about-face and live the good life. He knew that once he ventured out into the dark, into the forest, that the devil was going to meet him. It was his arrogance in believing that he could do something and then immediately ask for forgiveness once he got back. That is not how forgiveness or God's grace works. If it did, then we would essentially be walking all over God and he would not seem to be the strong Father he is. One cannot commit the sin, knowingly and consciously, and then expect it all to be made right.

    hopefully that made sense....

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