"Young Goodman Brown"--Enough With the Pink Ribbons.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story about human motives and spirituality is a whirlwind of a tale. "Young Goodman Brown" begins in the bleak streets of Salem and takes the reader into the deep forests of Massachusetts and the human soul. I especially enjoyed the central question that the story posed: are people inherently good or evil? Hawthorne portrays young Goodman Brown and his new wife, Faith, as God-loving, innocent, and optimistic people. Soon enough, however, the reader finds that Goodman Brown has been lured into the trap of devil worship. When he eventually resists and thinks himself righteous for doing so, he realizes that the entire village is secretly affiliated with Lucifer. Brown's experience, although only a nightmare, offers a unique view of both internal and external evil.

Goodman Brown is appalled by the evil within him, the ravenous hunger he has for wrongdoing and devil worship that arises as he makes his way through the forest. In the same way, humans are often shocked at their own inhumane and twisted desires. I believe that Hawthorne succeeded in explaining how an individual is often divided in a struggle between good and evil and can surprise himself with his decision to choose evil.

Goodman Brown then wonders farther into the shrieking forest, only to find elders and pious members of his church as well as those of soiled reputations all communing with the devil. He is shocked to find out that those who seemed to adore God so outwardly could now wildly proclaim their love for the world's source of darkness. The most noticeable aspect of the devil worship that is central to this story is the village's unity in their love of evil. In the story, even the devil recognizes that evil is a powerful, unifying force: "Welcome, my children, to the communion of your race."

"Young Goodman Brown" made me reflect on my own faith. So often I find myself turning from what I am told and certainly believe is good. Following the crowd is easier than clinging to faith. This story, although I believe it to be highly allegorical, characterizes the human race's passion for evil and constant rebellion against what is good. Hawthorne has an excellent point; however, I was a bit bored by his overuse of symbolism. I get it, okay? The ribbons in Faith's hair were pink. Her name is Faith. She wears pink ribbons. She is faithful. She is innocent. Did I mention the ribbons were pink?

Toss in a few tricky vocabulary words and a few hints of King James era English and voila: the devil's recipe for a thought provoking concept but disappointingly bland short story.