Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" contra "The Scarlett Letter"

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 10th gradeA+, January 1997

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the Scarlet Letter and how it relates to the quote from Young Goodman Brown "Evil is the nature of Mankind"

A True Romance VS. Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his short story, 'Young Goodman Brown', generates a relationship in direct contrast with that of a true romance among the roles of Faith and Young Goodman Brown. Whereas, a

true romance is the ideal romance, exhibiting virtuous aspects such as trust, as well as a burning passion and an undying love for one another. The relationship which Young Goodman creates between himself and Faith

is one that is unresponsive , and is based on distrust and a willingness on his part to abandon her.

Consequently, as far as passion and desire are concerned, someone quickly call Dr. Ruth because this marriage is in trouble. After Faith asks Goodman not to depart that night, pleading, 'pray tarry with

me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year', he answers her saying , 'my journey must be done.'

He then questions the sincerity of her 'peculiar' plea asking whether she doubts him. Since when is it such a

farfetched request for a wife to ask her husband for company on a given night? Does this request signify a lack of trust in her husband? If anything, it illustrates a lack of self confidence in himself as well as a lack of trust

in her. In addition, after departing his wife, Goodman Brown states to the mysterious man he meets in the forest, that 'Faith kept [him] back awhile.' This means that although both his wife, Faith, and his own faith delay

him, they cannot stop him and thus aren't more important than committing this deed.

Furthermore, there is no evidence of his trust for her in the...