Young Goodman Brown new discussion .docx - My...

My interpretation of “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is that it was
written to expose Puritan hypocrisy and their bias attitudes. I believe that
Hawthorne wrote this story specifically to reveal that although the Puritans act like
they are perfect people, they are not. Brown said, “My father never went into the
woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest
men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs.” The devil replied, “I have
been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; and
that’s no trifle to say.” (Hawthorne 388) These quotes are great examples of the
hypocrisy revealed in this story. Goodman Brown believed that his ancestors have
been completely faithful all their lives, but it turns out that some of his ancestors
have walked with the devil, and Goodman Brown is following the same path.
Another example of the hypocrisy Hawthorne wants to illustrate is when Goodman
Brown sees Goody Cloyse.