In many works of literature, past events affected a
character psychologically, affecting their view on life, and how they act. In
Young Goodman Brown, the protagonist’s view on society is morphed because of
one experience in the past. Goodman Brown, once a good man, innocent and pure,
became corrupted by his attendance to the devil’s ceremony. Whether this was a
dream or reality will never be known, but because of this event, Goodman Brown
couldn’t look at anybody in society the same way. He became distrustful, seeing
the devil in those who preached purity. He couldn’t even greet his wife once he
came back home from the incident. In this event, he saw his townspeople, even
his own wife, give up purity and give into the devil. He saw that people wore
masks, hiding their true selves. Thus, the Goodman Brown we once knew became a
shell of the man he was, hiding behind a mask just like the others.
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