A Critical Review of Young Goodman Brown The short story, "Young Goodman Brown", is about a man, his faith, his wife, and his community. Although he and his wife share a strong belief in spiritual things, Goodman makes a spiritual decision in which the effects on his life are overwhelming. Goodman's choice causes him to take a turn for the worse and he eventually dies a miserable person. The central character in this story is …showed first 75 words of 573 total…

…showed last 75 words of 573 total…community is a devil-worshiper. Brown eventually died an unhappy individual. In fact, Hawthorne writes, "…they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom". Goodman's story is a sad one. He may well have had a real, positive spiritual experience, but he made a choice to leave that behind--only for one night. He came out of this experience the loser. How many are following in his steps even today? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**