Faith Vs. Temptation :: essays research papers

Faith vs. Temptation     Temptation, at one time or another, has touched all of our lives. What made us choose one pathway over the other? Was it your faith in God, your knowing of what was right and wrong, or was it the influences of the loved ones you not only surround yourself with, but the one you fork up trusted to lead down the straight and narrow. All of these questions come to cleverness in Nathaniel Hawthorne& angstrom unit8217s Young Goodman browned. Hawthorne& type Aere8217s statement is of a young, newly wedded man, and his internal struggle between faith and enticement. Set in Salem, at the times of the witch trials, Young Goodman embrown begins to question his own faith as the devil himself sheds new light-colored on Brown&8217s strong beliefs. &8220With promised land above, and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the chew out&8230 Or will he?     Young Goodman Brown prepares to set forth on his lonely , life-changing journey, by first saying good bye to his married woman of three months. Faith as his wife is called, for symbolic reasons I&8217m sure, fears for her husband and wishes him to stay. This good bye is Brown&8217s chance to choose faith over temptation. &8220Poor light faith, thought he, for his heart smote him. What a wretch am I to devote her on such an errand Brown gives in to temptation. This won&8217t be the last time.     Being scared and alone on his journey, Brown talking to himself says, &8220What if the devil himself should be at my elbow A few more steps and Brown now has a partner coincidence? I think not. &8220The only thing some him that could be fixed upon as remarkable as his staff, which bore the likeliness of a great black snake...like a living serpent." It was after this sign greeting and Brown noticing his companion&8217s walking truss that Brown once again was torn between his faith and the temptat ion of the errand he was on.     Goodman Brown tries to lead himself he is doing wrong and turn back. &8220Having kept covenant by meeting thee here, it is my purpose now to submit whence I came. I have scruples touching the thing thou wot&8217st of. The devil tempts Brown in to continuing. &8220let us walk on, reasoning as we go and if I convince thee not thou shalt turn back. Again Brown gives in to temptation. &8220Too far Too far Exclaimed the goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk.