121k views
3 votes
How does the author contrast the differing points of view of Goodman Brown and his wife, Faith?

User Mean
by
6.8k points

2 Answers

3 votes
THE WEAKNESS OF PUBLIC MORALITY

In “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne reveals what he sees as the corruptibility that results from Puritan society’s emphasis on public morality, which often weakens private religious faith. Although Goodman Brown has decided to come into the forest and meet with the devil, he still hides when he sees Goody Cloyse and hears the minister and Deacon Gookin. He seems more concerned with how his faith appears to other people than with the fact that he has decided to meet with the devil. Goodman Brown’s religious convictions are rooted in his belief that those around him are also religious. This kind of faith, which depends so much on other people’s views, is easily weakened. When Goodman Brown discovers that his father, grandfather, Goody Cloyse, the minister, Deacon Gookin, and Faith are all in league with the devil, Goodman Brown quickly decides that he might as well do the same. Hawthorne seems to suggest that the danger of basing a society on moral principles and religious faith lies in the fact that members of the society do not arrive at their own moral decisions. When they copy the beliefs of the people around them, their faith becomes weak and rootless.

User Murali Murugesan
by
7.2k points
2 votes

Answer:

Hi! Unfortunately, your question is incomplete, that is why I can't give you a precise answer. You didn't mention the name of the book you are talking about, neither yo said where to find it. Anyways, I'll try to guide you in order to help you find the right answer yourself.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to what is expressed in the task, there are two characters in the text you are referring to that are husband and wife. Those two characters, Goodman and Faith, are quite different and have opposite opinions about a certain topic. What you are asked to do here is to address those differences and to explain them in a text of your own. Answer these questions: How do they differ? What does Goodman think? What does Faith think? Why do they think like that? Do they have reasonable information? How does the author show us that they differ? How do we know they think different things?

By answering these questions, you will be able to answer the task correctly. First, think about it in your head, and then write the whole thing down. There you will have your answer.

Trust yourself, you'll do good!

User Eric Acevedo
by
7.4k points