Aaron Michael Milton- Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne

After reading the short story Young Goodman Brown, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne it becomes obvious the use of the question: “Had Goodman Brown fallen asleep in the forest and only dreamed a wild dream of a witch-meeting? This statement becomes so essential and truly makes a difference, because it challenges the minds of the reader. It also urges readers to determine their own perception of Goodman’s Journey. The outcome is contemplated; whether or not the experience had been reality or dream. The narrator allows us to discern or think for ourselves by means of the following scene:
“Herein did the shape of evil dip his hand and prepare to lay the mark of baptism upon their foreheads, that they might be partakers of the mystery of sin, more conscious of the secret guilt of others, both in deed and thought, than they could now be of their own. The husband cast one look at his pale wife, and Faith at him. What polluted wretches would the next glance show them to each other, shuddering alike at what they disclosed and what they saw! "Faith! Faith!" cried the husband, "look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one." This is an important scene in the story because it gives reason to imply that Goodman Brian was in fact dreaming, as he stumbled upon some sort of ritual or religious meeting. It is here where Goodman finds his wife Faith; along with what is depicted as evil or wicked beings. As Goodman Brian continues to dream he calls to his wife begging her to resist evil and look up to heaven. These beings clear evidence of his fight and internal struggle with some sort of wickedness or corruption in his life. Through his experiences in his dream Goodman expresses his emotions as well as much of his fears. The desperate battle between right and wrong, only to be won through his Faith!