The grandmother in O’Connor’s story claims “a good man is hard to find,” and Goodman Brown from Hawthorne’s story supports this claim, as he becomes convinced that no one in the world is truly good. However, Hawthorne’s darker story suggests that it is impossible to maintain one’s faith when living in a world surrounded by such evil, while O’Connor leaves the reader believing that keeping faith can make a difference even in the gloomiest of
(1.3.71)” Banquo also doubts the intension of the witches, he believes that evil always tells one part of the truth in order to earn one’s trust and lead him to destruction. Banquo warns Macbeth, ”But ‘tis strange./And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ the instruments of darkness tell us truths,/win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/In deepest consequence. (1.3.124-128)” On the other hand, Macbeth ignored his friends warning and believes in what the witches say. He is over whelmed by his ambition to be king, he said to himself,”Glamis, and the thane of Cawfor!/The greatest is behind. (1.3.118-119).””Two truths are told/,as happy prologues to the swelling act/of the imperial theme.
He hesitates in the forest and wishes to return to the village for Faith, because he loves his wife Faith dearly and wants to resume his faith in human beings and in God and his religion.” (Zhu) When we are introduced to these characters one already receives an accurate idea that this story is about faith itself. The next allegorical device that Hawthorn uses in Young Goodman Brown is the journey to the forest and the actual forest itself. Hawthorne was raised with a Puritan family, and Puritans believe the forest is ruled by the Devil. The actual journey to the forest could be the most important allegorical device in the entire
He was trying to scare her to get the truth out of her. Proctor is a strong Christian and really proves it in the quotes. Another one of the qualities of Proctor being a tragic hero is his quest for truth. He wants the truth about everybody. The quote “But I know the child’s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft" (Miller 169) shows that he is sure the child is not sick due to witchcraft, but to natural causes.
Lastly, Edgar’s crucial act of mercy led to his father Gloucester reaching an epiphany, that he was wrong by trusting Edmund. All three topics are relevant within Act IV and show how mercy is a critical aspect to life. I believe that mercy highly outweighs justice; mercy is the single most important quality to humankind which brings out peace. Whereas justice leads to an ongoing cycle of violence where nothing can get solved First, the mercy that King Lear willingly shows to Cordelia restores relationships. He openly states mercy towards Cordelia and says: “You do me wrong to take me out o’th’ grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead” (IV vii 45-47) This statement portrays how Lear admits that he was wrong in the past.
In the story one may think of Minister Hooper as a hero because he is able to admit he has sinned. The veil was supposed to cause people to view Mr. Hooper as an idol. However, the veil turns Mr. Hooper into a symbol of evil causing him to further treasure in sin. The story begins with the Gothic element of mysteriousness in the subtitle, A Parable. A parable is a story used to teach a lesson.
(Hawthorne 2). With Goodman Brown being a noble Christian, he tries to explain that the woods are evil and coming from a line of good, Christian men, he will not go into the woods. Throughout the story, the devil carries around this serpent-looking staff which also shows a sign of evil. A serpent is the symbol, or sign, of the devil whose evil. “But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist it and wiggle itself like a living serpent.” (Hawthorne 2).
Faith is also a symbol of Eve, curious and corrupted by evil because of that fact. Goodman Brown, indeed represents Adam, a man who appears to represent human beings confronted with temptation. As he crosses the threshold, he enters a dark forest of sin, so to speak, to satisfy his curiosity about the happenings there and perhaps even to take part in them. The forest symbolizes confusion, cross roads, self discovery, and the Garden Of Eden. The man who meets Brown in the forest appears to represent the devil; his staff is a symbol of the devil as a serpent.
His journey leads him to leave the village which is a place of light and security to the forest which is a place of darkness, dangerous and unknown destination. Brown's first step in the forest considers as a victory to the id over the superego. Brown's meeting with the old man who is the devil himself shows Brown's confusion; weather to believe the old man or not. The devil shocked Brown, when he told him that his father and his grandfather were a servant to the devil; he meant by that that is Brown's destiny too. Brown's believe that they are''…a race of honest men and good Christians… "has faded (Guerin, 303).
Duncan is primarily a force of goodness in the play even considering his certain flaws. Duncan’s murder was an act of unnatural events, against moral order and even Macbeth sees the wrong in this vicious act. Duncan was seen as the perfect king and was called “Gracious Duncan” by the tyrant Macbeth. Duncan’s holiness is reinforced by Macbeth being shown as an unholy king which is a compete contrast to Duncan. The king should be patient, have justice, mercy and lowliness.