How is resistance represented in Nathaniel Hawthornes “Young Goodman Brown”?
aleighdavis Teacher College – Freshman eNotes Editor In Young Goodman Brown, Hawthorne’s presentation of resistance (to evil, to injustice, etc.) is hopelessly bleak. Conscious resistance gains no ground because of the unconscious and uncontrollable evil at the center of human nature. Such an idea is illustrated early on in Brown’s attempt to resist Satan: ” ‘I have scruples, touching the matter thou wot’st of.’ ‘Sayest thou so?’ replied he of the serpent, smiling apart. ‘Let us walk on, nevertheless, reasoning as we go, and if I convince thee not, thou shalt turn back. We are but a little way in the forest yet. ‘Too far, too far!’ exclaimed the goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk” (Norton Anthology of American Literature 611). Even as Brown voices resistance to Satan’s will, his body unconsciously submits. After this scene, the reader learns that the man of the serpent has known Goodman Brown’s family quite well for many generations, and has aiding the Browns in persecuting Quake
