Young Goodman Brown: The Downfall Of Young Goodman Brown

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look at his wife with
the same faith he had before.
When Goodman Brown finally meets with the Devil, he declares that the
reason he was late was because "Faith kept me back awhile." This statement has
a double meaning because his wife physically prevented him from being on time
for his meeting with the devil, but his faith to God i psychologically delayed
his meeting with the devil.
The Devil had with him a staff that "bore the likeness of a great black
snake". The staff which looked like a snake is a reference to the snake in the
story of Adam and Eve. The snake led Adam and Eve to their destruction by
leading them to the Tree of Knowledge. The Adam and Eve story is similar to
Goodman Brown in that they are both seeking unfathomable amounts of knowledge.
Once Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge they were expelled from their
paradise. The Devil's staff eventually leads Goodman Brown to the Devil's
ceremony which destroys Goodman Brown's faith in his ...

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just witnessed. Ironically, he blames the
woman for consorting with the Devil but his own pride stops him from realizing
that his faults are the same as the woman's.
Brown again decides that he will no longer to continue on his errand and
rationalizes that just because his teacher was not going to heaven, why should
he "quit my dear Faith, and go after her". At this, the Devil tosses Goodman
Brown his staff (which will lead him out of his Eden) and leaves him.
Goodman Brown begins to think to himself about his situation and his pride
in himself begins to build. He "applauds himself greatly, and thinking with how
clear a conscience he should meet his minister...And what calm ...

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