Original Sin: Man’s Overwhelming Burden
...med Faith, in the beginning of the story at sunset. Faith pleads with her husband to put off his journey and sleep in his own bed. However, Goodman notes “a dream had warned her what work is to be done” (pg. 294) and he still “felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose” (pg. 294). Goodman’s thoughts about his wife’s dreams and the purpose of his journey foreshadow the evil events that take place further into the story. His opinions also show the reader some hints about his true self. Goodman Brown meets several other travelers on his journey. He tells a fellow traveler that his “father never went into the woods on such an errand” (pg. 295) and his forefathers are all honest men and good Christians. The traveler, elderly in years, responds that he was well acquainted with his grandfather and father and helped his grandfather “when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem” (pg. 295). Goodman admits that he is traveling to complete an evil errand that his forefathers would have never done. The traveler also proves that Goodman does not come from a long line of Christian men as he claims. Dreaming, Goodman stumbles upon a Witches’ Sabbath where he sees a dark figure preaching to an audience. The figure tells the crowd about the deep mystery of sin and the power it manifests. The figure asks ...