English08

There have been many great writers throught the years that will be remembered forever.Nathanial Hawthorne grew up in a mostly puritan society. It was here where he began to lean about human behavior. In several of his stories he expresses his beliefs and insights on human nature. Although he was raise In a puritan society, he expresses that humans a are hypocritical in several ways. He expresses this in the short stories Young Goodman Brown, The Ministers Black Veil and Ethan Brand.

Hawthorne shows that most people are influence by the devil. In Young Goodman Brown, Brown meets a figure in the forest. He represents the devil because he is describe as having a staff that “bore the likeness of a great black snake”, which is considered a symbol of the devil. The devil says that “the deacons of many churches have drunk the communion whine with me”. This shows how even people who are believe in society to have a strong morale can be hypocritical, because deacons where and are seen as people with values. He goes on and says, “…the selectman of diverse towns make me their chairman; and a majority of the Great and General Court are firm supporters of my interest.” In this passage Hawthorne is figuratively speaking, since the selectmen don’t literally summon the devil to be their leader. Instead he is chosen by the evils deeds of the people. This shows that the acts that the government are meant to be good However they “secretly” are supporting the devil issues.

In the Ministers Black Veil Mr. Hooper wears a black veil that symbolizes the secrete sin. Hawthorne expresses how some people can’t see their sin. When Hooper gave his first sermon with his veil on “Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast…” felt their sin. Hawthorne is trying to express that every body has some sin even a “innocent girl”. Hawthorne uses this to symbolize that everybody was able to feel Hooper’s veil because it reminded them of their own sin.