The Main Influences In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

Most people grew up going to church regularly, and never questioned the church or religion. Although for many people, once they reach a certain point in their lives, based on the influences around them, they begin to question their religion. Some continue worshipping gleefully afterwards, some continue to worship, but with resentment in their hearts. Others may completely turn to other religions or turn away from religion as a whole. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's “Young Goodman Brown” he illustrates this very thing.
The main influences in Young Goodman Brown’s life were the people of the church. This includes the preacher, Deacon Gookin, and Goody Cloyse. These three people were held at the highest standard of the town because they were viewed as the
In being his wife, she possibly had the biggest influence on him of all. Once one gets married your spouse comes before all else. Brown demonstrates this by saying he would not abandon her to chase after those who have done wrong by the lord. Faith is the picture of innocence, always skipping, with pink ribbons tied on her hat. Faith is the most childlike character in the story. By being childlike, she is also viewed as the most holy, and innocent. The influence this has on Brown’s life is what keeps him sane on his journey through the wilderness. The promise he made to return to her is what is keeping him from abandoning his mission.
At the beginning of his journey he encountered a sable form, who is actually the devil. Along the way, one by one each of the major influences of Brown’s life happen along his path, and are influenced by the devil. Near the end of his journey, he finds the pink ribbon from Faith’s hat caught in a tree limb. At this moment, Brown goes mad, screaming that he has lost his Faith. He does this because Faith’s ribbon in the wilderness means that even his innocent Faith had succumbed to the influence of the darkness. And, if Faith can succumb to it, then anyone