Young Goodman Brown

Young Goodman Brown A Brief Biography The works of Nathaniel Hawthorne were a reflection of the history of his Puritan relations and the New England during his days. Some of his well-known works include The Scarlet Letter, Young Goodman Brown, and The House of the Seven Gables.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Young Goodman Brown- Nathaniel Hawthorne specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1804. Two aspects of his early life especially influenced his writing career: the Hathornes had been persecuted due to their religious affiliations and the Salem witchcraft trials. Nathaniel’s father passed on in 1808, leaving his wife and three kids-two girls and a boy reliant on relatives. Nathaniel spent his early life in Salem and Maine. A leg injury limited his movements for a significant duration, during which he developed a passion for reading and thinking. With assistanc e from his rich uncles, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in Maine (1821 – 24). Hawthorne had no interest of taking up any occupation, instead choosing to read and write short stories, many of which were published in newspapers. Among the novels were Fanshawe (1828), Young Goodman Brown (1835), and a collection, Twice Told Tales (1837). In 1842, Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody and together they had three children. The family settled at Concorde, Massachusetts. Unable to support his family from writing alone, Hawthorne took up a position at the Salem County House as a surveyor in 1846, but was dismissed two years later because his political connections. The dismissal turned to be a blessing in disguise as he wrote The Scarlet Letter, his most successful work. The duration from 1850 to 1853 was the most fruitful since he wrote The House of the Seven Gables and The Blithedale Romance. Franklin Pierce, Hawthorne’s former schoolmate at Bowdoin, became president in 1852 an d Hawthorne was selected as the American consul at England from 1853 – 57. He wrote Our Old Home (1863) during the stay at England. In 1857, the Hawthornes moved to Italy and settled mainly in Rome and Florence.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They later returned to England and Nathaniel completed his final and lengthiest work, The Marble Faun (1860). The family returned to America and stayed in their permanent home at Concorde. He died on May 19, 1864 while visiting the New Hampshire Hills with Franklin Pierce (Meltzer, pp. 54). Young Goodman Brown Plot The story begins at night in Salem when Goodman Brown leaves his wife, Faith, to meet a strange person in the forest. As they meet, Brown and the individual advance further into the forest, at this juncture, it becomes evident that his companion is the devil, and the reason for that journey is to pa rticipate in an unknown ceremony, but clearly an evil one. As they progress with the journey, Brown realizes that others are heading for the ceremony, most of whom are from Salem town and whom he had believed to be Christians and pure in heart. He is surprised and discouraged and once again opts to turn back, however, before he does this, he hears Faith’s voice and recognizes that she is the one who is to be initiated at the ceremony. Knowing that he has lost faith and Faith, he decides to join the ceremony. At the ceremony, new converts are called to the altar for anointing, just when Faith is about to be anointed in blood, he shouts out her to look to heaven and refuse. He finds himself alone in the forest. Arriving in Salem the following morning, Brown is unsure whether the occurrence was real or a dream, however, his outlook of those around him, including his wife, drastically changes. Major Characters Goodman Brown Goodman Brown exhibits purity and corruptibility as he w avers between believing in the innate kindness of the individuals around him and believing that the devil has conquered the minds of those he loves. When the story begins, Brown is convinced of the righteousness of his father and grandfather until the old man, possibly the devil, tells him otherwise. Brown has faith in Goody Cloyse, the priest, and Deacon Gookin until the devil tells to him that Cloyse is a witch and Gookin is his assistant. Eventually, he is convinced that Faith, his wife, is upright and honest, until the devil shows him at the ceremony that she too is unclean. The revelations show Brown’s lack of a firm stand as he easily swayed. He shows us the good and evil sides of humankind.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Young Goodman Brown- Nathaniel Hawthorne specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through his exposure of the good and evil sides of humankind, Hawthorne mentions what he believes as the concealed corruption of the Puritan society. Goodman Brown believes in the public portrayal of purity made by his father and the church leaders and in the communal formations that are built upon that purity. Hawthorne uses Brown to show his audience that behind the public display of purity, the Puritans’ acts were adulterated. Satan tells Brown that he was there when his father, grandfather and other church members burned native Indians’ villages, suggesting that the founding of English country has a dim side that religion falls short of explaining. Faith Brown Faith Brown is Goodman Brown’s wife and serves a symbolical purpose in the novel. Brown leaves her at night to have a meeting with the devil, when asked why he was late, Brown answers â€Å"Faith kept me back a while† (Hawthorne, pp. 10). She stands for positive force in the society. Consequently, when Brown realizes that she too is evil, he cries â€Å"My Faith is gone† and runs franti cally toward the witches’ assembly (Hawthorne, pp. 23). Faith represents the solidity of the family and the domestic realm in the Puritan outlook. As her name hints, she seems to be most pure-hearted among the Puritans and functions as a substitute of sorts for religious emotions. Her husband clings to her as he inquires about the righteousness of those he knew, drawing comfort from the fact that if Faith remains pure, then his own faith is worth defending. However, when he discovers that Faith too is corruptible, he believes that everyone around him is evil. Brown’s estrangement from Faith at the conclusion of the story is the worst result of his change of mind. The Old Man/ Devil In this novel, the devil seems to be a normal man, showing that everyone, including Brown, can be evil. The devil appears from the forest decently dressed just as any man in Salem would, but Goodman Brown discovers that the devil can emerge in any situation and fail to appear inapt. By accen tuating the chameleon nature of the devil, Hawthorne illustrates that the devil basically personifies the worst side of man. By mentioning that the devil could be Brown’s father, the writer builds a link between them, leaving the readers to speculate whether the two are related or the devil is Brown’s evil side. Brown’s contact with the devil affects him forever.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Critique of the Novel Nancy Bunge in Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Study of the Short Fiction (1993) critiques the book based on the conduct of Goodman Brown (Bunge, 14). She mentions that everybody is corrupt and can move along honestly and openly with others after admitting this grim truth. Yet Brown rejects this reality and destroys his life by trying to maintain his righteousness. The novel reveals this fact so painfully that, despite the huge amount of critical commentary on the story, many recognize it as the novel’s theme. Bunge is right; the climax of the novel takes place at the ceremony, especially when Brown finds out that Faith was also evil. This changes him forever. Nina Baym in Thwarted Nature: Hawthorne as Feminist, argues from the outlook of the female characters. She mentions that the protagonists, regularly male, decline any sexual bond with a female figure, normally a spouse or fiancà ©e (136). In most cases, this action has a grave effect on the scorned woman. Stories written prior to 1842 have a female character demolished only by accident, not purposely. In Young Goodman Brown, Brown’s separation with his wife was not intentional, as he had intended to return to her after the appointment with the devil. Baym asserts that the act of a man leaving his wife demonstrates the male’s disinterest to the affairs of their female counterparts. She defines women as sexual beings and the men as â€Å"sexually frozen† (138). Baym suggests that Hawthorne’s male characters are engrossed with their female counterparts but the only way of making contact with them is through desire. Joan Easterly asserts that Brown is a changed man after his encounter in the forest. Hawthorne shows how Brown fails the trial of his moral and divine being. For instance, brown does not cry after seeing Faith and those who were close to him at the ceremony. This indicates that he has no compassion for these people and therefore cannot a Christian himself (340). I disagree with this point, Brown was filled with so much grief after seeing that his father, grandfather and church leaders were all corruptible. Finding out that his wife was also evil was just too painful for him and we see him shouting to her to look to heaven and refuse the initiation. Baym, Nina. Thwarted Nature: Hawthorne as Feminist. 1993. New York, Twayne Publishers. Bunge, Nancy. Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Study of the Short Fiction. 1993. New York: Twayne Publishers. Easterly, Joan Elizabeth. Lachrymal Imagery in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown.  Studies in Short Fiction. 1991, pp. 339-43. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. 2005. Young Goodman Brown. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. Meltzer, Milton. Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Biography. 2007. Washington: Twenty-First Century Books.

World View Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World View - Essay Example Likewise, we see things to associate figures with their definitions in our minds. One can not actually know what sun is unless one sees it. We get to know only the much we see. When we know more than what we have seen, the knowledge essentially comes from others that have seen more than us. Humans use the senses they are naturally blessed with to know the world. In addition to this, religious knowledge comes from Holy books. What is really real, or the ultimate reality? In spiritual terms, really real is some thing that would never change and would never end, like the world hereafter. Life after death would never come to an end. It will continue forever. Therefore, that world would be really real. In fact, it is more rational to call that world the ultimate real. In worldly terms, really real is some thing that never changes. For example, a mother’s love for her baby is really real and remains as such throughout the life of their relationship. It is so real that one can not ex pect a mother to be unloving towards her children. Motherhood shows its reality not only in humans, but in every species of living creatures. Birds are possessive about their babies.

Foreign investment decisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Foreign investment decisions - Essay Example One specific example of this occurs in the Latin America and Caribbean-OECD Investment Initiative. It’s noted that this initiative aims to, â€Å"increase the contribution of private investment to economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean† ("Latin america and," 2011). This demonstrates that significant sums are being invested in this developing region through private infrastructure projects. Still, another prominent area where money from industrialized regions are entering emerging markets can be witnessed in investment opportunities offered by major banking entities. One of the predominant examples in this context occurs as the European Bank for Reconstruction offers an opportunity for individuals to invest in a number of potential emerging markets ("Introducing three new," 2011). There is a distinction between less developed and emerging markets. In this context of understanding, it’s noted that emerging markets are those that demonstrate a level of advancement in their economic structure throughout a variety of barometers. Conversely, less developed regions are those that have not yet achieve these stages of economic

Face Book Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Face Book Dilemma - Essay Example The chapter focuses on the unique features of e-commerce, the digital markets and digital goods. Authors Laudon and Laudon discussed how the internet has transformed the way consumers value products and services accessed through the web and its effect on business models. The case, Facebook’s dilemma exemplified an application of e-commerce, as it has been defined as â€Å"a social networking website that was originally designed for college students, but is now open to anyone 13 years of age or older. Facebook users can create and customize their own profiles with photos, videos, and information about themselves. Friends can browse the profiles of other friends and write messages on their pages†. The term e-commerce is revealed to include â€Å"business activities that are business-to-business, business-to-consumer, extended enterprise computing (also known as "newly emerging value chains"), d-commerce, and m-commerce. E-commerce is a major factor in the U.S. economy be cause it assists companies with many levels of current business transactions, as well as creating new online business opportunities that are global in nature†. The opportunities for interface and the ability to generate interconnections through friends, colleagues, users, organizations and commercial enterprises make Facebook conducive to enhance e-commerce applications, including solicitation of advertisements, promotions and investments at various fields of endeavors.

Psychological Approach to Little Red Riding Hood Essay -- Little Red R

Psychological Approach to â€Å"Little Red Riding Hood†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   By looking at Broumas’ Little Red Riding Hood you can apply the three Freudian zones of the psychological approach to the poem, which are the id, superego, and ego. The three Freudian zones allow the reader to look at different aspects that is believed to rule our lives.   Each zone has a different meaning that interrelates with the other.   Broumas’ Little Red Riding Hood has lots of evidence that gives clues to what the main character may have been proposing to her mother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The id is described as the source of all our aggressions and desires.   It is lawless, asocial, and amoral (HCAL 130).   The id is our desire to do all of the bad things even though we may know that they are wrong or may have consequences.   The author of Little Red Riding Hood, Olga Broumas, gives an example of how she has allowed her id to overcome both her ego and superego.   She is a feminist lesbian.   In ou... ...standing of what the poem may mean.   My preference, the psychological approach, seemed fit for the many situations that the character was facing.   The poem was a little psycho at first but by applying this approach it has helped me to understand not only this poem but some real life situations.    Bibliography   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Guerin, et. al., ed.   A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, fourth edition.   Oxford UP.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rabkin, Eric.   Stories. Harper Collins     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Judicial Precedent Is Best Understood as a Practice

Judicial precedent means the process whereby judges follow previously decided cases where the fact are of sufficient similarity. The doctrine of judicial precedent is a practice of the court, it provides guidance to the judges when they apply case precedents. It also provides certainty, consistency and clarity in the application of precedents. The rule is that judges should decide like cases in like manner. It is a decision of the court used as a source for future decision making. This is known as stare decisis and by which precedents are authoritative and binding and must be followed. Doctrine of precedent or stare decisis, this item is from the latin phrase â€Å"stare decisis et non quieta movere†, means to stand by decisions and not disturb that which is settled. The doctrine of binding precedent based on stare decisis, that is standing by previous decisions. Once a point of law has been decided in a particular case, that law must applied in all future cases containing the same material facts. For example in the case of Donughue v Stevenson (1932) AC 562. The House of Lords held that a manufacturer owed a duty of care to the ultimate consumer of the product. This set a binding precedent which was followed in Grant v Knitting Mills (1936) AC 85. The ratio decidendi forms the legal principle which is a binding precedent meaning it must be followed in future case containing the same material facts. Besides, the obiter dicta is things stated in the course of a judgment which are not necessary for the decision. The decision of the judge may fall into two parts, the ratio decidendi means reason for the decision. The ratio decidendi in a case is the principle of law on which a decision is based. When a judge delivers judgment in a case he outlines the facts which he finds have been proved on the evidence. Then he applies the law to those facts and arrives at a decision, for which he gives the reason. Besides, obiter dictum means something said by the way. The judge may go on to speculate about what his decision would or might have been if the facts of the case had been different. The binding part of a judicial decision is the ratio decidendi. An obiter dictum is not binding in later cases because it was not strictly relevant to the matter in the original case. However, an obiter dictum may be of persuasive authority in later cases. For example, in the case Donoghue v Stevenson (1932), the house of lords held that a manufacturer owed a duty of care to the consumer that products are safe because the circumstances prevented the consumer from discovering any defects. This is a ration decidendi and lord Atkin’s â€Å"neighbour test† was obiter. Where there is no existing precedent, the court will declare the law and the case will become an original precedent, example, in the case Airedale NHS Trust v Bland (1993) HL, where the courts were asked to decide if food and treatment could be lawfully withdrawn from a patient in a persistent vegetative state, and thus allowed to die. The concept of ratio decidendi tries to link the competing aims of the notion of rule of law, ie, the requirement of certainty in the application of law and flexibility in the development of law within the legal system. To identify the ratio in a case, Professor Goodhart (1931), set out a method of identifying the ratio decidendi as the ratio is derived from the application of the law to the facts that were treated as material by the judge in his decision and generalising them to make a principle. Besides that the principle of the case is found by taking account of the facts treated by the judge as material ; and his or her decision as based on them. The principle is therefore a formula, which the facts fit, and the facts provide a specific instance or example of the application of the principle. However, Professor Julius Stone (1959) argued that Goodhart’s theory was prescriptive rather than being descriptive of actual practice. In Stone’s analysis, the ratio of a case is part of a legal category of indeterminate reference or concealed multiple reference. The facts of a case precedent are able to be material under a wide range of fact descriptions, but any given decision was open to a succession of subsequent judicial reformulations of the prior decision. So, the question for the later court is the analogical relevance of the prior case holding to the later case, thus requiring the later court to choose between possibilities presented by the earlier case. This gives us a picture of radical indeterminacy . This is because the later courts appear to have great freedom in reinterpreting the actual ratio of the certain case. Stone’s approach is considered as a rather radical scepticism towards the concept of ratio. Consequence of the indeterminacy of the ratio is the difficulty in identifying the ratio of a case actually provides the English common law system the flexibility when case law is applied and its subsequent development through the courts. From Cross (1991) who argues â€Å"it is impossible to devise formulate for determining the ratio decidendi of a case†, but ‘this does not mean it is impossible to give a tolerably accurate description of what lawyers mean when they use the expression’. Consequently, courts have a great deal of choice in reformulating and interpreting law. In his work on legal reasoning , Neil MacCormick (1987) makes the point that often the ratio of a case can only be determined in light of what judges subsequently make of it. In conclusion, the discussion above have gone to establish that the doctrine of binding precedent is nothing more than a practice of the English judiciary. As a judicial practice, the doctrine provides a guide to judges on how case precedents are to be applied in courts. If the doctrine is avoided or not allowed, there are no legal sanctions or consequences. At worst, if there is a rampart ignoring of the doctrine by the courts, the outcome will be uncertainty and instability in the common law and its development.

The Fishing Expedtion - 1416 Words

The welcome arch spanned the two lanes and looked sturdy enough to drive a tank across. The rest of Church Street proceeds a half-a-mile or so from the sign to James Street and the middle of the village. This street and many of the adjoining side streets conjured up images of a quaint New England town with a profusion of oaks and maples surrounding well kept, two story, wooden-framed houses. The Village maintained a strip of grass between the curb and the sidewalks that run parallel to the street on both sides. The areas close to the houses typically displayed neatly trimmed scrubs and flowers. â€Å"I’m ready to get checked into our motel then the rest of you can do whatever you want until dinnertime,† Mom said. We turned left onto Crossman Street midway between the arch and downtown and proceeded to the Maple Crest Motel. It was after five when we finished checking-in, which was a good thing because Mr. Root was only a part-time caretaker but had a full time job refinishing boats at Hutchinson’s Boat Works. His workday had ended at the same time we got to town. Consequently he was available to help us attempt to get the Buzz running. Mr. Root’s son, Wilford, and Wilford’s wife, Kay, owned the Maple Crest adding to the convenience and family atmosphere. The Motel’s location was just up the street from Otter Creek and Wilford’s dock where Buzz was tied up. Kay called her father-in-law to let him know we had arrived. While we waited, my dad, Wilford, and I chatted in the motel