This story reminds me of Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" and "The Scarlet Letter," which deal with the "mystery of sin" and hypocrisy of the Puritans.
In the exposition of "Young Goodman Brown," there is Hawthorne's subtle foreshadowing, perhaps with an ironic tone. The wife, in innocent pink ribbons, is named Faith. Much like a morality play in names and theme, a naive Goodman (he does remain good though at a price) Brown sets forth on a journey, but not before putting his head back to his young wife. Later, Brown sees his wife as a proselyte of the devil after wondering, "Where is Faith?" Clearly, he loses his innocent wife and his own faith in the goodness of the townspeople as he sees the hierarchy of the Church present in the dark ceremony.
More foreshadowing occurs with irony when Goodman thinks, "Poor little Fath!....She talks of dreams, too. Methought... there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight."
More irony is in the exposition when Goodman Brown, with "head being turned back" he beholds the older man seated, waiting for him. In the same position as when he kisses Faith, Goodman meets the devil. "Faith kept me back awhile..." Goodman explains his lateness to the man.
There is a mystery to Goodman's trip, the reader learns, just as Goodman will later learn the mystery of sin in the townspeople.
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