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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 10 page paper discusses the themes of sin and retribution in Hawthorne's Minister's Black Veil, Young Goodman Brown, and Lady Eleanore's Mantle. Symbolism, imagery, and and quotes cited from texts included. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
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10 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBhawbrown.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Through his short stories he managed to illustrate some of the ridiculous restrictions and excessive emotional burdens that various religions placed on the backs of the believers, all in the
name of salvation. In his short stories, Young Goodman Brown, The Ministers Black Veil, and Lady Eleanors Mantle, one can readily see the irony, and the subtle use of symbolism
as it portrays these themes of sin and retribution. Young Goodman Brown is the tale of a man caught between appearances and reality, sinner and saint, faith and hopelessness. This
tale chronicles the spiritual and psychological journey by an upstanding member of the community into a world that no longer contains any absolutes. He is faced with the ultimate decision
of condemning everyone for their sin, or accepting that mankind is not capable of being perfect. In error, because he cannot accept that mankind is capable of being redeemed, he
becomes paranoid and loses all faith in himself, God, and his fellow man. "Welcome, my children," said the dark figure, "to the communion of your race. Ye have found
thus young your nature and your destiny. My children, look behind you!"(Hawthorne/Kazin 60). In this quote, the Devil is explaining to Young Goodman Brown the reality of mankinds
true nature. Goodman Browns problems stem from his decision to reject certain facets of the human condition. In fact, after he returns from his isolation in the woods, his perception
has shifted, but not for the better. As Nancy Bunge says in her work, Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Study of the Short Fiction, "All people are sinful and can connect with
each other honestly and directly only after facing and confessing this aspect of themselves. But Brown turns away from this insight, lives in terms of social codes, and destroys his
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