rom Faith (faith), it becomes harder for him to find his way back. The forest “closes” behind him, symbolizing his enterance into a different state of consciousness. The forest, in this story, is a symbol for Goodman Brown’s conscience, which includes the roots of all his perceptions. Once he enters the depths of his conscience, he judges his preceptions, and this makes it harder for him to submerge with these same perceptions in tact. The devil confuses Goodman Brown’s judgment in this story and ultimately after his journey, Goodman Brown will see everything in a new light.When Goodman Brown starts his journey, he is symbolically leaving behind his wife, Faith, and his faith in his religion. They are two things he is consciously aware of, until ironically after his journey. The faith Goodman Brown has in his wife and religion, however, are the only two things that temporarily hold him back from his journey. “Faith kept me back a while,” he replies to the traveller (the devil) in the forest. The devil ignores him and says, “Come, Goodman Brown, this is a dull pace for the begining of the journey,”. He is in Goodman Brown’s concsience, telling him to take this journey and test his faith; so that he can alter his perceptions along the way. He wants Goodman Brown to ignore his religious faith, and his wife, and continue on his journey. Goodman Brown is partially wiery of this journey, and says, “having covenant by meeting thee heree, it is my purpose now to return to whence I came,”. He is frightened of what might occur on this journey, and is starting to question his reasoning on the decision to go. The devil cleverly replies, “Let us walk on, nevertheless, reasoning as we go; and if I convince thee not thou shalt turn back,”. He wants Goodman Brown to keep walking deeper into the forest, so that he will sink deeper into the depths of consciousn...
