air of one who knew the world, and would not have felt abashed at the governor's dinner-table, or in King William's court, were it possible that his affairs should call him thither. But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable, was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent. This, of course must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light.""'Come Goodman Brown!' cried his fellow-traveler, 'this is a dull pace for the beginning of a journey. Take my staff, if you are so soon weary.'"There can be no doubt that Goodman Brown had met an elderly version of himself in the dark wood: "I woke to find myself in a dark wood." The journey of 25 years in retrospect is to find oneself more confident of his surroundings and much more knowledgeable of world affairs and no longer the innocent and naive traveler of bygone days. In every sense it is the elderly version of himself that is his guide through life. The serpent staff is symbolic of acquired knowledge and wisdom. For most people it is the crutch of life or whatever ones uses to manipulate other people to do their will. So the staff is symbolic to the crutch every human being takes possession of that help him and guides him through life. Not necessarily does wisdom have to be benign. Hawthorne would mention that the staff was a rod the owner formerly lent to the Egyptian magi (in the days of Moses). It is not that Goodman Brown lent the rod to the Egyptian magi but that evil lends it to whoever will further its cause.Hawthorne seems to be pointing out via reverse psychology that to depend upon oneself as a guide through life is demonic. The staff symbolizing a lifetime of experiences which is used to forester confidence. Such a crutch is an icon or false god.This, meeting oneself in the dark wood, is not the way that Dantist...
