COMPARING HAWTHORNE’S” YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN” AND WELTY’S “A WORN PATH”

Journeys have continuously been utilized by authors to symbolize various aspects such as quest for meaning, search for understanding and other times used as metaphors to explain the story behind the lives of humans from birth to death. Both “Young Goodman Brown” and “A Worn Path” presents a common story of a journey that is both symbolic and ambiguous.

‘Young Goodman Brown’; plot had many of twists and turns. This story began out with Young Goodman Brown requiring going to a crucial meeting and additionally hoping to elevate his religion and social position. He therefore took a simple trip in the forest and it afterwards turned into a complex ending. Young Goodman met a traveler who had been waiting for him inside the woods. While they were taking a walk on a thin path it emerged difficult to stay on as a result of the distraction resulting to them taking wide path. The Bible says that a thin pathway leads to heaven, whilst and a broad path leads to hell.’; This turned out to be not a simple trip for Young Goodman Brown being a young man since he must have clean thoughts regarding anything. Extraordinary things started to happen on his trip. There emerged a lady hobbling down the path all by her, later came across pink ribbons that were fluttering in the wind originating from a tree branch. As a result of this, he realized that his faith was gone. This journey came to an end when he approached a clearing in the woods and he saw his individuals from his church engaging in a witching Sabbath. This is the instance he lost every part of faith in everyone along with his wife, and for the remaining part of his life, he adopted a new faith and criticized everyone from the things he came across that night in the forest (George 31).

In the “A Worn Path” it the narrative is about a long trip the old woman has undertaken throughout the whole story, but by cautiously evaluating the theme, it shows us that there exist a bigger message than just a long journey. The old woman human’s spirit is filled with dedication, self-respect and high morale this helps overcome remarkable obstacles of life for the sake love. Every one of these characteristics depicts the proof that the trip is not going to be simple, however, her faith in the supernatural being and strong relationship with nature holds her on the way. The old woman understands nature by regarding it as a “guardian” especially when her dress got stuck in the bush. The mainly difficult obstacle during the trip is a youthful white man (a hunter) who in fact helps her rise up when she fell; however, he still stands as a huge danger to her as a result of his biased beliefs against black people. This clearly shows the extent of racial discrimination and enmity in this region. Later Phoenix stole from the hunter who threatens her pointing a gun towards her but she remains firm and courageous, this impresses the young man. Despite her age, she emerges to be spirited. In the end she is triumphant with her internal power, which consists of her affection, experience, self-respect and wits (Eudora Welty: Worn Path 22).

The two passages clearly show themes of religion, success and hardship, of which are depicted in the journeys taken by the two individuals. The two trips are regarded as very hard but through divine intervention and hard work, success is achieved.

Life is a passageway we all have to journey. Similar to the two narratives the story, we may come across numerous obstacles on the way that may render us out of control or additionally make us lose courage. However, it is during those difficult moments that we require miracles to reinstate what has been broken such as relationships, occupation, financial stability or healthiness.  These miracles could be love for individuals around, devotion to accomplish goals and prayer to God to grant us hope.

Works Cited

Eudora Welty: Worn Path. New York, N.Y: Films Media Group, 2005. Print.

George, Peter E. Nathaniel Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown. New York, N.Y: Films Media Group, 2005. Print.