What did you think about the literary criticisms you read? What stood out to you? What did you agree or disagree with? Was there anything you better understood after reading them?
Of the literary criticisms, I thought the second one was a bit unique and quite fitting. The idea of Antinomian predestination was significant to the time period, and it does seem to apply to the story. The idea of being destined to go to heaven or be damned to hell helps explain some of Goodman Brown's actions. One may wonder why he chose to continue traveling deeper into the forest with the devil. His apparent belief that his faith (and that of his ancestors) promised his trip to heaven seemed to give Goodman Brown a reason to go on. He did not think that anything could or would affect his destiny. The context is important for the story. Knowing about Hawthorne and some of his other works helps in identifying themes and ideas. His discussion of good and evil was prominent in many of his stories and novels, and the Puritan beliefs were often in the mix, as well. I think the criticisms presented some nice insights that go beyond the basic symbols and ideas of the story.
Of the literary criticisms, I thought the second one was a bit unique and quite fitting. The idea of Antinomian predestination was significant to the time period, and it does seem to apply to the story. The idea of being destined to go to heaven or be damned to hell helps explain some of Goodman Brown's actions. One may wonder why he chose to continue traveling deeper into the forest with the devil. His apparent belief that his faith (and that of his ancestors) promised his trip to heaven seemed to give Goodman Brown a reason to go on. He did not think that anything could or would affect his destiny.
ReplyDeleteThe context is important for the story. Knowing about Hawthorne and some of his other works helps in identifying themes and ideas. His discussion of good and evil was prominent in many of his stories and novels, and the Puritan beliefs were often in the mix, as well. I think the criticisms presented some nice insights that go beyond the basic symbols and ideas of the story.