Loss of Faith in "Young Goodman Brown" Throughout our journey through life, our individual perceptions of faith in God, humanity and within ourselves guide us. our way. In the absence of clarity in our faith, we are led to believe that the norm is what proves popular within a society. Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" demonstrates to the reader man's inherent attraction to evil, the intertwined depths of evil, and a lack of understanding of faith; can not only destroy one's life, but also steal the beliefs that unite us as a social group. Even with a clear understanding of the Puritan attitude, the reader is left with the dilemma that seems to impose the idea that faith in God is only dogma in the absence of faith and understanding of humanity. Therefore, we decide that it is not enough to choose between good and evil; we must all adhere to the doctrine of faith and forgiveness, so that we can function contributorily within our community. Is young Goodman Brown's encounter with the Devil simply a test of his own faith? Or perhaps he is simply intrigued by the mystique of evil forces that lie outside the realm of what he considers acceptable behavior in his Puritan times? evil design” (634). Through his writings, Nathaniel Hawthorne is able to develop a distinct set of doctrines that existed in the mind of Goodman Brown. Thus, the reader can assume that one of the traits of Puritan society is its lack of tolerance for forgiveness. It's no wonder that Puritanism is known for its bleak outlook on life and its tendency to be steadfast. A puritanical society might have difficulty seeing perfection in its own members, especially if they do not recognize their own tendency toward hypocrisy. Young Goodman Brown's perception of his faith abandons him because he does not have a clear understanding of his experience in the woods. So, in his ignorance, he simply continues to criticize others because of the events that have happened in his misguided life. He decides that those he previously considered pious are now hypocrites in his eyes. "Men with dissolute lives and women with spotty fame, wretches given over to every petty and filthy vice and suspected of horrible crimes." (640).