MY ESSAY ESSAY!

                                            Power of One's Mind

       Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of your heartbeat was echoing in your ears. Anxiety. Nervous. Stress. All these words were thrashing throughout your mind. Today, was your mind-term for your class. It was going to determine what grade would receive in the class. Therefore, you spent waves of hours studying and preparing for the test and typically received good grades. However, in your mind you kept telling yourself you were gonna fail.Everyone that you knew  that took course had failed the midterm, which evoke in you believing you weren't going to pass. Now, will actions of preparation win your doubts of the test. Answer: No you received a below average on the test. But, why you studied and prepared for hours? Although, the work and effort was put in there was a lack of mental strength that plays a significant role. Therefore, as of that day you perceived that there was no purpose in studying or trying if failing was going ro the result anyways. You now view the world of study as meaningless and pointless. Furthermore, the ideology is presented in Nathaniel Hawthorne's work, Young Goodman Brown, the theme is presented and or expressed to be that our genuine, true beliefs despite our reputation can change the way we perceive/see the world. So, how did Hawthorne express this theme; the most significant factor was the use of symbolism. However, the use of foreshadow, and tone contributed as well.
       To start off, Nathaniel's strength is shown to be in the component of symbolism. The symbols given throughout the plot significantly helped establish the hidden or in depth meaning of the text that ultimately, create the theme. For example, the staff of the old man/traveler that walked with the protagonist, Young Goodman Brown, through the forest. Firstly, the old man was proven later in the story to be the devil. Although, his staff played a more major role in the theme. The staff took to symbolize evil and deformity. Therefore, when Brown in the dream and or maybe even real walk in the woods, took the staff to aid him to continue walking revealed that the sense of evil/opposing of religious faith was truly Brown's current beliefs.  To add on, there were mere pink ribbons. At first, the pink ribbons seem to be a simple accessory to the Brown's wife, Faith, but as the story unfolds they come to serve a much more larger purpose. During the plot, Brown is questioning his religious faith after discovering several people he looked up to as religious figures associated with the devil. In other words, Brown was questioning the generalized pureness and or goodness of people. But, once he saw the pink ribbons come falling down from the trees the answer was clear. For the reason, that the one last "pure" thing, his faith(in religion/wife), had fallen into the hands of evil. As a result, once again revealing Brown's true perspective on the Puritans in his society which was they were hippicritical/corrupted. To conclude, the use of symbols helped present Brown's genuine beliefs and mistrust of people in the world due to them. So, that is why symbolism was the key factor to creating the theme. 
       Secondly, Hawthorne also presented the use of foreshadow. In definition, foreshadowing is a technique used to indicate an upcoming event in other words or warning almost. Looking into the literal objects, instead of symbols, Nathaniel uses this technique  when he consistently mention's brown's wife's accessory, the pink ribbons. Now, these ribbons seem to play many roles in the plot right?  In this case, this helps us reader's understand that the pink ribbons will mentioned again later in the plot but, serving  larger reval than just being accessories. Therefore, it helps create the scene by setting up the for the "climax" which is when the theme is revealed most specifically. As a result, it contributed to the making of the theme.  Next, there's the staff once gain however, its the shape of the staff this time. In the story, the staff is shaped a serpent. In regards to biblical stories, a serpent is way to represent the devil himself. So, this shape of the staff foreshadows that the old man is the devil, which is proven later on. This foreshadow helps the audience understand that evil will play a factor in the theme as it is foreshadowed in the plot. In gist, the foreshadow enabled the audience to prepare for the theme in order to analyze efficiently and adequately. 
       Finally, we have tone; the author's attitude towards a certain subject and or event. Throughout, the plot the main tone is shown to serious and formal and or straight to the point. To rephrase, there is no exaggerated tone in this piece of literature. An example of this is, "It was as lonely as could be; and there is this peculiarity in such a solitude, that the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead; so that, with lonely footsteps, he may yet be passing through an unseen multitude" (Hawthorne). So, this explicitly shows/tells us the woods are creepy. Like, trees look like witches, and night noises sound like creepy devils coming out to get you. The point here is that Hawthorne is setting us up for confusion. Just like Brown, the dark woods are confusing our sense of truth and fantasy. In addition there's the quote, "There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree," said Goodman Brown, to himself; and he glanced fearfully behind him, as he added, "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!" (Hawthorne) . The text is flatout said there is no evident emotion or attitude given out by the author there is only simply the establishment of the character's fear/anxiety of the setting around. Therefore, as we continue reading this story the formality and simplicity o the other's tone crates a more subtle/nerve wrecking vibe if you may. As a result, when the theme is introduced it impacts the reader more because the tone set up a certain vibe and or feel beforehand. 
       As mentioned before, one's own thoughts can manipulate and change the way one envisions the world. Everyday. Every hour, Every second, An opinion or judgement is made. Currently, people see this a mere normal humane factor. But, it holds such a deeper purpose. It just takes one opinion or judgement maybe due to one event to change our whole entire perspective on the world. Just one. Keep this is mind it may come it in the future for you,