IndexHuman natureSetting as a characterThe similarity between the young Goodman Brown and DimmesdaleWorks CitedSome authors experiment with various styles and techniques throughout their literary careers, with clear differences between the various works. This is not true in the case of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne shows striking similarities in the style and content of his works. Such similarities can be seen between The Scarlet Letter and Young Goodman Brown. Both works show Hawthorne's view on human nature, use the setting as character, and contain a fallible member of the clergy. The analysis of these works will highlight the similarities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Human Nature Nathaniel Hawthorne's view of human nature was not optimistic. Indeed, almost all of his works show an extremely dark and sad view of human nature. Hawthorne himself describes The Scarlet Letter as “a story of human frailty and pain” (2). Indeed, The Scarlet Letter demonstrates a fragile view of human existence, both physically and spiritually. Many of the characters in this work suffer from internal and/or external ailments that promote Hawthorne's sad view of humanity and contradict a "beautiful" view of human nature. To begin, an example of human frailty in The Scarlet Letter can be seen in various physical ailments that afflict various characters in the story. Roger Chillingworth is one of these characters. From his introduction in chapter three it is clear that this man suffers from a deformity. It is said that "one of this man's shoulders was higher than the other" (Hawthorne 51). Chillingworth himself admits that he realizes that he is ugly and “deformed from [his] birth” (Hawthorne 61). Obviously, Chillingworth's deformity serves as a physical representation of the ugliness of human nature, but this deformity has a deeper meaning. Due to the instability of Roger's shoulders, his body appears twisted and hideous. However, by looking beyond the surface, the reader can deduce that Roger's soul is just as twisted. Chillingworth is bent on revenge and boldly proclaims when he tells Hester, “His fame, his position, his life, will be in my hands. Beware!" (Hawthorne 63). This statement makes it clear that Chillingworth is an evil man, once again reinforcing the darkness of human nature. In fact, whenever Chillingworth is mentioned the color black appears, and Hawthorne even calls Roger "or Satan himself, or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingworth" (101). As a result, Chillingworth's entire character displays a dark and twisted aspect of human nature, with very little evidence of beauty. The characterization of Dimmesdale can also highlight the fragility of the human condition. Once again, the physical symptoms reveal the inner condition of this man's heart. As the story progresses, Dimmesdale begins to grow paler and weaker and constantly clutches his heart .As it stands, this would meet the definition of frailty due to the actual physical weakness displayed by Dimmesdale. However, the real infirmity lies in Dimmesdale's heart. Since he cannot openly confess his sin like Hester, Dimmesdale lives with an ingrained sense of guilt. This causes pain to Dimmesdale, who implies that he would much rather bear Hester's punishment than his own, telling Roger, "But still, I think, it must be better for the sufferer to be free to show his sorrow, as he is making this poor woman Hester." , rather than hiding it in his heart"(Hawthorne 107). While not showing pure evil as Chillingworth does, Dimmesdale's internal suffering is yet another way in which Hawthorne portrays human nature as dark and fragile. Young Goodman Brown also shows examples of such fragility. After his encounter with evil in the woods, Brown discovers that everyone he knows and loves has made some form of pact with the Devil, including his beloved Faith. Having come to this realization, Brown becomes sardonic and cynical, finding no comfort in activities he previously enjoyed. Hawthorne states, “A stern, sad, darkly meditative, distrustful, if not desperate man, he became from the night of that fearful dream” (np). This is the ultimate example of “frailty and pain,” as Goodman Brown let one night transform his entire existence. Brown himself loses all hope in human nature and believes that it is ultimately downright evil, once he realizes that his cherished faith has been corrupted by the Devil. After his metamorphosis, Brown can no longer listen to sermons with the same fervor as before, and his relationships with others deteriorate. He then dies as a “white-haired corpse” (Hawthorne np) and is buried in an unadorned tomb. These images support the idea that Hawthorne intended to portray human existence as weak and full of pain. Setting as Character Another of Hawthorne's distinctive literary techniques is the use of setting as a silent character. The setting of Hawthorne's works has a huge impact on the lives of the characters, often integrating conflicts between characters. In this way, the setting influences the thoughts and emotions of the characters and pushes them to commit actions that they would not normally perform. Of all the settings presented in Hawthorne's works, one stands out as having the greatest impact: the forest. In the novel, the forest is described as “vast and eerie” (Hawthorne 62). The Puritans never ventured into these wild lands, as they were considered a place of unbridled wickedness and even the home of the Devil himself. The interaction within the forest is usually disturbing for Hawthorne's characters. As can be highlighted in both the novel and Young Goodman Brown, characters who venture into the forest often return after committing grave deeds. One of the main characters who interacts within the forest is Roger Chillingworth, widely regarded as an agent of evil in the novel. Roger emerges from the forest when he first appears in the novel in chapter 3, essentially emerging from the darkness. Roger becomes most clearly associated with darkness when he becomes entranced by his quest for revenge on Dimmesdale. It is therefore logical that Roger emerges from the supposed abode of the Devil, as ultimately the people of Boston believe that Roger is an agent of the Devil or the Devil himself. To summarize, the forest setting complements the evil nature of Roger's character, as it directly connects him to what the Puritans would have considered an abode of darkness and evil. In addition to its appearance in The Scarlet Letter, the forest as a setting has a huge impact on the characters of Young Goodman Brown. Without this crucial setup, Brown's entire predicament would not have occurred, as well as his fundamental change in personality. In essence, Brown's journey into the forest is not simply a journey to some foreign location, but rather a pact with the Devil himself. This is made evident from the beginning of the story where Hawthorne calls Brown's journey “his present evil purpose” (np). From the beginning of the story, the dark nature of the forest is established. Goodman Brown is described as having “taken a sad road, darkened by all the darkest trees of the forest” (Hawthorne,.