Faith Asundered

“Young Goodman Brown,” by Hawthorne presents a story of lost faith fostered by unattainable purity and bastardization of institutions by their leaders. Goodman Brown is a Puritan who decides to take partake in a walk with the devil under the guise that this will indeed be his last walk. However, as he continues he witnesses members of his congregation also journeying to worship he-who-shall-not-be-named (Voldermort style). Taken aback, in the end he decides to take back his agreement with the fallen angel and wakes up to find himself both untainted and able to persecute others with the keen eye of a true Puritan/ stupid person. The shepherds that he so trusted to guide him to righteousness were none other than Voldermort worshiper all.
Whilst traversing through the forest Brown witnesses the Deacon and the minister on their way to the jolly-hell-bound-orgy/orientation. Those who had led him to his faith in turn, appeared to be faithless which leads Brown to question “What God doth the wizard pray to?” (p. 241). Which also leads to what God does Brown prey to? By the leaders of the Church succumbing to sin it is illustrated that no one could be pure by the strict standards of Puritans; all those who believe themselves to be so just believe that their transgressions are not as severe as others and then must judge those around to feel elevated, which is what Brown does in the end, though he himself had talked with the Devil and may have had communication with him before.
If those who govern the Church are sinners than all those who have followed are sinners. Though Puritans held a façade of innocence which enabled them to brutally chastise those who were visible sinners, Hawthorne knows that no one can be perfect. This formality of purity leads Brown and possibly Hawthorne to question their faith and caused the former to lose his. Seeing the world in what he believes is in true light Brown loses his hope in purity, caused by the duality of good and evil presented in the story, which is exhibited by the clergy; lost he wallows in sadness for the rest of his faithless days, for though the Devil sought him, God did not reach out his hand.