The Common Traits shared Between Goodman Brown and The grandmother - Essay Example

Character Comparison Nathaniel Hawthorne uses characterization appropriately to present the themes throughout his short story “Young Goodman Brown”. Through a proper use of characters, the short story is considered an excellent literature portraying the seventeenth-century Puritan society. On the other hand, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” written by Flannery OConnor uses characterization to present human pettiness and manipulation. Although the two short stories relay a different message, some characters relate and contrast in their personalities.

Though different at some instances, the character traits of Goodman Brown, the protagonist in “Young Goodman Brown” and The grandmother, the Protagonist in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” are closely related hence used appropriately to present themes and enhance flow of the stories. Both characters are dominant as evident in the two stories. Dominance is a situation where by an individual is in control of a situation and determined in achieving an ultimate goal. Further, the individual believes and trusts the heart and mind in efforts to fulfill one’s desire.

The grandmother proves indomitable when the idea of going to Florida on their vacation is raised in the family. Through her dominant character, she does not approve the idea and tries convincing the family otherwise (Diyanni 203). She wins her family’s confidence and henceforth alters their plans, which later led them to their tragedy. Although she is determined in fulfilling her desires of going to Tennessee, her resolution lacks importance and she ultimately resorts to deception in order to get her way (204).

This then carries heavy consequences. On the other hand, Goodman Brown proves dominant in his determination to go on a journey to the forest to accomplish an unknown task (84). Despite pleas from his wife, Faith, he is stubborn in fulfilling his desire of meeting the unknown stranger. Just like The grandmother, his decision leads him to trouble since his encounter with the stranger who is depicted as the devil turns him wicked in everything he perceives (85).Second, both characters are religious.

First, Goodman proves his religious character when he reminds his wife to say her prayers before going to bed (85). This portrays some spiritual aspect in them. In addition, when Goodman is convinced by the devil to take a walk with him, he murmurs that good and honest Christians would never approve such a walk. This shows his stand on Christianity as a religion. Likewise, The grandmother is portrayed as religious during her last moments when her life is at venture. In such a situation, she offers a prayer to Jesus.

Although a Christian, The grandmother does not live in accordance to Christianity (207). She remembers Jesus when she is about to die and prays for redemption. She even goes to a point of asking the Misfit to pray for her. The Misfit however denies her pleas and shoots her. In this case, she is not concerned of his salvation but her survival.In contrast, The grandmother is a manipulator. She stands by her decisions and maneuvers others. Although she is aware of the risk she is putting the family’s life by her deception, she still does not change her mind on the idea (204).

She is selfish and satisfies her desires by manipulating others. From the story, she is only able to let go off her manipulative ways only after her death. On the other hand, Goodman is maneuvered. This is evident when he decides to follows his heart’s desires. He turns away from God and becomes a captive of the devil (86). In so doing, he portrays weak faith. He is manipulated by the devil to choose iniquity rather than good. He no longer believes that good he always stood for, ever existed and he completely changes to a man who views wickedness in everything he perceives.

In conclusion, the two characters are immensely similar in their traits. They pose great interest on how they convey their characteristics to draw the attention of their readers. However, they also differ in some personalities in relation to the message they impart to the readers. This becomes an incentive to the readers making them yearn to read more and more of the two short stories. Both authors make use of the protagonists to make the stories flow and present themes accordingly.Work CitedDiyanni, Robert.

Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 6th ed. Boston: Thomson, 2006.