These are the fist Gothic novels that we have read that are taken place in America. It is very interesting because it relates to American history-- something we are all very familiar with. It brings a twist of uncertainty to something so certain.
I think that Young Goodman Brown also points to inherently good or inherently evil in human beings, similarly to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This time, Goodman Brown goes to a satanic meeting in the middle of the night and sees all of his loved ones in the same meeting. It forever changes his outlook on life, now knowing what his loved ones are living for. Hawthorne plays on the word "Faith" meaning believing, but also using the word as Goodman Brown's wife's name. Goodman Brown says things like, "Faith kept me back a while" and "My Faith is gone!". Both of these quotations can be interpreted to be about his wife or his personal faith.
The Legend of Sleepy Hallow is about Ichabod Crane trying to come into a sleepy little town, and ultimate believe he can run it. Little does he know what he is getting into. While he is there, he hears about the evil spirit of the Headless Horseman. I think it is interesting to read these stories that are placed in America, and to see what how the author interprets the situation and adds their own element of gothic to America. Here Irving is able to set the gothic scene in this small little town that seemed to be tiny and quaint, but in reality the scariest spirit from the Revolutionary War roams the dark nights.
I agree with you in the fact that it is interesting how they set a gothic element into America. I thought it was weird on how the town reacted to the headless horseman in the fact that they just accepted him and kept living trying to stay far away from him as possible.
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