In Nathan Hawthorne's short story, “Young Goodman Brown,” the plot unfolds through each stage of Freytag's Pyramid. I will discuss rising action, climax, falling action, discovery, and reversal. I will explain why each of these sections is important to the reader. Complications begin when Goodman Brown walks out the door. Tensions between Goodman Brown and his wife Faith begin the rising action of the story. The first complication is between Goodman Brown and Faith. Goodman Brown has an errand that he never reveals to Faith or the reader. She asks him not to go, as she feels something is wrong, he insists that he must leave her. I believe this undisclosed commission serves to heighten the suspense for the reader. The next complication is when Goodman Brown turns to leave. He is hesitant and begins to question his own judgments. He justifies his actions by predicting that after this commission he will never leave Faith's side. The road towards which he is walking brings more tension. “The dreary road, obscured by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which scarcely stood aside to let the narrow path pass, and immediately closed behind” (325). the road brings suspense to the reader. He said “There might be an evil Indian behind every tree,” (326), then he sees the figure of a man. Goodman Brown nervously follows the old man as they talk and walk down the street. Goodman Brown notes the old man's cane "which had the shape of a great black serpent" (326). The man pushes Goodman Brown down the path. Goodman Brown finally stops and says, “My purpose now is to return from whence I came” (327). The old man's diabolical persistence in continuing down this long, dark path adds to the suspense. The reader asks: what is so important? Does Goodman Brown run away or move forward? This leads to the third complication. In the forest Goodman Brown sees Goody Cloyse, once his spiritual advisor and teacher. The evil old man throws his staff on the ground and she disappears. This makes Goodman Brown believe she is a witch. He also sees Deacon Gookin and the minister in the ominous forest. This places a burden on Goodman Brown that he can hardly bear. These should be the three purest citizens. Yet, he sees them in a place “where no church has ever gathered or no Christian has ever prayed alone,” (329).