Like those of Deacon Gookin and Goody Cloyse, who in the community are considered the most pious and highly spiritual people. Goodman Brown testifies that the Deacon and Goody associate with various sinners in the form of loose men and wretched women saying that, "It was strange to see that the good did not turn away from the wicked, nor were sinners humbled by the saints." (Hawthorne 458). The path in the woods represents temptation and evil of which Brown is immediately aware and states, "There might be a devil Indian behind every tree" and adds, "What if the devil himself were at my side!" (Hawthorne 454). The staff carried by the dark figure is represented by Brown as a serpent who says: "But the only thing in him, which could be considered remarkable, was his staff, which had the shape of a great black serpent, so curiously wrought, which could almost be seen twisting and wriggling, like a living serpent.” (Hawthorne 453) This may also lead the reader to believe that the dark figure is actually the devil because the serpent is an archetype of the devil, or something like that. The pink ribbons are mentioned again later in the story as they fall from the sky: "But something flew lightly through the air and got caught in the branch of a tree. The young man grabbed it and saw a pink ribbon." (Hawthorne 457). This symbolizes Brown's loss of his "Faith", referring to both his wife and his faith in