It has a dual meaning reflecting the allegorical nature of the entire story. Literally he is referring to his wife, Faith, delaying his departure from home and subsequently his arrival. Symbolically, it has been Goodman Brown's faith in God which has kept him from the devil's clutches before this moment. Further, the fact that the stranger bears a "considerable resemblance" to the title character indicates that he will be required to confront the evil within himself as the more insidious danger.
Goodman Brown meets the Devil, who appears in the forest as a mysterious man resembling an older version of himself. The Devil tempts Goodman Brown and leads him to question the morality and faith of the people in his community.
Goodman Brown went into the forest to meet with the devil and explore his own beliefs and faith.
Goodman Brown goes into the forest to meet with the devil and explore his own inner darkness and temptation.
The Devil and all his followers - which includes his young wife faith.
Young Goodman Brown went into the forest to meet with the devil and explore his own beliefs and faith.
The Devil himself.
The devil takes the form of a older man with a walking stick shaped like a snake. This is from the story Young Goodman Brown written by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
originally for the purpose of meeting an unknown person(the devil), a task. but after the opportunity to releave himself of the task which the devil brought goodman brown to the forest for, curiosity of familiar puritan aquaintences and dispair at the sound of his wife, faith's, voice.causes goodman to be led to face his puritan faith as a sacreligious hypocritical nonreligion.
That Goodman see nothing wrong in his conversations with the devil but is abhorred at anybody else doing so.
The old man's staff in "Young Goodman Brown" symbolizes his power and authority over evil, as well as his guidance and influence over the young protagonist. It serves as a representation of the devil's manipulation and temptation of Goodman Brown to stray from his path of righteousness.
Young Goodman Brown found his wife's pink ribbon in a tree branch along the path he was walking as he journeyed through the forest to meet with the devil for the unholy gathering. This discovery led Goodman Brown to question the virtue and faithfulness of his wife, Faith.
"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving is a story about a man who makes a deal with the devil for wealth, while "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne follows a man who loses his faith after encountering the devil in the forest. The key difference is that in Irving's story, the protagonist willingly enters into a pact with the devil, while in Hawthorne's story, the protagonist is tempted into doubting his beliefs.