This is a really fascinating question and one which has
troubled me as well. You are right in identifying that there is no real "reason"
established for Young Goodman Brown deciding to go into the woods and meet with the
Devil. The only reason that I can come up with is that this is Young Goodman Brown's
last frolic with evil before settling down for the rest of his life as a good Puritan.
Note what he says to himself as he leaves Faith who is reluctant to let her husband of
three months go off for his mysterious quest:
"Poor little Faith!" though he, for his heart
smote him. "What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too.
Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what
work is to be done to-night. But no, no; 't would kill her to think it. Well, she's a
blessed angel on earth; and after this one night I'll cling to her skirts and follow her
to heaven."
This seems to
support my conclusion that this is one last fling with evil before he determines to
"cling to the skirts" of Faith (clearly an allegorical character representing Christian
faith) for the rest of his life. Having made this decision, the text then tells us that
he felt "justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose." Thinking of the
future good he will do seems to make him happier about the immediate evil he is
planning.
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