The opening of this story echoes a common Biblical storyline because of Goodman Brown's decision to go into the wilderness echoes Jesus (and other prophets) going into the wilderness to be tempted by evil.
Explanation:
At the beginning of the story Goodman Brown decides to go in a mysterious journey, far away from his beloved wife faith, there is a metaphor in here that shows that he leaves because he was being called and tempted by sin and his faith was not strong enough to stop him, the other appreciation we can have is that it was a test for him to pass through temptation and return to his faith.
