What might this use of the staff in the story say about Hawthorne’s view of evil?

Exercise 3

Based on the story "Young Goodman Brown," what does the staff represent in the story?

Is it the staff that leads Brown onward in his journey, or is it Brown’s own choices leading him forward?

What might this use of the staff in the story say about Hawthorne’s view of evil?

For example, would Hawthorne say that a supernatural force leads humans to do dark deeds, or are humans perfectly capable of leading themselves into evil?