Young Goodman Brown

Markeia Scruggs
October 19, 2009
Lit Response

“Young Goodman Brown”
“Young Goodman Brown” is a puzzling story that has many factors that help to contribute to that mysteriousness. In this story, he leaves his newly wed wife to journey into the forest in which he plans to return the next morning. Although Brown has some suspicions of unholy dealings, he continues on his journey. The story is set in Salem, Massachusetts, which at the time was big on witchery, and feeds into the whole Puritanism and American Gothicism ideal. The fact that it is during the time of the Salem Witch Trials gives the story more intensity.
During his journey through the forest, he finds that many townspeople are coming to the meeting. The fact that Christians, ministers and deacons from his town accompany him seems to reassure Brown that his destination is in fact safe, though it contradicts the actual meaning of the trip. Hawthorne writes, “It vexed him the more, because he could have sworn, were such a thing possible, that he recognized the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin, jogging along quietly, as they were wont to do, when bound to some ordination or ecclesiastical council. While yet within hearing, one of the riders stopped to pluck a switch.” The fact that he realizes that these “holy” and trustworthy people are accompanying him gives Brown a sense of security. He once again is swayed to continue on his journey.
Upon actually realizing what is going on, Brown tries to save his wife, Faith, from being converted. The text states, “Faith! Shouted Goodman Brown, in a voice of agony and desperation; and the echoes of the forest mocked him, crying, Faith! Faith! As if bewildered wretches were seeking her all through the wilderness…Look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one.” After that moment, Brown finds himself alone in the forest. He travels back to Salem where his life seems back to normal. Nothing seems to have changed, but Brown knows what he encountered, he just doesn’t know if it is reality or a dream. Soon Brown dies, but his family seems to take light of it. “And when he had lived long, and was borne to his grave a hoary corpse, followed by Faith, an aged woman, and children and grandchildren, a goodly procession, besides neighbors not a few, they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom.” Hawthorne writes.
“Young Goodman Brown”, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a mysterious story of Goodman Brown’s encounters. On his journey he has many strange encounters and many hints that warn him, he just doesn’t listen until it’s too late. The setting creates great imagery which is a contributing factor to its American Gothicism characteristics. These factors help to paint a picture, that in this case can’t be solved.