Short Story Reading: A Critical Analytical on Young Goodman Brown - Literature review Example

At this particular instance, it was revealed that the story starts with Goodman leaving his wife to go through a journey at nighttime. The setting is the literary element that is the focus of the current critical analysis because it provided visual images to the readers which assisted in a greater understanding of the meaning relayed in this narrative discourse. The initial setting revealed that the journey to be undertaken by Goodman Brown was at nighttime and where he apparently left his young wife at their abode to undertake an apparently dark purpose.

The purpose was partially revealed through the statements which were disclosed as “Goodman Brown felt justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose” (Hawthorne par. 8). At this scenario, readers start to anticipate and wonder where Goodman Brown would go and what important endeavor he needs to comply with to justify leaving his young wife, who, as the story revealed, he was married to for only three months. The deep dark forest was subsequently disclosed as part of the setting for the short story.

This was first indicated when Goodman allegedly met a man, a companion; someone who was expected to accompany him in his travel. It was stated that “it was now deep dusk in the forest, and deepest in that part of it where these two were journeying” (Hawthorne par. 13). The social circumstances that were eventually described as the story unfolded were also an instrumental part of the setting. Aside from meeting the man, who initially travelled with Goodman Brown at the start of the journey, he apparently met other characters such as Goody Cloyse, described as “a very pious and exemplary dame, who had taught him his catechism in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser” (Hawthorne par. 26). In addition, as Goodman Brown was resting, he apparently heard voices of people he knew: “he recognized the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin, jogging along quietly” (Hawthorne par. 42). Finally, "a grave and dark-clad company” (Hawthorne par. 56) were equipped to have been seen by Goodman as he apparently arrived at the exact scene for the purpose of his journey.

At this climatical setting, the meaning that the author intended to relay was finally revealed.