Nathaniel Hawthornes Short Story Young Goodman Brown - Research Paper Example

Young Goodman brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story Young Goodman Brown portrays the conflicts between personal freedom and conventionality in the life of a young Puritan named Goodman Brown who was drawn in to an agreement with the devil. The story is considered as one of the most widely accepted literary works which clearly explores the mischievous life of 17th century Puritan society. The theme of the story is related to the madness surrounding the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Hawthorne presents the conflict between good and evil through the perspective of his protagonist Goodman Brown. Through the obliteration of Brown’ illusions about goodness and virtue the writer criticize social customs and manners. Hawthorne presents his protagonist as a powerful instrument to convey his thoughts and ideas about the social and religious customs which took place in 17th century Puritan society. He develops the story through the historical events like black mass, Salem Witchcrafts Trials which happened in 17th century life. Hawthorne’s short story Young Goodman Brown represents the conflicts between good and evil which explored uncertainty of Puritan beliefs in God. In the beginning of the story Hawthorne presents his hero as an unknown errand in the forest, who leaves Faith, his wife of three months. In this journey, he meets a man, who carries a serpent as staff in his hand. The image of thick forest in the story represents human mind with mixed feelings and beliefs. Gary Hoppenstand and Ray Broadus Browne observe; “Hawthorne’s symbolic forests reveal the very turbulence of the human mind” (Hoppenstand & Browne128). Brown finds resemblances between him and the old man in physical appearance. In their way, Brown and the old man meets Mistress Cloyse, and received her invitation. Hawthorne pictures these events through Brown’s illusions. His illusion about goodness and virtue are destroyed when he found that the townspeople, spiritual leaders and his wife are participating Black Mass. As a man of modest life style, Brown fails to admit the spiritual deterioration of his wife and fellow people. It is crystal clear that, Hawthorne’s view about black magic and witchcraft which took place in 17th century Puritan society is revealed in his short story Young Goodman Brown. In this respect, critic Harold Bloom rightly comments that; “As Brown commences travelling, Hawthorne likens his forest path to the spiritual journey of a man questioning his religious faith” (Bloom 108). Brown feels he is flying through the forest with the help of an apple –wood decorated by the stranger for him. When they arrived in the middle of the forest at mid night, Brown sees the entire town people gathered there. In a state of fear and anxiety, Brown identifies that the people celebrate witches Sabbath and a kind of uncertainty and doubts defeats him .As Elizabeth Reis rightly comments; “ Goodman Brown’s first steps in to the woods symbolize the ambivalence of a faithful Puritan” (Reis 199). Brown’s anxiety reaches its zenith when he sees the ceremony to baptize the new comer in to the mystery of sin. With a sudden shock, Brown recognizes the new comer –Goodman Brown and his new wife Faith. Hawthorne depicts the character of Faith as a symbol of extreme love in the story. She symbolizes the love between man and woman, the love and devotion from man towards the mighty God. It is through her character the author discloses his adamant belief in God. His own words clarify Brown’s loyalty and trust towards his wife Faith. He says; "shes a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night, Ill cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven" (Hawthorne 9). Readers have to note the fact that Hawthorne permits his protagonist to bring his strong belief back in God through the devotion and affection towards his beloved wife Faith. But in the dream he gets frightened and disappointed in the presence of wife. Similarly, Hawthorne illustrates the image of staff as a symbol of evil in human nature. It makes one recall the serpent in Eden garden which insisted Eve to turn against God as portrayed in the Bible. In his journey Goodman Brown is forced to attend the devil’s party and as a result he loses his grip on his stanch belief in God. The character of Goodman Brown represents the uncertainty and inconsistency of the social and religious life of the Puritans and their belief in evil forces and witchcraft. “The belief in the devil and his temptations was strongly rooted in Early American tradition” (Point Park College et al. 44). Brown’s belief in God is taken aback when he meets the woman Goody Cloyse and she becomes the spiritual leader who taught him the principles of religion. Here, one can see that the man accepts Goody Cloyse as his spiritual leader and his moral adviser. In the same way, reader can comprehend that Hawthorne makes a conscious effort to criticize Puritan state of mind to believe in witchcraft and other rituals that enrich evil forces. Brown no longer keeps his status as the follower of Goody Cloyse and he realizes that the woman was not fit for heavenly status. The next meeting between Brown and the strangers destroys his faith completely. With full of disappointment Brown cries; “There is no good on the earth; and sin is but a name. Come Devil; for to thee is this world given” (Hawthorne 23). Having a sudden burst of emotion Brown realizes that the whole forest is filled with people and their strange voice. The creaking sound of the trees, the howling sound of the beasts, and the yell of heathens frighten him much. When the devil’s ceremony begins, Brown becomes unconscious and he loses his self control. After the ceremony, Brown meets his wife Faith but he cannot find the earlier grace and heavenly presence in his wife and towards the end of the ceremony Brown feels isolated. Next morning it is very hard for Brown to separate his dream from reality. He cannot cop up with the reality that evil conquered everything and his thoughts planted the seeds of doubt in his mind about his wife and fellow people. Conflicts between good and evil haunts Brown’s mind. The book entitled Take a Walk on the Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses by R. Gary Patterson remarks;“Young Goodman Brown and his wife can be considered allegorical characters associated with the struggle between good and evil” (Patterson 6). Unlike the beginning, in his dream, Brown fears and hates his wife Faith and other religious leaders and he considers them as the agents of evil. In the end, Goodman Brown denies to accept devil’s communion through his decision to leave his wife and fellow beings. He realizes that the dream throws him in to a world of insecurity. He recognizes his faults and selects a lonely life to regain his real belief in God. It is a clear signal for reader to understand how Hawthorne amalgamates Puritan religious life in to his story. Roger Lundin underlines this view by saying; “From the earliest days, the Puritans had labored to free the redeemed members of the covenant community from the wicked past as well as from their wicked peers” (Lundin 145). Reader can see that Brown’s miserable end represents the Puritan efforts to free from the influences of covenant community. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that Nathanael Hawthorne’s short story Young Goodman Brown represents the social and religious life of 17th century Puritan society. Through the character of Goodman Brown, Hawthorne depicts the conflicts between good and evil that existed in the mind of a man who lived in Puritan community. Hawthorne discloses his literary craftsmanship through the use of various literary techniques like symbolism and allegory. The entire story represents Goodman’s eventful journey which reflects man’s transformation from good to evil. In the end, Hawthorne strongly establishes his faith in God. Character of Brown in Young Goodman Brawn mirrors the uncertainty of Puritan beliefs in God. Brown’s decision to leave his wife and fellow beings and his miserable end reveals Puritan’s effort to free from the influence of covenant community. Works Cited Bloom H. Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown. Ed. Illustrated. Infobase Publishing, 2005. Print. Hawthorne N. Young Goodman Brown. Wildside Press LLC, 2005.Print. Hoppenstand G, Browne R B. The Gothic world of Stephen King: landscape of nightmares. Popular Press, 1987. Print. Lundin R. The culture of interpretation: Christian faith and the postmodern world. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1993. Print. Patterson R. G. Take a Walk on the Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses. Ed. Illustrated. Simon and Schuster, 2004. Print. Point Park College, Pennsylvania Folklore Society, Lycoming College. Keystone folklore quarterly, Volume 10. Simon Bronner, 1965. Print. Reis E. Damned women: sinners and witches in Puritan New England. Ed. Illustrated. Cornell University Press, 1997. Print. Read More