Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Young Goodman Brown," a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, follows the journey of a newlywed man named Goodman Brown as he ventures into a dark forest one evening, despite his wife Faith's concerns for his safety. The story begins with Brown's promise to return home, but as he walks deeper into the woods, he encounters a mysterious figure who resembles his grandfather and who introduces him to unsettling truths about the pious residents of Salem. Throughout his journey, Brown wrestles with his faith and the revelation that those he once viewed as virtuous are capable of hypocrisy and sin.
As he observes the mingling of the seemingly righteous with the wicked, Brown's faith is shattered, particularly when he loses sight of his wife, represented by the pink ribbons that flutter down from the skies. This moment of despair signifies a turning point, leading him to question the goodness of humanity and the existence of evil within himself and others. Upon his return to Salem, Brown is forever changed, becoming distrustful and joyless, ultimately unable to appreciate the world around him. The story presents themes of faith, disillusionment, and the complexities of human nature, leaving readers to ponder whether Brown's experience was real or a mere dream, while also exploring the nuances of morality.
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
First published: 1835
Type of work: Short fiction
Type of plot: Allegory
Time of plot: Early 1690s
Locale: Salem, colony of Massachusetts
Principal Characters
Goodman Brown , a villagerFaith , his wifeAn apparent devil ,A minister ,Deacon Gookin ,Goody Cloyse , a catechism teacher
The Story
Newlywed Goodman Brown sets forth at sunset for the nearby forest, where he apparently has an appointment. Leaving Salem village, he promises his wife, Faith, that he will return after this single night. Confused by Brown’s odd behavior and mysterious errand, Faith fails to convince him to remain at home, or at least to delay his journey until the following morning. Criticizing her for doubting his purposes, Brown nevertheless seems conscience-stricken about his own motivations. He vows to be true to Faith and to their religious faith—after this one night. His wife can only hope that this experience, whatever it is, will not change their lives for the worse.
Soon after he walks into the darkening forest, Brown expresses fear that in the gloomy wilderness he could easily be ambushed by the devil himself. He then sees a man (actually, the text suggests that he looks “like” a man) who bears an uncanny resemblance to Brown’s own venerated grandfather. This man uses a crooked walking stick that resembles a serpent—from a distance and in the dim light it even seems to wiggle. Asked by the man why he is late for his appointment, Brown responds that Faith had delayed him. As the two walk and talk, Brown periodically voices his apprehension and says he must return to Salem and Faith.
Asserting his family’s virtue, Brown disbelieves his companion’s account of being well acquainted with the people of New England, including Brown’s father and grandfather. Brown then observes the man meeting with his pious catechism teacher, Goody Cloyse, who exclaims the devil’s name when the man startles her with a touch of the serpent-staff. She reveals her diabolical deeds as the two chat.
Brown congratulates himself with the thought that, however evil Goody Cloyse proves to be, he will return to Salem with a clear conscience to talk of religious truths with the minister and Deacon Gookin. Brown then overhears the minister and the deacon discuss an unholy congregation and new converts. Apparent evidence mounts that, indeed, the devil is intimate with even moral and religious New Englanders. Brown is especially troubled by the indiscriminate mingling of the godly and the ungodly. However, he remains defiant and maintains that he still has Faith, whereupon the pink ribbons of his wife flutter down from the sky.
As if struck by a blow, at this instant Brown is overwhelmed by disillusionment: Even his Faith has gone the way of Satan. Despairing and hysterical, he now believes that there is no goodness and the world is wholly evil.
Brown is led to a clearing in the forest where pine trees blaze like gigantic candles above an altar made of stone. The satanic congregation’s holy hymns have unholy lyrics. Brown and Faith stand as converts, soon to be initiated into this bizarre congregation and the belief that evil is the sole and essential nature of humankind. They will soon even gaze upon each other’s disgusting sinfulness. The devil dips his hand into water that looks like blood, reaching forth to initiate the young couple with the mark of this perverse baptism. In a final impulse of virtue Brown tells Faith to resist Satan. Then there is nothing—no blazing trees, no baptismal blood, no ominously chanting congregation. Brown finds himself alone in the dark, damp, and cool forest. Disoriented, he slowly wanders back to Salem at sunrise.
Was this episode in the woods real, or was it merely a dream? In either case, the experience destroys Brown’s ability to accept and enjoy life. Back in Salem, he is ever after a moody and depressed man, distrustful and incapable of joy. All he sees is the evil that has been revealed to him; all he perceives, therefore, is human hypocrisy. He cannot endure listening to preaching and prayers and hymn singing; he snatches a child away from Goody Cloyse as she instructs the girl about religious truths. Villagers cannot understand Brown and his strange and inexplicable transformation. After a long and lonely life, he dies despairing and joyless.
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