“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

Summary

“Young Goodman Brown” is a symbolic and depressing tale of a young puritan gentleman who decides to go deep into the woods one night and he finds out that some of the respected individuals in his town may be secretly serving the devil. He even visits his wife Faith at a weird ritual. Regardless of the truth or illusion, Goodman Brown loses his faith in all people and spends the second part of his life in sorrow and uncertainty.

 

Characters:

•         Goodman Brown- A Puritan young man who loses his belief of humanity.

•         Faith- His wife whose pink ribbons are the symbols of innocence.

•         Old Man- This is some sort of a mysterious man who entices Goodman Brown.

·       Goody Cloyse, Deacon Gookin and the Minister- Respected townspeople is shown to have an ugly side.

 

Plot Elements:

•         Exposition: Goodman Brown bids farewell to his wife, Faith and embarks on a strange trip to the woods.

•         Rising Action: He encounters a man who is considered as evil and tempts him. On his way, Goodman Brown encounters numerous respected people in his village heading to the dark ceremony.

•         Climax: During the ceremony he notices Faith and shouts at her to fight the devil. All at once everything goes away.

•         Conclusion: Goodman Brown goes home but thereafter he can never trust anyone. He spends the remaining days of his life miserable and unhappy.

 

Analysis

This story is full of mystery, symbolism and morals. I enjoyed the way Hawthorne symbolized the forest to illustrate the temptation and the unknown. Entering into the woods, Goodman Brown felt like he was being tested on his faith. It demonstrated how much the fear and doubt can ruin the happiness of the person.

I pitied Goodman Brown since he lost perspective to view people as good. Although all the weird ritual was a dream, it transformed him. I found the story thinking of the ways in which being suspicious and negative can be so dangerous.

I found the pink ribbons in Faith to be an effective symbol. They were a symbol of innocence and righteousness and when one of them collapsed, it was as if Goodman Brown was losing his hope. Young Goodman Brown is an unforgettable lesson that losing faith in God, people, or love can make one live a lonely household.