Nathaniel Hawthorne

Born 1804 in Salem, Mass. At age four, Nathaniel had to go live with his mother's brothers, after his father, a ship's captain, died during a voyage His family had deep roots in Salem, dating back to Puritan ancestors in the 1600s, linked to judge of Salem witch trials After learning of witch trial participation, he added the “w” in his last name After attending Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, Hawthorne returned to Salem, where he spent a dozen years reading and developing his skills as a fiction writer until his death in 1864

One of most well known and frequently read short stories is “Young Goodman Brown”(1835)- historical allegory Lots of elements within the story are typical Hawthorne, such as the superstitious, Romantic elements and the Puritanical setting

Members of a Protestant group in England and New England in the 1600s and 1700s who opposed the Church of England God’s elect- If not a part, then condemned to hell Strict moral code caused them to see evil where didn’t necessarily exist; sought to eliminate satanic influence Story true to Salem atmosphere at time of witch trials

Puritans viewed forest as Devil’s Domain Native American dwelling grounds Literal and symbolic place of habitat for Devil in story A trip in the middle of the night would be considered a questionable act

Young Goodman Brown His wife, Faith Significance of their names Associated Colors Indications Young Goodman Brown goes on late night trip

Faith pleads with her husband to reconsider his journey “Dost thou doubt me already?” Blesses him, hopes he finds all well when returns “He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through…” Often a place associated with danger, obscurity, solitude, confusion, the unknown, evil, sin, and death Nothing good occurs in the middle of the night in the forest

Passes a crook in the road Beholds “the figure of a man, in grave and decent attire, seated at the foot of an old tree” “You are late” “Faith kept me back a while”

Begin journeying into the deepest part of the forest YGB bears “considerable resemblance to [him]” in expression; might’ve been taken for father and son Older man- “indescribable air of one who knew the world” Fiend invites YGB to travel farther into the woods, telling him of his general acquaintance with people of the town “We are a people of prayer, and good works to boot, and abide no such wickedness”

YGB addresses Devil as his friend Tells him he wants to travel no further Devil lets YGB know that many have “drunk the communion wine” with him, along with his well- acquaintance with Brown’s father and grandfather Brown is astonished; still clings to Faith Fiend offers staff to YGB, lest he become weary on his journey See another figure in the distance…

Meaning of name Catechism teacher Moral and spiritual adviser YGB is surprised to see her in the forest Well-acquainted with the “old friend,” who touches her with his serpent-like staff

“Bore likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent…assisted be the uncertain light” “He threw it down at her Feet, where, perhaps, it assumed life, being one of the rods which its owner had formerly lent to the Egyptian magi” Biblical Allusions Genesis 3 Exodus 7:8-12

Adam Curious about forbidden knowledge Encounter serpent Enticed by a tree Suffer great fall from innocence Young Goodman Brown Curious about forbidden knowledge Meets with Devil Enticed by a forest Suffer great fall from innocence

The Minister and Deacon Gookin also spotted in the forest YGB hears the men say, “There is a goodly young woman to be taken into communion” YBG beholds diverse crowd baptized into perverse devil worship and commune with the enemy “Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome again, my children, to the communion of your race”

"My Faith is gone!" cried he, after one stupefied moment.” Faith, like Eve (desiring forbidden knowledge), loses her innocence after attending baptism "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.“ At this point, YGB loses his Faith

At the last moment before his and his wife's baptism into the evil society gathered in the forest, Brown urges his wife: "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One." “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you” Did not know if Faith obeyed YGB or not Awakes in peaceful solitude, sees pious men and Faith carry out normal activities But the damage is done, and he becomes "a stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man"

“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.”

What is the cause of Goodman’s entering into the forest? Is this a dream or reality? If this were a dream, what effect does this have on Goodman Brown?

Everything is not always as it seems. Evil can taint those who seem upright. That which appears to be good may, indeed, be evil. Humans tend to prejudge others based on insufficient evidences and biased preconceptions.