Young Goodman Brown in Review

The theme of Young Goodman Brown has deeply rooted elements drawn from the confines of this character's mind and views of his walk to allegory, leading him to dismiss his faith in God and live a lonely, piteous life. The theme is showcased through the characterization of Goodman Brown, through the point of view expressed by Hawthorne, as well as the style of the story addressed to readers.

The character of Goodman Brown towards the beginning of the story is full of innocence, vigor for life, and deep dread for his journey, especially since he is leaving his young Puritan wife alone. He truly left a good man; yet, as the story progresses, we see great shifts in Goodman Brown's character. The impact of the journey leaves him anxious and confused. As he sees individuals that he recognizes from his childhood, he continues with inquiry and equal dread. He is manipulated into continuing to the witches' coven by his fellow-traveler. As his anxiety and disbelief in the journey overwhelm him, he requests to stop and return to his home, stating, "With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!" (p.343). Yet, afterwards he hears the cry of his young wife, and continues on in the path, leaving his body and soul vulnerable to the devil. The When Young Goodman Brown is finally presented at the witches' coven along with Faith and sees the individuals from his youth, he loses all hope in the faith that he was brought up with. While he yearns for Faith to turn her eyes from the devil, he cannot. While the reader is left questioning the fantastical nature of the story, dream vs. reality; for Young Goodman Brown, the ceremony took part of his heart that belonged to the ability for him to put faith in God and deteriorated his ability to have intimacy with others, even his young wife, Faith.

The story being told in the third person, allows the reader to watch closely the actions of all individuals within the story, allowing the reader to question along with Goodman Brown the nature of the events that are unfolding in front of him. We are left questioning the realness of the journey that he is taking through the dark woods, as well as the coven. We are able to ponder with mystery the intent of the walk that he is taking with his fellow-traveler, as well as question the final action of Goodman Brown's ability to ward off the devil, along with Faith. My belief is that he doesn't; that he doesn't have the willpower to do so after the events of the evening. I believe he is left without the will-power to close his eyes, which is why he lives the rest of his life in great despair.

"There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree," (339) says Young Goodman Brown at the start of his journey. I believe this statement is greatly used to foreshadow the events that are to come. The style that is utilized by Hawthorne is quite mystical and leaves us with the romanticized view of the forest that Young Goodman Brown is walking into. The descriptions capture the dark nature of the walk that is ever increasing throughout the evening. Without the knowledge of the time that has passed on this venture, we are still guided into the darkness of the forest, allowing the reader to understand that the gloom is pending.

The combination of these elements help us understand how Goodman Brown is able to lose faith in God and walk with increasing doubt about the faith that he once had in his life. The downward spiral of Goodman Brown's character is expressed throughout the journey with this "partner" leading to the witches' coven. The point of view leaves the reader yearning for more understanding about the situation, leaving us in mystery. We are also far enough from Goodman Brown's internal thought processes that we can have understanding of what he is going through, but are not indulged with his internal thoughts which would give us too much information. The style of the story written with some foreshadowing and detailed descriptions of the atmosphere/setting of the woods help create a deep gloom that is impending for Young Goodman Brown. Together, these elements help create and express the theme of Goodman Brown losing his faith and help allow the reader to understand how he could for the rest of his life question the reality of the coven and slowly leave behind his belief in God and faith.

In conclusion, these elements separately could be strong elements of story to a reader, but, combined they create a great theme that is distributed throughout the entire story, leaving the reader engaged and able to ponder the morality of the situation as well as the depths of Goodman Brown's character.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel "Young Goodman Brown." The Story and Its Writer. Ann Charters. Bedford/St. Martins Boston, MA 2007. 339-348.