Young Goodman Brown By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Setting Literal setting Salem, Massachusetts Approximately late 1690s-early 1700s Village culture centres around Puritanism, the religion of the villagers The village is surrounded by a forest, where most of the story takes place Majority of the story takes place during one night

Setting Symbolic setting Sunset: a time of endings. Also a signal that night is coming. Nighttime: a time of darkness, danger, and evil. It is hard to see in, and has a sense of mystery. The forest: a mysterious, dark, and foreboding area Brown journeys through. Could be seen as his conscience, soul, or other inner life; as literally walking through evil; or as the Forest of Eden, where Brown will be tempted.

Setting Symbolic setting The path: The “right way” that Brown tries to walk upon. It is narrow, winding, and hard to follow, with dangers along the way. Its disappearance is not a good thing!

Characters Goodman Brown He’s a newly married young man. At the beginning of the story, he has a lack of understanding of the world. He is uninitiated in its truths. “Goodman” was the term used instead of “Mister”, although it still carries symbolic meaning “Brown” refers to his ordinariness—he is Iike every other villagers. Similar to how we say “Keeping up with the Jones’” or “the Smiths”

Characters Faith Brown’s wife is the physical embodiment of his religious faith. Faith is pure and good, in Brown’s eyes. Pink ribbons: the connection between Brown and his wife. Pink = white [purity] + red [passion, etc.] Faith’s communion: Faith is being united with evil

Characters Goody Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, minister: Brown has respected these people in the past for their seeming piety. Villagers in the forest clearing: Everyday people that Brown has lived alongside all his life, and respected.

Characters The traveller Carries a walking staff that resembles a snake. (Does it come alive? Does it transport people?) He closely resembles Brown, like a grandfather looks like his grandson, and has known Brown’s family in the past. Many reasons: Seems “familiar” to Brown, so he’s likely to trust him Reflects the similarities between the two Indicates an ancestral heritage of evil

Characters The traveller Leads the ceremony in the forest Is familiar with all the people and their sins Wants Brown to join them (e.g. offers him the staff)

Plot Brown agreed to meet with the traveller, but wants to return home as soon as possible. The traveller, most likely the devil, discusses the nature of humanity. Brown is reluctant to admit that he may have evil in common with other people. Along the journey, Brown encounters examples of people he thought good who have evil: his forefathers and current religious leaders.

Plot Brown comes the forest clearing and sees a Black Mass—a group of his neighbours, as well as his wife, communing with the devil. He is overwrought to see Faith amongst the group, and begs her to refrain from participating. At that moment, Brown’s memory is effectively erased. He wakes up the next morning, not knowing if any of it really happened.

Plot Brown lives the rest of his life in fear and doubt, not knowing who to trust.

Theme Hawthorne wants us to consider how we encounter evil in the world. In his view, evil is commonplace and can be found in everyone. Our encounters with it help determine our natures. Those who accept it as part of humanity can continue to live normal lives. Those who cannot reconcile the dual nature of good and evil, however, are doomed to lives of paranoia, mistrust, and fear.