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Young Goodman Brown by Hawthorne
Introduction
Young Goodman Brown, allegorically written by Nathanial Hawthorne, focuses on the regressive dream of a young puritan man, lives in a small town of Salem ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"yM5jhZ0I","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). Through various encounters, Young Goodman Brown is compelled to bend his beliefs on religion and evil nature in the world. The tale of Young Goodman Brown is a portrayal of puritan beliefs and the struggle of an individual between evil and good ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"IoKbMZt8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","plainCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":500,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"itemData":{"id":500,"type":"article-journal","archive":"JSTOR","container-title":"The Journal of Narrative Technique","ISSN":"0022-2925","issue":"3","page":"221-228","source":"JSTOR","title":"Narrative Structure and Theme in \"Young Goodman Brown\"","volume":"12","author":[{"family":"Hostetler","given":"Norman H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1982"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hostetler, 1982). The controversy behind puritanism is well established in the short story, which is explored by Goodman in various ways ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"fctFVS7o","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","plainCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":497,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"itemData":{"id":497,"type":"article-journal","abstract":" \n\n\tThis study aims to present 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a satire of Puritanism as a prejudiced and intolerable system of belief reflected in the character of Brown who is seen as the incarnation of Puritanism which sees all non- conformists as sinners. Being the incarnation of the Puritan ideology, “Brown is not just one Salem citizen of the late seventeenth century, but rather seems to typify…in a sense every [Puritan]”. Brown is the spokes-person and the mouth-piece of all Puritans whose words, actions, and interactions with other characters and the setting gradually unfold the Puritan ideology into a full-fledged system of belief. In trying to establish my outlook of Puritanism, I have been basically guided by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s disapproval of Puritanism as being particularly biased and discriminative against all non-conformists. Other signals including Hawthorne's knowledge of his Puritan ancestors have formed the basis of the study. Moreover, Brown's intolerance and his hesitation to follow up the journey on many occasions on the account of what he saw on the journey and his determination at the end of the story of the hypocrisy of the minister in so far as belief is concerned have helped to establish my argument. All this and more support the idea that Brown is as an embodiment of Puritanism which always tends to repeal the other. I have too seen in the setting a continuous revealer of the personality of Brown. The journey through the forest deepens the conflict within his mind leading him unexpectedly to be a stern believer in God. Therefore, I have used the traditional approach to investigate Hawthorne’s experience with Puritanism by analyzing Brown’s religious conflicts and finally his unyielding stand on Puritanism. The study also shows how the non-acceptance of the other is a reflection of a bigoted belief that tends to reject others in advance on the basis of belief. This further shows how this idea of pre-judging others is related to Brown's close attachment both to his Puritan ancestors and finally to Puritanism which are responsible for Brown’s one-way progress to the close lane. To highlight the theme of the story which goes as follows, Puritanism never gives up nor allows its followers to be lenient in favor of assimilating non-conformists, the study discusses some main elements of the story such as the setting, the plot, and symbolism which work together towards showing the work as a satire. The study also sheds light on Brown's most critical moment, the moment when he leaped out of belief. However, the study means to assert that Brown's slip out of belief is only a slip out of consciousness resulting from Brown's losing balance at a moment of great mental deliriousness which immediately shows a firmer retrieval to his previous state of belief. As the study asserts, Puritanism for Brown is a matter of destiny and any deviation from Puritanism is not likely. As “Thomas E. Connolly, has remarked that Goodman Brown has not lost his faith; he has found it.”.\n\n\t \n\n\tKey words: Prejudiced, intolerable, Puritanism, incarnation, belief, deviation, hesitation, retrieval","container-title":"International Journal of English and Literature","ISSN":"2141-2626","issue":"1","journalAbbreviation":"IJEL","language":"en","page":"001-006","source":"academicjournals.org","title":"Young Goodman Brown: The close lane","title-short":"Young Goodman Brown","volume":"1","author":[{"family":"Ezghoul","given":"Naim"},{"family":"Zuraikat","given":"Malek"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010",4,30]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010). He is disappointed in the humankind after learning about its wavering nature despite his involvement. The story depicts the clash between conventionality and personal freedom and relates it to the concepts of good and evil ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"uuW1mhNU","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","plainCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":500,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"itemData":{"id":500,"type":"article-journal","archive":"JSTOR","container-title":"The Journal of Narrative Technique","ISSN":"0022-2925","issue":"3","page":"221-228","source":"JSTOR","title":"Narrative Structure and Theme in \"Young Goodman Brown\"","volume":"12","author":[{"family":"Hostetler","given":"Norman H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1982"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hostetler, 1982). Throughout the story, Hawthorne makes use of symbolism to convey his thoughts even, the names of characters show symbolism. The essay will give detailed thematic analysis as well as the symbolism of faith depicted in the poem by supporting book evidence itself and scholarly articles.
Synopsis
The story begins at a scene where Goodman Brown is saying goodbye to his wife Faith ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"mpwBwtXX","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). He lies to his wife that he is going on a business trip where, in reality, he is just going to the forest in search of a devil. His wife pleads him not to go because she is afraid. Goodman tells her to say a prayer and go to bed. He goes to the forest and meets a man who is depicted as a devil in a story. Wizard asks him if he is going to the ceremony held at the end of the forest, where people are converted into devils. He refuses and tells him that my faith is waiting for me at home ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"qeidK79r","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). Through various manipulations, the devil makes him realize that evil prevails in all cultures and societies, and thus, it is in the nature of every human being. After hearing the screams of Faith, Goodman immediately runs towards her in the forest. When he reaches there, he looks for the faith, but she is nowhere to be found. He watches several people of town submitting themselves to the devil and pursuing evil, including the district chairman and his associates. Later, he finds himself waking up in the forest. He goes back to his home and finds faith unchanged. He spends the rest of his life in misery and gloom without trusting anyone, even Faith ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"wYP01xHi","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998).
Discussion
The concept of puritanism is depicted throughout the short story. Through the concept, Hawthorne tries to demonstrate the shady side to the delusional beliefs of Puritans related to the appearance of good. The story sets in Salem, which is a town in New England, where the concept of puritanism was well prevailing. Individuals of that community used to practice religion under strict values and norms ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"EmAbUt5x","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","plainCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":497,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"itemData":{"id":497,"type":"article-journal","abstract":" \n\n\tThis study aims to present 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a satire of Puritanism as a prejudiced and intolerable system of belief reflected in the character of Brown who is seen as the incarnation of Puritanism which sees all non- conformists as sinners. Being the incarnation of the Puritan ideology, “Brown is not just one Salem citizen of the late seventeenth century, but rather seems to typify…in a sense every [Puritan]”. Brown is the spokes-person and the mouth-piece of all Puritans whose words, actions, and interactions with other characters and the setting gradually unfold the Puritan ideology into a full-fledged system of belief. In trying to establish my outlook of Puritanism, I have been basically guided by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s disapproval of Puritanism as being particularly biased and discriminative against all non-conformists. Other signals including Hawthorne's knowledge of his Puritan ancestors have formed the basis of the study. Moreover, Brown's intolerance and his hesitation to follow up the journey on many occasions on the account of what he saw on the journey and his determination at the end of the story of the hypocrisy of the minister in so far as belief is concerned have helped to establish my argument. All this and more support the idea that Brown is as an embodiment of Puritanism which always tends to repeal the other. I have too seen in the setting a continuous revealer of the personality of Brown. The journey through the forest deepens the conflict within his mind leading him unexpectedly to be a stern believer in God. Therefore, I have used the traditional approach to investigate Hawthorne’s experience with Puritanism by analyzing Brown’s religious conflicts and finally his unyielding stand on Puritanism. The study also shows how the non-acceptance of the other is a reflection of a bigoted belief that tends to reject others in advance on the basis of belief. This further shows how this idea of pre-judging others is related to Brown's close attachment both to his Puritan ancestors and finally to Puritanism which are responsible for Brown’s one-way progress to the close lane. To highlight the theme of the story which goes as follows, Puritanism never gives up nor allows its followers to be lenient in favor of assimilating non-conformists, the study discusses some main elements of the story such as the setting, the plot, and symbolism which work together towards showing the work as a satire. The study also sheds light on Brown's most critical moment, the moment when he leaped out of belief. However, the study means to assert that Brown's slip out of belief is only a slip out of consciousness resulting from Brown's losing balance at a moment of great mental deliriousness which immediately shows a firmer retrieval to his previous state of belief. As the study asserts, Puritanism for Brown is a matter of destiny and any deviation from Puritanism is not likely. As “Thomas E. Connolly, has remarked that Goodman Brown has not lost his faith; he has found it.”.\n\n\t \n\n\tKey words: Prejudiced, intolerable, Puritanism, incarnation, belief, deviation, hesitation, retrieval","container-title":"International Journal of English and Literature","ISSN":"2141-2626","issue":"1","journalAbbreviation":"IJEL","language":"en","page":"001-006","source":"academicjournals.org","title":"Young Goodman Brown: The close lane","title-short":"Young Goodman Brown","volume":"1","author":[{"family":"Ezghoul","given":"Naim"},{"family":"Zuraikat","given":"Malek"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010",4,30]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010). But it was the same place in the story where the devil trials took place in a well-organized ceremony ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"EMqOndD0","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). Goodman himself is represented as a pious puritan whose beliefs coincide with other puritans that some individuals are destined to go to heaven and such people can only be identified by their virtue of goodness and their moral values. They believed that individuals would not do well intentionally unless they are elected in a process that ensures that they are going to heaven by performing good works ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"CyaW1EuJ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","plainCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":497,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"itemData":{"id":497,"type":"article-journal","abstract":" \n\n\tThis study aims to present 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a satire of Puritanism as a prejudiced and intolerable system of belief reflected in the character of Brown who is seen as the incarnation of Puritanism which sees all non- conformists as sinners. Being the incarnation of the Puritan ideology, “Brown is not just one Salem citizen of the late seventeenth century, but rather seems to typify…in a sense every [Puritan]”. Brown is the spokes-person and the mouth-piece of all Puritans whose words, actions, and interactions with other characters and the setting gradually unfold the Puritan ideology into a full-fledged system of belief. In trying to establish my outlook of Puritanism, I have been basically guided by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s disapproval of Puritanism as being particularly biased and discriminative against all non-conformists. Other signals including Hawthorne's knowledge of his Puritan ancestors have formed the basis of the study. Moreover, Brown's intolerance and his hesitation to follow up the journey on many occasions on the account of what he saw on the journey and his determination at the end of the story of the hypocrisy of the minister in so far as belief is concerned have helped to establish my argument. All this and more support the idea that Brown is as an embodiment of Puritanism which always tends to repeal the other. I have too seen in the setting a continuous revealer of the personality of Brown. The journey through the forest deepens the conflict within his mind leading him unexpectedly to be a stern believer in God. Therefore, I have used the traditional approach to investigate Hawthorne’s experience with Puritanism by analyzing Brown’s religious conflicts and finally his unyielding stand on Puritanism. The study also shows how the non-acceptance of the other is a reflection of a bigoted belief that tends to reject others in advance on the basis of belief. This further shows how this idea of pre-judging others is related to Brown's close attachment both to his Puritan ancestors and finally to Puritanism which are responsible for Brown’s one-way progress to the close lane. To highlight the theme of the story which goes as follows, Puritanism never gives up nor allows its followers to be lenient in favor of assimilating non-conformists, the study discusses some main elements of the story such as the setting, the plot, and symbolism which work together towards showing the work as a satire. The study also sheds light on Brown's most critical moment, the moment when he leaped out of belief. However, the study means to assert that Brown's slip out of belief is only a slip out of consciousness resulting from Brown's losing balance at a moment of great mental deliriousness which immediately shows a firmer retrieval to his previous state of belief. As the study asserts, Puritanism for Brown is a matter of destiny and any deviation from Puritanism is not likely. As “Thomas E. Connolly, has remarked that Goodman Brown has not lost his faith; he has found it.”.\n\n\t \n\n\tKey words: Prejudiced, intolerable, Puritanism, incarnation, belief, deviation, hesitation, retrieval","container-title":"International Journal of English and Literature","ISSN":"2141-2626","issue":"1","journalAbbreviation":"IJEL","language":"en","page":"001-006","source":"academicjournals.org","title":"Young Goodman Brown: The close lane","title-short":"Young Goodman Brown","volume":"1","author":[{"family":"Ezghoul","given":"Naim"},{"family":"Zuraikat","given":"Malek"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010",4,30]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010). The process will ultimately give rise to the ability of a person to perform well intentionally. Considering the belief puritans were the sole promoter of perfection and goodwill in their society and refused to acknowledge the sinful nature of a man ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"GCPSXeCo","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Olson, 2009)","plainCitation":"(Olson, 2009)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":501,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/7JAB33SG"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/7JAB33SG"],"itemData":{"id":501,"type":"article-journal","abstract":"Cet article, ancré dans la critique littéraire traditionnelle, a pour thèse que la nouvelle “Young Goodman Brown” est un récit historique. Pour être plus précis, cet article peut être considéré comme une relecture historique qui, néanmoins, s’appuie sur les interprétations traditionnelles du texte. Cette association de perspectives témoigne de la richesse du texte et rend évidentes les nouvelles approches historiques de l’auteur lui-même. La thèse de cet article peut se résumer de la façon suivante : \"Young Goodman Brown” se penche sur l’impact important que peuvent avoir les influences culturelles sur l’individu, sur l'intériorisation de ces influences par l’individu et enfin sur comment ces influences créent et affectent les relations de cet individu avec sa société. Par extension, cet article analyse la façon dont les idées créent et affectent une société. En résumé, \"Young Goodman Brown\" est le condensé historique d'une culture, qui est la culture d’une Amérique démocratique et en pleine évolution.","container-title":"Journal of the Short Story in English. Les Cahiers de la nouvelle","ISSN":"0294-04442","issue":"52","language":"en","source":"journals.openedition.org","title":"A History of the American Mind: \"Young Goodman Brown\"","title-short":"A History of the American Mind","URL":"http://journals.openedition.org/jsse/939","author":[{"family":"Olson","given":"Steven"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,10]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2009",6,1]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Olson, 2009). Goodman Brown being a true Puritan, acknowledges its beliefs passionately. He believes that his wife is a good and pure woman who would never commit any sin. He thinks both of them are destined for heaven. After his encounter with a devil in the forest, he begins to believe otherwise. "Depending on one another's hearts, ye had still hoped, that virtue were not all a dream. Now, are ye undeceived! Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome again my children, to the communion of your race!", says the devil during the wicked ceremony in a dream ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"kbV6tXoK","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). Goodman eventually starts doubting the actions of the whole town, even his wife, who he thought would never sin. He calls them a “friends of the devil” in the trial ceremony ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"B6PzgpcQ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). He concludes that the term “sin” has no meaning as all humankind is sinful, with no exceptions. By revealing the reality of human nature, Hawthorne depicts the moral and religious hypocrisy by giving an example of a puritanism. Hawthorne identifies puritanism and its logic as a key issue as it demands utter perfection ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"85OQUyWs","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","plainCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":500,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"itemData":{"id":500,"type":"article-journal","archive":"JSTOR","container-title":"The Journal of Narrative Technique","ISSN":"0022-2925","issue":"3","page":"221-228","source":"JSTOR","title":"Narrative Structure and Theme in \"Young Goodman Brown\"","volume":"12","author":[{"family":"Hostetler","given":"Norman H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1982"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hostetler, 1982). In reality, no human being is perfect, and good and evil exist side by side in every human nature; that is why it is nearly impossible to lead a perfect life full of virtues without committing any sin.
Another aspect of the poem focuses on Goodman’s loss of faith (Hawthorne, 1998). Throughout the story, Hawthorne has used the symbolism of faith. His wife "Faith" is depicted to have true faith and purity just as Goodman. Faith is an embodiment of Goodman's faith in religion. The conflict of Goodman is revealed in confusion where he wonders whether to “keep the faith” ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"nzwL3t6D","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). His decision to leave faith behind is expressed as his abandonment of religious faith. Initially, he leaves his faith by lying to his wife that he is going on a business trip when his actual purpose was to meet the devil in the woods. Instead, he questions her if she has lost faith in him, “dost thou doubt me already, and we but three months married?” ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"5DO6HIuV","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998) Later when devil inquires him the reason why was he late, he states “Faith kept me back a while” which literally refers to his wife who was unwilling to let him leave and metaphorically it represents his religious faith which he left behind to go to the forest and meet him ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"JsfPTqnv","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","plainCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":500,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"itemData":{"id":500,"type":"article-journal","archive":"JSTOR","container-title":"The Journal of Narrative Technique","ISSN":"0022-2925","issue":"3","page":"221-228","source":"JSTOR","title":"Narrative Structure and Theme in \"Young Goodman Brown\"","volume":"12","author":[{"family":"Hostetler","given":"Norman H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1982"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hostetler, 1982). The purity of faith is illustrated by the pink ribbons fixed in faith's cap. Throughout the story, it reminds Goodman of the purity and innocence whenever his faith seems to waver. The ribbons also symbolize its superficiality ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"M0uNB0cg","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","plainCitation":"(Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":497,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/52D2SCQ2"],"itemData":{"id":497,"type":"article-journal","abstract":" \n\n\tThis study aims to present 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a satire of Puritanism as a prejudiced and intolerable system of belief reflected in the character of Brown who is seen as the incarnation of Puritanism which sees all non- conformists as sinners. Being the incarnation of the Puritan ideology, “Brown is not just one Salem citizen of the late seventeenth century, but rather seems to typify…in a sense every [Puritan]”. Brown is the spokes-person and the mouth-piece of all Puritans whose words, actions, and interactions with other characters and the setting gradually unfold the Puritan ideology into a full-fledged system of belief. In trying to establish my outlook of Puritanism, I have been basically guided by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s disapproval of Puritanism as being particularly biased and discriminative against all non-conformists. Other signals including Hawthorne's knowledge of his Puritan ancestors have formed the basis of the study. Moreover, Brown's intolerance and his hesitation to follow up the journey on many occasions on the account of what he saw on the journey and his determination at the end of the story of the hypocrisy of the minister in so far as belief is concerned have helped to establish my argument. All this and more support the idea that Brown is as an embodiment of Puritanism which always tends to repeal the other. I have too seen in the setting a continuous revealer of the personality of Brown. The journey through the forest deepens the conflict within his mind leading him unexpectedly to be a stern believer in God. Therefore, I have used the traditional approach to investigate Hawthorne’s experience with Puritanism by analyzing Brown’s religious conflicts and finally his unyielding stand on Puritanism. The study also shows how the non-acceptance of the other is a reflection of a bigoted belief that tends to reject others in advance on the basis of belief. This further shows how this idea of pre-judging others is related to Brown's close attachment both to his Puritan ancestors and finally to Puritanism which are responsible for Brown’s one-way progress to the close lane. To highlight the theme of the story which goes as follows, Puritanism never gives up nor allows its followers to be lenient in favor of assimilating non-conformists, the study discusses some main elements of the story such as the setting, the plot, and symbolism which work together towards showing the work as a satire. The study also sheds light on Brown's most critical moment, the moment when he leaped out of belief. However, the study means to assert that Brown's slip out of belief is only a slip out of consciousness resulting from Brown's losing balance at a moment of great mental deliriousness which immediately shows a firmer retrieval to his previous state of belief. As the study asserts, Puritanism for Brown is a matter of destiny and any deviation from Puritanism is not likely. As “Thomas E. Connolly, has remarked that Goodman Brown has not lost his faith; he has found it.”.\n\n\t \n\n\tKey words: Prejudiced, intolerable, Puritanism, incarnation, belief, deviation, hesitation, retrieval","container-title":"International Journal of English and Literature","ISSN":"2141-2626","issue":"1","journalAbbreviation":"IJEL","language":"en","page":"001-006","source":"academicjournals.org","title":"Young Goodman Brown: The close lane","title-short":"Young Goodman Brown","volume":"1","author":[{"family":"Ezghoul","given":"Naim"},{"family":"Zuraikat","given":"Malek"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010",4,30]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ezghoul & Zuraikat, 2010). This is when Goodman realizes that the ribbons do not depict piety but it actually represents shallowness. When he goes to the ceremony after hearing faith's screaming, he watches the ribbon fall from the sky. After learning what his wife did at the ceremony, he ends up losing all faith, both his wife and the religion. The perfectionist faith who once showed him the way to redemption is now merely a “polluted wretch” ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"BrGUIU9H","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998). His utter disappointment is shown from the look in his eyes, when he screams at the sky, "My Faith is gone!" ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"spIr3wDI","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","plainCitation":"(Hawthorne, 1998)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":495,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/6AE9TGHF"],"itemData":{"id":495,"type":"book","abstract":"This selection of twenty of Hawthorne's tales is the first in paperback to present his most important short works with full annotation in one volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","ISBN":"978-0-19-160568-0","language":"en","note":"Google-Books-ID: QkRVG9Clu8EC","number-of-pages":"765","publisher":"OUP Oxford","source":"Google Books","title":"Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales","author":[{"family":"Hawthorne","given":"Nathaniel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1998",10,15]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hawthorne, 1998)The pious husband living a content life with faith is eventually stripped of his religion and wife, which serves to fulfill the purpose of symbolism ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WGwWRkAy","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","plainCitation":"(Hostetler, 1982)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":500,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/CKNkWnK9/items/RNLJM6R6"],"itemData":{"id":500,"type":"article-journal","archive":"JSTOR","container-title":"The Journal of Narrative Technique","ISSN":"0022-2925","issue":"3","page":"221-228","source":"JSTOR","title":"Narrative Structure and Theme in \"Young Goodman Brown\"","volume":"12","author":[{"family":"Hostetler","given":"Norman H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1982"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hostetler, 1982).
Conclusion
Throughout the story, Hawthorne tries to show moral and religious hypocrisy. By criticizing the delusional concept of puritanism, he demonstrates that good and evil exist side by side. He discloses the feebleness of visionless faith that puritans have towards perfection and reality. He makes use of various symbols in her story to give the message young Goodman loses his faith in puritanism by eventually realizing the true nature of humankind. He concludes that all human nature is sinful without any exception, which conveys that the story has served its purpose well.
References
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Ezghoul, N., & Zuraikat, M. (2010). Young Goodman Brown: The close lane. International Journal of English and Literature, 1(1), 001–006.
Hawthorne, N. (1998). Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales. OUP Oxford.
Hostetler, N. H. (1982). Narrative Structure and Theme in “Young Goodman Brown.” The Journal of Narrative Technique, 12(3), 221–228. Retrieved from JSTOR.
Olson, S. (2009). A History of the American Mind: “Young Goodman Brown.” Journal of the Short Story in English. Les Cahiers de La Nouvelle, (52). Retrieved from http://journals.openedition.org/jsse/939
