Amazing Story of Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel

¶ … Amazing Story of Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne used the character of Young Goodman Brown to tell the story of his own, personal dark night of the soul. Through the eyes of Young Goodman Brown, an innocent young man of principles who was married to his "Faith," Hawthorne reveals how his own innocence and faith were lost and his life forever changed when Hawthorne learned that his Puritan forefathers participated in unsavory religious persecution as well as the notorious Salem witch trial. He used the innocent, young Goodman to represent himself as witness in the discovery of unfathomable corruption in various Puritans who, in their sanctimoniousness, were blind to their own corruption (165-179).

Say thy prayers... And go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee, (165)" young Goodman says in a statement that is indicative of his simple innocence before learning the disturbing truth. He says this before journeying into the dark past of his family history, which is represented symbolically by dark woods in which anything might be lurking. As he begins his journey, he is met at the entrance of the woods by a dark man who, while clearly someone akin to the devil himself, is also "bearing a considerable resemblance" to Goodman Brown, "they might have been taken for father and son (167)." Suspicious of what might be discovered in the dark past, and with growing fear, Young Goodman walks haltingly and then stops, not wishing to go any further on this unsettling journey. "But I have scruples... (167)," Young Goodman protests, still innocent, still having "Faith."

The dark man compels him to walk on, however, and as Young Goodman begins his journey, he learns more about the gentleman who bears a strong resemblance to him. "I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem (168)," the man says, thus speaking of the first of the dark secrets to be discovered. In reality, Hawthorne, who changed the spelling of his surname, was a direct descendant of Judges William Hathorne, and John Hathorne. Judge William Hathorne was a Puritan settler who sentenced a Quaker woman to be whipped in the streets of Boston. Judge John Hathorne, also a Puritan, presided with a heavy hand over the infamous Salem Witch Trials.

As the terrible truth unfolds before Young Goodman, he sees that his devil-like companion is his own grandfather, the elder Goodman Brown, an allusion to Judge John Hathorne. Hawthorne uses the names of some of the women who were actually tried by his grandfather during the infamous trial, although the spellings are slightly changed. Goodwife Cloyce is represented as Goody Cloyse; Martha Corey is represented as Goody Cory. (Linder.) "Some affirm that the lady of the governor was there (175)," Hawthorne writes, alluding again to the historical facts. The governor who had appointed John Hathorne as judge, did not step in and stop the ugly witch trial until his own wife was also accused of being a witch along with most of the town, and at least two dogs.