Young Goodman Brown

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young Goodman Brown is a short story by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story takes place in the seventeenth century, puritan New England. The story is set during the Salem witch trails.

The story is about the recognition of evil and depravity as the nature of humanity. Hawthorne attempts to explore the hypocrisy of the puritan culture. In this story Young Goodman Brown self examines himself and it results in his loss of faith.

Young Goodman Brown lives in Salem Massachusetts with his wife 'Faith'. He married three months before. One evening he plans for a journey at night into the forest. He leaves his wife giving excuses. At the entrance of the forest, he meets a fifty year old man under a tree. He waits for Brown and both walk into the forest to attend Satan's Sabbath. The man has a serpent shaped long staff in his hand. He says that he was a good friend of Brown's father and grandfather.

On the way, Brown sees his spiritual adviser Goddy Cloyse, a well know pious lady of the village. She is also going to attend Satan' Sabbath. As Brown cannot walk, the man makes a waking stick out of maple tree so that Brown can use it. Then the old man vanished. Later, Brown can see the Minister and the Deacon of his village in the forest. They also go to attend the ceremony other townsmen also go there in that night. Brown hears his wife's voice in that forest. He calls out his wife but it is not answered. So he flies to that place of worship using that maple staff made by  stranger.

Brown reaches an open space in the midst of the forest. It is lighted by four burning pines and fire-lit rock altar. The congregation consists of people of all ranks in the society. There are clergies, Governors, high dames, widows, beautiful young girls, criminals and prostitutes.

During the witches Sabbath, the new converts are brought forth to the altar. They are Goodman Brown and his wife Faith. Both are shocked and surprised to see each other. They are the only converts who have not attend the ceremony so for in their village. Now, they are compelled to accept Satan's faith. At that time, Brown calls to heaven to resist . At once the whole scene vanishes and he finds himself in the dark forest.

Next morning Brown returns to his village. He sees the Minister. Deacon and Goodly Cloyse doing their regular work. Brown is not sure whether the events of the previous night where real or dream. He is shocked to see the hypocrisy of others. He dislikes them for their evil nature. He questions his own religion and loses faith in that too. At the same time he is too proud to acknowledge faults. So he is completely isolated from his society and lives as a cynic till his death.