Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown †The Theme :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

Young Goodman brownish the Theme Clarice Swisher in Nathaniel Hawthorne a Biography states When Hawthorne called his stories romances, he meant that they belong within the romantic movement that . . . . emphasize imagination and personal freedom (18). It is the purpose of this essay to interpret the theme of Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown and determine where this personal freedom leads. Edmund Fuller and B. Jo Kinnick in Stories Derived from New England Living state Young Goodman Brown uses the background of witchcraft to explore uncertainties of belief that get to a mans heart and mind (31). It is on that one night of the year when witches have their coven in the deepest woods that the young husbandman, Goodman Brown, takes leave of his wife, religious belief YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN came forth at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. The reader receives a premoniti on of the impending evil intrigue with Faiths staement of her foreboding, troublesome dreams Dearest heart, whispered she, softly and rather sadly, when her lips were good to his ear, prythee, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed tonight. A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts, that shes afeard of herself, sometimes. Pray, ambuscade with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year Regarding the theme, the clues increase when Goodman, having left his wife, Faith, all alone and melancholy, enters the woods and encounters a sinister type with whom he has previously make an appointment for this particular evening As nearly as could be discerned, the second traveller . . . had an indescribable air of one who knew the world, and would not have matte abashed at the governors dinner-table, or in King Williams court, were it possible that his affairs should call him thither. But the only thing about him, that could be fixed upo n as remarkable, was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a life serpent. This, of course, must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light. The evil nature of this individual is made manifest, and thus evil enters the story in a significant way.