Identity Crisis of Young Goodman Brown

        In “Young Goodman Brown,” Nathaniel Hawthorne applies his personal experiences to relate to the life of Goodman Brown.  Hawthorne utilizes the setting, the internal conflict, and the factor of emotion to express Young Goodman Brown’s identity crisis.  Like Goodman Brown, Hawthorne was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts.  He was descended from John Hawthorne, a judge who had presided over the legendary Salem witch trials.  Through this relation, Hawthorne uses symbolism to illustrate the story of a young man who reluctantly departs from his world of innocence to realize the widespread evil that exists around him.  There is not a great deal of subtlety in these symbols, because Hawthorne clearly wants them to be obvious.

        The innocent setting at the beginning of the story is set up by the author’s establishment of purity through his use of color and symbolism.  For example, Goodman Brown’s wife, Faith, is established as an innocent in the story through the use of pink ribbons in her hair, and the symbolism of her name; together, they put a scene of tranquility into the readers mind.  Once the beginning scene is over, the tone becomes evil and dark.  Hawthorne describes Brown as being led along a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest (391-92).  While Goodman Brown is walking the trail he comes upon a character; later in the story, the reader learns that he is the Devil.  The description gives the new character a dark and evil feel about him.  The Devil is leading Brown with his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake (393).  Brown continues his trek with the Devil, until he begins to think about his loving wife, Faith.  He decides to no longer continue on his errand.  

Join now!

        Goodman Brown begins to think about his situation and his pride.  As Brown begins feeling good about his strength in resisting the Devil, he hears the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin.  He overhears their conversation and learns that they are discussing a good young woman to be taken into communion that evening at that night’s meeting; Brown fears that it may be Faith. This brings Young Goodman Brown to face his internal conflict.  He becomes weak and begins to doubt whether there really is a Heaven above him.  Brown begins to pray, and he says, “With heaven above, ...

This is a preview of the whole essay