Matt Litchfield
Mr. Ryan
American Literature
9 September 2003
Alienation
A common theme among the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne is alienation. Alienation is defined as emotional isolation or dissociation from others. In Hawthorne's novels and short stories, characters are consistently alienated and experience isolation from society. These characters are separated from their loved ones both physically and psychologically. The harsh judgmental conditions of Puritan society are the cause of isolation for these characters and eventually lead to their damnation. The literary works written by Hawthorne, such as "Young Goodman Brown," "The Minister's Black Veil," and The Scarlet Letter, all contain characters that face these types of conditions. Goodman Brown, Minister Hooper, and Hester Pryne are isolated from society because of their guilty consciences, and desire to hide their shame. Eventually, each character is given a chance to redeem themselves and avoid damnation.
In the short story, "Young Goodman Brown," the character of Goodman Brown has an experience that changes his entire perspective on life. Late one night he finds himself in the middle of the woods with the Devil, on his way to a meeting of the Devil's followers. After seeing respected townsfolk at the Devil's meeting, including his minister and his wife, Faith, he loses hope in humanity and all that he had known to be true or real. Goodman Brown wakes up in his bed immediately following the Devil's meeting and wonders if what had happened was reality or simply just a dream. Despite his confusion about the events that took place, he was unable to forget what had happened and lost faith in religion and his companions. This loss of faith is the cause of Goodman Brown's alienation. After the experience, he is unable to trust anyone and thus lives a life of solitude from what he believes to be an untrustworthy and corrupt society. Goodman Brown is unable to forgive his wife Faith for being at the meeting and isolates himself from her. After realizing that she is also a follower of the Devil, Goodman Brown states "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name." Goodman Brown demonstrates his disbelief that anyone on earth is good at heart anymore and that people's intentions are evil. It seems that Goodman Brown has overlooked the fact that he too was at the meeting but is still good at heart and hasn't been corrupted by the Devil. He also overlooks the fact that the chances of his experience only being a dream are very likely. Despite all of this, Goodman Brown's conscience is unable to forgive society and he ends up dying a lonely, bitter man, having not found redemption. This subconscious decision not to trust anyone anymore is ultimately the cause of Goodman Brown's damnation.
Mr. Ryan
American Literature
9 September 2003
Alienation
A common theme among the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne is alienation. Alienation is defined as emotional isolation or dissociation from others. In Hawthorne's novels and short stories, characters are consistently alienated and experience isolation from society. These characters are separated from their loved ones both physically and psychologically. The harsh judgmental conditions of Puritan society are the cause of isolation for these characters and eventually lead to their damnation. The literary works written by Hawthorne, such as "Young Goodman Brown," "The Minister's Black Veil," and The Scarlet Letter, all contain characters that face these types of conditions. Goodman Brown, Minister Hooper, and Hester Pryne are isolated from society because of their guilty consciences, and desire to hide their shame. Eventually, each character is given a chance to redeem themselves and avoid damnation.
In the short story, "Young Goodman Brown," the character of Goodman Brown has an experience that changes his entire perspective on life. Late one night he finds himself in the middle of the woods with the Devil, on his way to a meeting of the Devil's followers. After seeing respected townsfolk at the Devil's meeting, including his minister and his wife, Faith, he loses hope in humanity and all that he had known to be true or real. Goodman Brown wakes up in his bed immediately following the Devil's meeting and wonders if what had happened was reality or simply just a dream. Despite his confusion about the events that took place, he was unable to forget what had happened and lost faith in religion and his companions. This loss of faith is the cause of Goodman Brown's alienation. After the experience, he is unable to trust anyone and thus lives a life of solitude from what he believes to be an untrustworthy and corrupt society. Goodman Brown is unable to forgive his wife Faith for being at the meeting and isolates himself from her. After realizing that she is also a follower of the Devil, Goodman Brown states "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name." Goodman Brown demonstrates his disbelief that anyone on earth is good at heart anymore and that people's intentions are evil. It seems that Goodman Brown has overlooked the fact that he too was at the meeting but is still good at heart and hasn't been corrupted by the Devil. He also overlooks the fact that the chances of his experience only being a dream are very likely. Despite all of this, Goodman Brown's conscience is unable to forgive society and he ends up dying a lonely, bitter man, having not found redemption. This subconscious decision not to trust anyone anymore is ultimately the cause of Goodman Brown's damnation.
