Young Goodman Brown

Matt Hamacher YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN This story is one that is well-written while at the same time one that makes you think. We observe the main character, Goodman Brown, a somewhat common man, go from seeking goodness and perfection to the exact opposite: ending up in total failure and alienating himself from humanity. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of the story, presents us with a classic journey of the typical man, the typical “Brown”, into what …

…the Devil, worrying about what the minister will think and say if he continues: “…how should I meet the eye of that good old man, our minister, at Salem village? Oh, his voice would make me tremble both Sabbath day and lecture day.” At this the Devil just laughs. Goodman here is worried that he will be looked down upon by the leader of the church in his town; the total failure in this society.