Beware of Evil

March 17, 2015

                                        Beware of Evil

        A nightmare of heart pounding terror comes to life. Evil is in the eyes of the beholder. The Story “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, describes how evil influences all men and women. Young Goodman Brown goes through a part of his life that changes his perspective of reality. He discovers even highly respected people can fall victim to the forces of evil. Goodman Brown finds himself tested with evil by his side. “We have been a race of honest men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs” (Hawthorne 306). Hawthorne illustrates by using setting, character, and symbolism to show the reality that evil comes to those who question their religious beliefs and world views on family and society.

        “Young Goodman Brown” takes place in Puritan New England; a village called Salem, Massachusetts to be exact. Salem is known for its infamous history of witchcraft. In 1692, witch trials took place, killing dozens of men and women who were accused of witchcraft. The main setting of the story is in the forest. “’There may be devilish Indian behind every tree,” said Goodman Brown, himself; and he glanced fearfully behind him, as he added, “what if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!”’ (Hawthorne 305). It was a dusky dark field of woods. The place where Goodman Brown felt scared, “On he flew, among the black pines, brandishing his staff with frenzied gestures, now giving vent to an inspiration of horrid blasphemy, and now shouting such laughter as set all the echoes of the forest laughing like demons around him”

(Hawthorne 311).  This is the place where Goodman Brown first stood face to face with the devil, knowing that he shouldn’t be there.

        The main character of the story is Young Goodman Brown. He was a young man and new husband of three months. He was raised up a Puritan through generations of the Brown family. Goodman Brown lived in Salem village with his wife, Faith. He travelled on a road through the forest one night. A path he’d never gone before in his life. Goodman Brown felt, “Himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose” (Hawthorne 305). Later, Goodman Brown realized that only his actions caused himself loneliness and suffering for the rest of his life. “’You are late, Goodman Brown,” said he. “The clock of the Old South was striking as I came through Boston; and that is full fifteen minutes ago,’” said the traveler (Hawthorne 305). At that point Goodman Brown felt he had no other choice but to go with the devil.

 Faith was the young and innocent wife of Goodman Brown. Goodman Brown said, “She’s a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night, I’ll cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven” (Hawthorne 305). She wore a cap with pink ribbons that separated her from the crowd. Faith didn’t want her husband to go out that night. Faith knew that Goodman Brown shouldn’t go out that night. Faith said to Young Goodman, “Pray thee, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed tonight” (Hawthorne 304). Goodman Brown left her alone that night. Evil was waiting for Goodman Brown in the forest that night.

Hawthorne created the character that destroyed all innocence of Young Goodman Brown. In the story he’s called the old man. The traveler that followed Goodman Brown in the forest, also known as the devil, who tried to disguise himself in front of Goodman Brown. He told Goodman Brown that he knew his father and grandfather, but Goodman Brown said, “My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been of honest men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs. And shall I be the first of the name of Brown, that ever took this path, and kept” (Hawthorne 306). The Old Man claimed he helped them do unrighteous acts. “I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem” (Hawthorne 306). The old man had shown Goodman Brown that he wasn’t the only one who has come to him for help. “’Wickedness or not,” said the traveler with the twisted staff,” I have a very general acquaintance here in New England” (Hawthorne 307). That was a sign to Goodman Brown that everyone in the town knew evil well.

A woman from Salem village called Goody Cloyse, was an old woman known for her good deeds and teachings to the children of the village. Until, Goodman Brown saw her approach the devil in the forest as a witch. “Then Goody Cloyse knows her old friend?” said the Old Man (Hawthorne 308).  The witch of Salem,  Mrs.Cloyse was the one who was converting the village to the evil cult.  Evil was already planning to take Goodman Browns faith.

The symbolism throughout the story is with Faith, Goodman Brown’s wife. Faith represents Goodman Browns spiritual faith in life. In the beginning of the story Faith tries to tell Goodman Brown to stay home and wait until the morning. Goodman Brown replied, “Of all nights in the year, this one night must I tarry away from thee. My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ‘twixt now and sunshine” (Hawthorne 305). Later on, as Goodman Brown was travelling towards the Black Mass, he noticed a pink ribbon moving to the front of the pulpit. “With heaven above, and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!” cried Goodman (Hawthorne 310). Goodman Brown realized that what he saw at the evil gathering was corrupting his faith. “My Faith is gone!” cried he, after “There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil! For to thee is this world given” (Hawthorne 311). Goodman Brown lost all faith, and hope in everyone he saw that night in the forest. He couldn’t live a life of peace knowing what those village people had become. He noticed that evil came into their lives.