Biography, “Young Goodman Brown”, and Connections to Salem, MA. Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography, “Young Goodman Brown”, and Connections to Salem, MA.

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864 Born in Salem, Massachusetts Puritan Background Descendent of John Hathorne – one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials

Hawthorne’s Background Began writing after college at Bowdion College in Maine. Changed his name from Hathorne to Hawthorne after college. Held many jobs including writer, publisher, working at a custom house, and consul in England.

More Background Was friends with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville Went to college with President Franklin Pierce (14th President)

His Themes in Writing Moral allegories The sinful man Hypocrisy The dark side of human nature Religion

His Most Famous Works Novels Short Stories The House of Seven Gables The Scarlet Letter Short Stories “The Minister’s Black Veil” “Young Goodman Brown”

Who were the Puritans? Wanted a “pure” church No candles No images (idolatry – the worship of images or statues) No stained glass windows Rejected the “showy” Church of England Led very somber lives governed solely by a strict interpretation of the Bible No “nonsense” – dancing, gambling, drama, etc.

Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church Jesus Christ is the Son of God – died on the cross for all everyone’s sins People are pre-disposed or predestined to commit sins and go to hell. The whole Bible is the word of God and it is to be followed to the letter. The belief that these ideas are fact are known as a person’s faith

The Infamous Puritans The Salem Witch Trials put the Puritans prominently in the history books Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible put it in Literature classes forever

And Now, Nathanial Hawthorne’s Short Story “Young Goodman Brown” Young – indicates his age Goodman – typical title for a farmer Brown – the man’s last name

Some Basics… Characters Young Goodman Brown His wife, Faith Mysterious man in the forest with a strange looking staff

Some Basics… Minor Definitions… Constable: person in law enforcement Deacon: position in church held by congregation member Goody: abbr. of “goodwife”, female version of goodman Reverend: pastor or priest Sabbath: day of rest in the Judo/Christian church – in this case, Sunday

YGB as an Allegory What is an allegory? A story where everything is a symbol Used commonly to instruct especially in religious matters Some famous allegories are: Dante’s Divine Comedy (more famous though is the first part commonly known as Dante’s Inferno John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Basics The Snake Satan – The Devil Why? See Genesis Chapter 3

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown - Color White Purity Red Sin Pink Childishness, femininity, impurity (remember that women were seen as having weaker spirits in puritan society)

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Good Versus Evil Stars / Sky / Heavenly Bodies Heaven / Connection with God

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Good Versus Evil The Forest Evil / Sin

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Good Versus Evil Fire Hell

The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – People The common Christian man – brown is neutral Faith A Christian’s faith Witches Satan / Evil

One Last Thing for ACES… Another literary term feather for your literary term cap… Imagery: words and phrases that re-create vivid sensory experiences for the reader. Usually imagery is visual, but often it is written to the senses of smell, hearing, taste, and touch