1. Nathaniel Hawthorne
“Young Goodman Brown”

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

3. His Themes in Writing Moral allegories The sinful man Hypocrisy
The Dark side of Human Nature
Religious in Nature

4. Who were the Puritans? Wanted a “pure” church
No candles
No Images
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

5. Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church
Jesus Christ is the Son of God – died on the cross for all everyone’s sins
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

6. Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church
Faith is what is necessary to get into heaven.
If you don’t go to heaven you go to hell.
Sins, as defined by the Bible, are to be avoided at cut out of life
A catechism is a book that is used to teach basic principles of the church

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

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

9. YGB as an Allegory What is an allegory?
A story where everything is a symbol
Used commonly to instruct especially in religious matters

10. The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Basics
The Snake = Satan – The Devil
The Forest = Evil-Sin, man’s journey

11. The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Basics
Stars / Sky Heavenly Bodies
Heaven / Connection with God

12. The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown - Basics
White Purity
Red Sin
Pink ????

13. Fire
Hell

14. The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – now, not basic
The common Christian man – brown is neutral
Faith
A Christian’s faith
Witches
Satan / Evil