To Goodman's Surprise (Theme)

In Young Goodman Brown, Nathanial Hawthorne sends the protagonist, Goodman Brown, on a journey through the woods where his literal faith is tested in what seems to be an encounter with the actual Devil. The theme develops and in the end, Goodman Brown is stuck on the idea that evil can affect even the best people, including people who he thought were good Christians, one of which was his wife. Hawthorne develops this idea by making Goodman Brown question his faith, and by using symbols.

Young Goodman Brown walked into the forest thinking that his faith was absolutely concentrated on what was good, but his encounters with different people made him question his faith. As Goodman Brown and the “Devil” continue along the path, they encounter Goody Cloyse, Goodman Brown’s old catechism teacher. It is eventually revealed that she, too is heading to the meeting in the middle of the forest. Goodman is confused and surprised at the sight of her, as he had always considered Cloyse his “moral and spiritual adviser,” (214);a guide in his life. Goody Cloyse’s appearance is the first moment where Goodman begins to question his faith. He suddenly decided to sit “himself down on the stump of a tree, and refused to go any farther” (215). Here he realizes that his faith is being tested, and tries to not give in to temptation. But as we see, he keeps on walking with the “Devil.” He then encounters his wife, Faith at the ceremony. Pleading her to look to the heavens and resist the “Wicked one,” (220) she does not. Goodman Brown says, “My Faith is gone!” (217) and meant it in both senses. Once the community around him revealed their true nature as “Satanists,” Goodman lost all faith. Having his faith be tested was the major way in which he came to the realization that good people are also affected by evil.

The symbols in Young Goodman Brown help the readers understand the theme in a simpler way. Young Goodman Brown is obviously a “good man.” His youth and good nature are both reflected in his name. His wife’s name, Faith, suggests that Brown’s wife embodies the goodness that is found in a young wife. His marriage to her suggests that he clings to faith in good in the world. Later in the story, when Brown meets the “Devil” in the woods, he declares, “Faith kept me back awhile” (212). Here, Hawthorne uses the name of Brown’s wife as a symbol for Brown’s personal faith in goodness. It is a symbol of his faith in general goodness. And when his literal Faith, his wife, is lost, we conclude that his real faith for the good in the world is also lost. Brown’s journey through the forest is on a narrow, dark, and dreary path. The darkness and dreariness symbolize the evil that is associated with the forest. The trail being long and windy symbolizes how far Brown’s conscience must travel from innocence to realize the true evil nature in the world.

In the forest, Brown meets his companion, a character who symbolizes the “Devil.” He offers Brown his walking staff that is described as having “the likeness of a great black snake…like a living serpent” (213). The snake-like appearance of the staff symbolizes the sly and treacherous character of Brown’s companion. The snake in the Bible was the Devil himself, tempting those he came in contact with. Here, too, he is tempting Goodman Brown to sin. Brown’s rejection of the staff symbolizes his reluctance in giving in to such an evil world.

Both the testing of faith and the symbols in the story lead Young Goodman Brown to see that in public people are good, but in private, their true wickedness comes out. The testing of his faith is where he first encounters evil; that it is among people whom he thought were good. Goodman Brown discovers that even the highly thought of people in his community fall victim to the forces of evil. Brown is unable to forgive the possibility of evil in his loved ones and as a result spends the rest of his life in desperate loneliness and gloom.