Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown †The Theme :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

infantile Goodman brown the Theme Clarice Swisher in Nathaniel Hawthorne a Biography states When Hawthorne c onlyed his stories romances, he meant that they last within the romantic movement that . . . . emphasize imagination and personal license (18). It is the purpose of this essay to interpret the theme of Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown and determine where this personal freedom leads. Edmund Fuller and B. Jo Kinnick in Stories Derived from New England aliveness state Young Goodman Brown uses the background of witchcraft to explore uncertainties of spirit that trouble a mans heart and mind (31). It is on that one night of the year when witches have their coven in the deepest woods that the one-year-old husbandman, Goodman Brown, takes leave of his wife, Faith YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN came forth at sunset, into the driveway of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to change over a parting kiss with his young wife. The reader receives a presentiment of the impending malevolent intrigue with Faiths staement of her foreboding, troublesome dreams love life heart, whispered she, softly and rather sadly, when her lips were close to his ear, prythee, put off your voyage until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed tonight. A lone adult female is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts, that shes afeard of herself, sometimes. Pray, tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year Regarding the theme, the clues increase when Goodman, having left his wife, Faith, all alone and melancholy, enters the woods and encounters a sinister type with whom he has previously made an assignment for this particular evening As nearly as could be discerned, the second gear traveller . . . had an indescribable air of one who knew the world, and would not have matte up abashed at the governors dinner-table, or in King Williams court, were it possible that his personal matters should call him thither. But the only thing about him, that could be quick-frozen upon as remarkable, was his staff, which bore the worryness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent. This, of course, must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light. The evil nature of this individual is made manifest, and thus evil enters the story in a significant way.