Depict the Dark side of Salem Village
Young Goodman Brown is a notable literary work by Nathaniel Hawthorne. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Young Goodman Brown.
Answer
Depict the dark side of Salem village. [NU: 2018, 21] ★★★
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) “Young Goodman Brown” (1835) shows the bright face of Salem village outside, but its dark heart inside. People look holy and pure in daylight. But at night, the truth is revealed. The village hides sin, fear, and hypocrisy.
The Hypocrisy of Leaders: Salem village looks holy. But its leaders are corrupt. Goodman Brown respects the leaders of Salem. The Minister and Deacon Gookin are holy men. But in the forest, he hears their voices. They go to the devil’s meeting. These leaders preach purity in Salem village. But secretly they serve sin. This shows the dark side of Salem’s religion.
Villagers and Goody Cloyse: Goody Cloyse was Brown’s teacher in childhood. She taught him the catechism. Brown whispers in pain,
“That old woman taught me my catechism!”
But in the forest, she greets the devil. She talks of witchcraft and evil herbs. In Salem, she is seen as a pious woman. In the woods, her truth is exposed. She becomes a face of corruption. Even women, elders, and respected teachers fall into evil. This shows Salem is full of hidden sin.
Faith and the Fall of Innocence: Faith, Brown’s wife, wears pink ribbons. She seems innocent. But when Brown sees a ribbon fall in the forest, he cries,
“My Faith is gone!”
Here, Salem’s purity collapses. Even love, marriage, and trust look corrupted. The whole village becomes a place of doubt and darkness.
Hawthorne uses Goodman Brown’s journey to show Salem’s secret evil. Ministers, deacons, teachers, and even wives lose purity. Salem looks holy, but inside it is false and corrupt. Thus, the village becomes a symbol of hypocrisy, fear, and the dark side of human nature.