Where Does Young Goodman Brown go Wrong?
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
Where does Young Goodman Brown go wrong? [NU: 2019]
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) “Young Goodman Brown” (1835) is a symbolic tale of faith and sin. Goodman Brown is a Puritan of Salem village. He loses his way in the forest. His mistake lies in curiosity, weakness, and loss of faith.
Leaving Faith and Salem Village: Brown’s first mistake is leaving home and his wife, Faith. She begs him to stay. She says,
“Prithee put off your journey until sunrise.”
But Brown replies,
“This one night must I tarry away from thee.”
By this, he chooses curiosity over love. Leaving Faith is not just leaving his wife. It is also leaving his real faith in God. His first wrong step takes him away from safety into the dark forest.
Listening to the Devil and Distrusting Others: In the forest, Brown meets the traveler with the serpent staff. The Devil tempts him. He says that even his father and grandfather were with him. He also sees Goody Cloyse, the Minister, and Deacon Gookin at the Devil’s side. Brown says about Goody Cloyse,
“That old woman taught me my catechism!”
This shocks him. He begins to lose trust in everyone. His wrong step is to believe that all people are evil, without proof of truth.
Losing Hope and Rejecting Faith: Brown’s biggest mistake is losing hope. He sees the pink ribbon fall. He cries,
“My Faith is gone!”
He even shouts,
“Come, devil! For to thee is this world given.”
This shows despair. He almost accepts the Devil’s baptism. Though he resists in the end, his heart is broken. He cannot love, trust, or pray anymore. This is his final wrong step.
Goodman Brown goes wrong because of three things: leaving Faith, trusting the Devil’s lies, and losing hope in God. His errors destroy his life. He dies a sad, dark, and lonely man.