Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
When I was
in high school I read Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and The House of
the Seven Gable. As in both of those
novels, the Puritan religions plays a crucial role.
Young
Goodman Brown's wife Faith did not want him to leave her at home alone that
night. She was frightened of something,
though could not say of what. He left
her anyway for some "important business."
"Poor little Faith!" thought he, for his heart smote him. "What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too. Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight. But no, no; 't would kill her to think it."
He meets up with a strange man and
together they proceed to walk through the forest on their "devil's
errand". As they get near to their
destination, they meet up with other's from the town, including Goodman Browns
wife, Faith.
What Brown witnessed at
this meeting is really hard to say, except that it's was a statement on Puritan
religion and sin. It was written as a
dream like sequence and Brown isn't sure himself, if it was real or a dream.
I think Hawthorne, in all of his
literature that I have read is trying to say that nothing is cut and dried and
to be judged too harshly. Those who
practiced the puritan religion, like other organized religions judge others
harshly. Is it sin to believe in
something different? You can read the
story here.
Also reviewed by:
Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.
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Thanks for this review!
I am fascinated with value names like Faith, Prosper, Charity etc. I'd like to see how Faith ends up so I will definitely read this.
Medea said... January 23, 2012 3:10 AM
I read The Scarlet Letter in high school and participated in a House of the Seven Gables read-along last fall. Hawthorne will never be one of my favorites, but I am curious enough to give this story a try. Bookmarking it for later...
JoAnn said... January 23, 2012 5:04 AM
Medea and JoAnn, if you figure out if it was a dream or reality for Brown, let me know. LOL!
Teddy Rose said... January 23, 2012 9:52 PM
I read this in school and remember being so confused about what it meant; even after our discussion, I'm not sure. But it was a good introduction to Hawthorne's writing-my school didn't assign The Scarlet Letter so that is waiting for me at some point!
Bookworm1858 said... January 28, 2012 6:54 PM
Bookworm, I struggled with it myself. I think it would make for good discussion. I think The Scarlet Letter is less confusing. You know whats actually really happening. It does have plenty of symbolism to discuss, however.
Teddy Rose said... January 28, 2012 8:28 PM
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