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Analysis

"Young Goodman Brown" is often generalized as an allegory about the discovery of evil, the true nature of humanity.^[1] The story is set during the Salem witch trials, during which Hawthorne's great-great grandfather John Hathorne played a role as judge. Hawthorne, for years plagued by guilt from his ancestor's role, vindicates his grandfather by featuring two fictional victims of the witch trials who really were witches and not merely innocent victims of the witch-hunt.^[2] It was also this ancestral guilt that inspired Hawthorne to change his family's name, adding a "w" in his early twenties, shortly after graduating from college.^[3]

Nathaniel Hawthorne often based his novels and short stories on events that occurred in the 17th century. One of his favorite settings that reoccur in several of his works was that of New England, especially Salem, Massachusetts, during the 1600s.^[4] In order to best convey the setting in his work, he would often use various literary techniques. For example, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses specific diction, or colloquial expressions, to enhance the setting in his short story, "Young Goodman Brown".

Throughout the piece, women are often called "Goody" and men are labeled with the honorific "Goodman". One example would be the main character Goodman Brown and one of the female characters, Goody Cloyse. Such titles are archaic today but were common forms of address in early 17th century New England.^[5] Another example of Puritan dialect is the quote, "prithee put off your journey until sunrise and sleep in your own bed to-night. A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts that she's afeared of herself sometimes. Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband".^[6]

Historicizing is an important technique that Hawthorne likes to employ.^[7] Yet again, the dialect which Hawthorne uses is critical to this technique.^{[citation needed]} Without the Puritan dialect, "Young Goodman Brown" loses much of the historical significance that Hawthorne is trying to get across. The short story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. The time in which it takes place is not stated explicitly. However, by mentioning that Goodman Brown's father had fought in King Philip's War, Hawthorne places it during the late 17th or early 18th century. Furthermore, Hawthorne’s use of dialect truly propels the reader into the world of Goodman Brown and helps them to gain a better insight into the setting.^{[citation needed]}

Nathaniel Hawthorne is known in his writings for his criticism of the teachings of the Puritans.^{[citation needed]} Young Goodman Brown is no different as it seeks to expose his perceived hypocrisy in Puritan doctrine. The plot and textual references in Young Goodman Brown reveal the Puritans as being like "a city upon a hill" as John Winthrop said, a founder of Puritanism, and wanting to be seen that way as good, holy men. However, their doctrine teaches that all men are inherently evil and they strive to cause each person to come to terms with this and realize their sinful nature. This hypocrisy that Hawthorne presents in his story is how he reflects on the hypocritical teachings of the Puritans. They taught that man was inherently evil in nature much in accordance to Enlightenment philosopher Thomas Hobbes. They presented themselves as pure, holy, righteous, moral people when, according to their very own teachings, they were beings fueled by sin and evil.^{[citation needed]}

Goody Cloyse may have been roughly based on Sarah Cloyce, a woman accused but not indicted of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. There is also a reference to a "Goody Cory", a very likely reference to Martha Corey an execution victim of the trials.