Young Goodman Brown The Evils of Puritanism Essay

Puritanism dominated 17th century history and literature. Nathaniel Hawthorne born in 1804 was an American writer who sought to resolve his conflicts with Puritanism through his writing. Hawthorne wrote several stories showing the world the horrors of the Puritan faith and the isolation of individuals who failed to uphold the faith. For Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown illustrates the difference between Puritan teaching and practicing and reflects his own guilt about the mistreatment of men at the hands of his forefathers. Young Goodman Brown protagonist struggles with Puritanism is a reflection of Hawthorne personal conflicts with Puritanism. Hawthorne uses the story of Young Goodman Brown to illustrate Puritanisms disconnection between†¦show more content†¦Ronan states Goodman Brown is â€Å"both a Hawthorne and a son of Burroughs—â€Å" the holy man† whose hanging is portrayed in â€Å"Main-street† as the ultimate symbol of the witch trials’ injustice†( Ronan 279). As Goodman Brown continues to walk with this older man he starts to get nervous say â€Å"too far too far!’ exclaimed Goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk† (Hawthorne 388). Although Goodman Brown knows what he is doing is wrong, he continues walking in the woods with the traveler. Goodman Brown states â€Å"My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs. And shall I be the first of the name Brown, that ever took this path†(Hawthorne 388). Again, the importance of family history in the role of guilt regarding Puritan values and practices emerges as the traveler enlightens Goodman Brown about his father and grandfather. The traveler states â€Å" I helped your grandfather, the constable [lash a] Quaker women smartly through the streets of Salem...I brought your father a pitch-pine knot, kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Philip’s war† (Hawthorne 388). This is also the first time when the reader sees the traveler as more than a normal man, but the devil. Both the reader and Goodman Brown begin to realize that no ordinary man can entice the strong in faith from the path of from righteousness unless he is the devil. 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