Young Goodman Brown

Chelsey Wilkins

Young Goodman Brown

The battle between good and evil was in true affect during the late seventeenth century. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “Young Goodman Brown,” which contained the problems choosing between Christ and the devil that occurred frequently in Salem, Massachusetts. It became surprising to find out the very people Goodman thought were god –loving Christians ended up being the hypocrites who met to worship the devil. The gothic based story showed many litary devices, leaving a deeper understanding of the text.

While examining the short story rhetorically, symbolism was used sufficiently. The very beginning of the story used symbolism on account of Goodman not only leaving his wife; Faith becomes a tragedy but it symbolizing him losing his faith in God in the future. Also the male figure that Goodman met with left the essence of the devil. Not only did the male figure lead him into the forest but he contradicted all his ideas and beliefs about God. Another example of symbolism would be the forest itself as a whole. In the gothic-toned story, the forest really gives the audience a sense of doubt, fear, darkness, maybe even the agony Goodman has yet to face.


Pathos, a rhetoric device, was appealed to throughout the story. First, pathos in the form of romanticism, as Faith hesitates to let her husband leave, yet share their love and deepest feelings in hopes of being reunited. The main quote that stood out to me was, “my faith is gone! Cried he, after one stupefies moment. “There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. “ Come devil…….” The quote is not on significantly emotional because the inner feelings Goodman is releasing, but also I believe this becomes the very moment that not only loses his wife but also all of his Faith, his dependence on God.

Lastly, the diction used in the story significantly lead to the era of gothic. Hawthorne used repeatedly words that more of favored the presence of the devil, such as dull, draery, devilish, gloomy… and so forth. I believe the choice in words really accompanied the theme relating to those who have come in to close of contact with the devil (spiritually speaking), to those who have chosen to cross over and worship the devil.

To conclude, the fight between good and evil has been fought numerous times. Hawthorne wrote a short story, “Young Goodman Brown” that emphasized on the prescience of the devil in Salem, Massachusetts during the late seventeenth century. What captured my attention most was why wouldn’t Goodman just turn around and save himself from all the deception and agony? Was it the devil luring him into the witches’ meetings to worship him? What would make Goodman want to meet in the middle of the forest and journey with an old creepy man? Just ideas that haunt my mind about the gothic style short story.