An Analysis of Young Mr. Goodman Brown
“Young Mr. Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1828
during the Romantic period of American Literature. The story focuses on Mr. Goodman
Brown, the protagonist, and a spiritual journey he embarks on. On this journey Mr.
Brown finds himself face to face with evil himself and is greatly effected by this experience for the rest of his life. At the end of the story, Hawthorne leaves his readers guessing whether Mr. Brown’s encounter was a dream or a very skewed reality.
Nathaniel Hawthorne strategically wrote “Young Mr. Goodman Brown” in a way that is intended to have a specific effect on its’ readers. He uses symbolism, diction, and tone to enhance the readers experience and to more effectively write the story. This piece also references several real life historical events to make his story more powerful and believable. Many traits of the Romantic period are reflected in this piece, such as the focus on personal emotion and the power of the natural world. Hawthorne was also influenced by writers from the Transcendental movement and that can be seen in his work. !
The Speaker in “Young Mr. Goodman Brown” is an unidentified narrator. Even
though the story is not being told from Mr. Goodman’s perspective it is written in a way that reveals his emotions to the reader. Hawthorne used diction to allude to Mr.
Goodman’s emotions and feelings. We know that he is feeling scared when he is walking through the forest because words like dreary, darkened, evil, gloomiest, creep,
and lonely are used to describe his setting. We also know Mr. Goodman Brown is fearful of the man because when we talks to him he has a tremor in his voice. The man is also described as “having an indescribable air, of one who knew the world.” The tremor in
Mr. Goodman’s voice shows that he is intimidated by the figure. It seems ironic that he calls the man “his companion”. I believe he does this out of fear and in hopes of gaining his respect so that he will not
during the Romantic period of American Literature. The story focuses on Mr. Goodman
Brown, the protagonist, and a spiritual journey he embarks on. On this journey Mr.
Brown finds himself face to face with evil himself and is greatly effected by this experience for the rest of his life. At the end of the story, Hawthorne leaves his readers guessing whether Mr. Brown’s encounter was a dream or a very skewed reality.
Nathaniel Hawthorne strategically wrote “Young Mr. Goodman Brown” in a way that is intended to have a specific effect on its’ readers. He uses symbolism, diction, and tone to enhance the readers experience and to more effectively write the story. This piece also references several real life historical events to make his story more powerful and believable. Many traits of the Romantic period are reflected in this piece, such as the focus on personal emotion and the power of the natural world. Hawthorne was also influenced by writers from the Transcendental movement and that can be seen in his work. !
The Speaker in “Young Mr. Goodman Brown” is an unidentified narrator. Even
though the story is not being told from Mr. Goodman’s perspective it is written in a way that reveals his emotions to the reader. Hawthorne used diction to allude to Mr.
Goodman’s emotions and feelings. We know that he is feeling scared when he is walking through the forest because words like dreary, darkened, evil, gloomiest, creep,
and lonely are used to describe his setting. We also know Mr. Goodman Brown is fearful of the man because when we talks to him he has a tremor in his voice. The man is also described as “having an indescribable air, of one who knew the world.” The tremor in
Mr. Goodman’s voice shows that he is intimidated by the figure. It seems ironic that he calls the man “his companion”. I believe he does this out of fear and in hopes of gaining his respect so that he will not