American Lit ProjectELIZABETH MADDOX

Young Goodman BrownBY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Summary

Young Goodman Brown sets off on a journey through the woods. He leaves his wife, Faith, at home even though she tries to convince him to stay. He takes a walk through the forest and encounters a strange man with a walking staff. He is presumed to be the Devil. Brown sees other people walking along the same immoral path; people he knows to be good Christians. Eventually, Brown arrives at his destination: a witchcraft ceremony. He recognizes many from the town, including his wife Faith. He and Faith are led to the center of the ceremony and are inducted into the group of witches. Brown tries to tell Faith to resist temptation and suddenly, he’s alone in the forest. Unsure of whether the events were all a dream, he returns home. He is changed forever, and can no longer see the good in people, especially in Faith.

Plot Overview

The short story is set in 19th century Salem village. Goodman Brown tells his wife, Faith, goodbye. She asks him to stay with her because she feels scared when she’s alone. He tells her that he’ll only be gone for the night and instructs her to say her prayers before she goes to sleep. He leaves her, thinking that she might know where he’s going, and promises himself to be a better person.

“Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset into the street at Salem village; but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap while she called to Goodman Brown. ‘Dearest heart,’ whispered she, ‘prithee put off your journey until sunrise. A lone woman is troubled.’… ‘Poor little Faith!’ thought he, ‘What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too. I thought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight.”

Goodman Brown sets off on a gloomy forest road, afraid of what hides behind each tree. He fears that there may be Indians or the Devil himself in the wood. He comes across a strange man who greets Brown as if he was expecting him. The man looks ordinary except for a walking staff carved like a serpent. It looks so lifelike that it appears to be moving.

“He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest… and there is this peculiarity in such a solitude, that the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead. His head turned back… and beheld the figure of a man…’You are late, Goodman Brown,’ said he. ‘Faith kept me back a while,’ replied the young man, with a tremor in his voice, caused by the sudden appearance of his companion, though not wholly unexpected. But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent. This, of course, must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light.”

Goodman Brown’s strange companion offers him his walking staff, telling him that it might help him walk faster. Brown refuses, saying that he showed up for their meeting because he is a man of his word, but that he doesn’t wish to touch the staff, and would rather return home. Brown explains that his family members have been good Christians, and that he is ashamed to be meeting with the man. His companion then tells Brown that he knew his father and grandfather, and many others of the town, including the governor.

“Come Goodman Brown… Take my staff if you are so soon weary.’ ‘Friend,’ said the other… ‘having kept covenant by meeting thee here, it is my purpose now to return from where I came… 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.’…‘Well said, Goodman Brown! I have been as well acquainted with your family… They were my good friends, both… I have general acquaintance here in New England. The deacons of many a church, the selectmen of divers towns, the governor and I, too—But these are state secrets.”

Brown is particularly confused by the man’s words and tells him that even if this is true, he wants to return to the village for Faith’s sake. The two then come across an old woman walking through the woods. Brown recognizes Goodie Cloyse, who he knows to be a good and respected woman. He hides, embarrassed, and Cloyse identifies the man as the Devil, and herself, a witch on her way to the Devil’s ceremony.

“Can this be so?’ cried Goodman Brown…’Well, then, to end the matter at once… there is my wife, Faith. It would break her dear little heart… As he spoke [the man] pointed his staff at a female figure on the path, in whom Goodman Brown recognized a very pious and exemplary dame… ‘The Devil!’ screamed the pious old lady… Thus the pair proceeded, at a good free pace, until suddenly, in a gloomy hollow of the road, Goodman Brown sat himself down on the stump of a tree and refused to go any farther.”

Despite seeing Goodie Cloyce and now knowing the true identity of his companion, Brown tells the man he wants to turn back, for Faith’s sake. The man says that Brown should rest, and before disappearing into the woods, he leaves his staff. He says that it will bring him to the ceremony if he changes his mind.

“Friend,’ said he, stubbornly, ‘my mind is made up. Not another step will I budge on this errand.’…’You will think better of this by and by,’ said his acquaintance, composedly. ‘Sit here and rest yourself a while; and when you feel like moving again, there is my staff to help you along.’ Without more words, he threw his companion the maple stick, and was speedily out of sight as if he had vanished into the deepening gloom.”

After the Goodman Brown is left alone, he hears the voices of the church and a deacon. He realizes that they are also on their way to the ceremony. Shocked, he swears to himself that even though everyone else has turned evil, for Faith’s sake, he will stay true to God. He soon hears voices from the ceremony and thinks he recognizes Faith’s voice. He calls her name and a pink ribbon from her hat floats down from the sky.

“On came the hoof tramps and the voices of riders… It vexed him the more, because he could have sworn, were such a thing possible, that he recognized the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin. ‘With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the Devil!’ cried Goodman Brown… Aloft in the air, as if from the depths of the cloud, came a confused and doubtful sound of voices…both pious and ungodly…There was one voice of a young woman…with an uncertain sorrow…’Faith! Shouted Goodman Brown…The cry of grief, rage, and terror was yet piercing the night, when the unhappy husband held his breath for a response… But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon.”

Certain that there is no good left in the world because Faith has turned to evil, Brown grabs the staff. It pulls him quickly through the forest and he soon arrives at the ceremony. It is taking place in a clearing in the woods, and the trees surrounding it are on fire. He recognizes a lot of people from the town but he doesn't see Faith, so he starts to hope that she is still safe.

"My Faith is gone!" cried he, after one stupefied moment. "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.' and, maddened with despair... did Goodman Brown grasp the staff and set forth again... The mass of foliage that had overgrown the summit of the rock was all on fire, blazing high into the night and fitfully illuminating the whole field... 'But where is Faith.' thought Goodman Brown; and, as hope came into his heart, he trembled."

A figure appears in the center of the group, and says to the followers to present the converts. Goodman Brown sees his father calling him forward and his mother trying to hold him back. Before he can make a decision, the deacon and the minister pull him forward. Goody Cloyse and another woman bring forth another person who is covered so that her identity is secret. They remove the cover, and Faith is standing in front of Goodman Brown. He tells her to resist temptation, and he is suddenly all alone in the woods.

"Bring forth the converts!' cried a voice that echoed through the field and rolled into the forest... 'Welcome, my children, said the dark figure.'... 'Look upon each other.' They did so; and, by the blaze of the torches, the wretched man beheld his Faith, and the wife her husband, trembling before that unhallowed altar... And there they stood, the only pair, as it seemed, who were yet hesitating on the verge of wickedness in this dark world. 'Faith! Faith!,' cried the husband, 'look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one... Hardly had he spoke when he found himself amid calm night and solitude."

Goodman Brown returns home, and all the people he sees seems evil to him. Finally, he sees Faith and refuses to greet her. He's unsure whether it was all a dream, but it changed his life. He no longer trusts anyone in the village and he lives the rest of his life unhappy and afraid.

"The next morning, Young Goodman Brown came slowly into the street of Salem village, staring around him like a bewildered man... Had Goodman Brown fallen asleep in the forest, and only dreamed a wild dream of a witch meeting?... A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream."

Hero’s Journey

Young Goodman Brown is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story follows the Hero's Journey. It begins in the ordinary village of Salem. Goodman Brown says goodbye to his wife, Faith, who begs him to stay because she gets scared when she is left alone. He comforts her and says that he will return shortly. He then sets off on a walk through the forest. He comes across a strange man with a walking stick along the road. This is the meeting of the mentor in the Hero's Journey. The man tells Goodman Brown to take his walking stick because it will help him walk faster. This is the call for change, but Brown refuses. He says that he doesn't want to touch the staff and wants to return home. The man tells him that he knew his father and grandfather, and begins naming others in the village. This would be leaving the comfort zone or crossing the threshold in the Hero's Journey.

Suddenly an old woman, who Brown knows to be a good Christian, appears in the forest. Brown finds out that the man is the Devil, and the woman is a witch. This would be one of the obstacles in the Hero's Journey. Brown still says that he wants to go back home for Faith. The man gives Brown his staff so that he can join them if he changes his mind. Brown starts hearing the voices of the minister and a deacon, and he goes toward them. As he approaches, he thinks he recognizes Faith's voice and he realizes that no one is safe from the Devil's power. He grabs the staff and it quickly takes him to the ceremony. This is the consensus. When he arrives, he sees his father, mother, the minister, and others he would have never expected to be dealing with the Devil. His father tries to pull him towards the Devil, while his mother tries to hold him back. Before he can make a decision, the deacon drags him towards another convert that is covered so that their identity is hidden. This is the relapse in the Hero's Journey. When it is revealed that it is Faith, Brown tells her to look toward Heaven and resist the Devil's temptation. This is the last minute danger of the Hero's Journey. Brown is left alone in the forest, and he heads back towards the village. He sees the minister, the deacon, the old woman, and finally Faith, who he now sees as evil and corrupted. Because of this he lives the rest of his days unable to see the good in people and this is the conclusion of the Hero's Journey.

The VillageWRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN

Summary

The movie is set in a 19th century village called Covington. The people of the village live simply and have interesting beliefs. There are "Those They Don't Speak Of” lurking in the forest. The people live in fear and never venture into the woods. The story begins with the death of a child. Since they don't have modern medicines, one man, Lucius Hunt, offers to go through Covington Woods, to the towns. There, he could get medicine that may prevent others from dying. He goes before the council that runs the village and they refuse his offer, saying its too dangerous. Ivy, the main character, is introduced. Ivy is a very independent person, despite the fact that she is blind. Ivy is in love with Lucius and eventually, Lucius admits that he loves her too. They make plans to get married but Ivy's friend, Noah, doesn't want to lose her because he loves her too. He tries to kill Lucius, and runs away. When Ivy finds Lucius, she offers to go to the towns to get medicine that would save his life. Her father refuses at first, but eventually agrees to let her go. He tells her the truth about the "creatures" in the forest, and she ventures into the woods. She is able to get medicine and return home safely to help Lucius.

Characters

Ivy WalkerBryce Dallas Howard

Lucius HuntJoaquin Phoenix

Noah PercyAdrien Brody

Synopsis

The story takes place in Covington, a 19th century town. The woods that surround the village are off limits to the people because of scary creatures that live there. Many years before, the Elders made an agreement with the creatures that keeps people from entering the woods, and the creatures from entering the village. One of the Elders, August, loses his son to a disease for which they have no cure. Lucius Hunt offers to go through the woods to get medicines that could prevent this from happening again.

“”

My mother is unaware of the reason for my visit today. She did not give her consent or consult me in any form. The passing of little Daniel Nicholson from illness, and other events have weighed on my thoughts. I ask permission to cross into the forbidden woods and travel to the nearest town. I will gather new medicines, and I will return. With regards to Those We Don't Speak Of, I am certain they will let me pass. Creatures can sense emotion and fear. They will see I am pure of intention and not afraid. The end.

LUCIUS HUNT

Lucius keeps to himself and rarely speaks to most people. When Kitty Walker confesses her undying love for him, he refuses her request to marry her. Lucius has been friends with her younger sister, Ivy, for a very long time. Ivy is an independent, strong willed girl. She has been blind since she was very young but she claims that Lucius has a color around him that she can see. Ivy is friends with Noah, who has a mental illness. One day, Noah gives Ivy some berries he picked. She is at first thankful but Lucius then tells her that the berries are "the bad color". According to their legends, the color red attracts the creatures and yellow repels them. Lucius discovers that the berries don't grow in the village and that Noah has traveled into the woods and returned, unharmed by the creatures.

He offers once again, and his request is denied. His mother, Alice Hunt, warns him that the towns are terrible places and are what is responsible for the death of his father. Lucius makes note of a locked box that his mother owns. All the Elders have a box with hidden things from their past; from before they established Covington. The next day, he has patrol duty on the border of the woods. He goes a ways into the forest and is unharmed, but knows he has to go back. Later on he goes to Ivy's house to talk to her. She voices her disapproval of his plan.

Shortly after, the alarm bell sounds and everyone rushes inside their houses. The creatures have shown up in the village but Ivy waits outside because she knows that Lucius will come back to make sure she is safe. Lucius manages to get Ivy inside before a creature attacks her, and everyone hides until morning. The next day, they find red marks on their houses, and they hold a town meeting. Edward Walker informs the people that they think that the creatures felt threatened by something they did. Lucius comes forward to tell of his going into the woods, and that he is afraid he is the cause, but he is not punished.

That night, Ivy finds Lucius sitting on her front porch. They talk and they finally admit that they love each other. The next day, they tell the Elders of their plans to be married. Word travels fast through he village, and soon after, Lucius is visited by Noah. Noah is crying and upset about the announcement and he stabs Lucius several times trying to kill him. He runs away to hide. When his mother finds Noah with blood on his hands, they lock him up in a house and try to find the person that is hurt.

When Ivy hears the news that someone has been hurt, she immediately goes looking of Lucius. She finds him dying and her father takes him, so they can attempt to save his life. They find out that they cannot save him with the medicines they have, and Ivy tells her father that she must go to the town. Her father takes her to an old shed, and tells her the truth about the creatures. They are just costumes created by the Elders to keep people in fear.

Edward gives her instructions on how to reach "The Towns" and gives her his own permission. He goes back to the Elders to tell them what he has done, and they berate him for making this decision without consulting them. He stands by his choice, and says that he did everything he could do to protect the village.

Ivy starts off into the woods with two companions. They both get scared and return home. Ivy is left alone to finish her task. She soon comes across a large pit created by a fallen tree, which almost claims her life. But she is able to get out and continue. She hears strange noises and a creature appears. It charges her several times and she is able to use her senses to lead it to the pit, and trick it into falling to its death. It is revealed that the creature was Noah. He crawled out from beneath the floorboards of the house, found the costume, and came after Ivy. Ivy comes across a hedge and a fence, which she is able to climb over. As she does this, her father open the locked box he has.

It is revealed that the village is actually in present day Pennsylvania, isolated from the rest of the world. It was created by Edward and the other elders. After his father was murdered, Edward joined a support group which is where he met the rest of the council. They had all suffered losses, as a result of peoples' wickedness. They came up with the idea to create a town that could be safe...

Back at the wall, Ivy finds a paved road, and soon a man, who looks like an officer, in a jeep pulls up. She tells him that she needs the medicines and he tells her to wait for him there. He drives to a ranger station, and it is discovered that the village is actually in the middle of the Walker Wildlife Preserve and that the preserve was paid big money to take precautions, such as keeping planes from flying over. The park ranger gets the medicines for Ivy and returns to her. He asks her where she is from and she tells him that she is from he woods. Not even knowing that she stepped into the real world, she is able to return home and save Lucius. The Elders agree to keep up their story to keep the town safe.

Hero’s Journey

The Village is set in a 19th century village. It begins with the introduction of the characters, who live simple lives. It highlights some of their beliefs and traditions. There are "Those They Don't Speak Of" in the forest, that are evil and scary. The call for change in the Hero's Journey is the death of a boy in the village. This inspires Lucius to offer to go beyond the borders to get medicines and return to help. He presents his idea to the council of Elders, but they refuse to let him go. The council, including Ivy's (the main character) father, and Lucius's mother, are the mentors of the story. Despite the council's warnings, Lucius ventures into the edge of the woods, but doesn't travel far. This is leaving the comfort zone in the Hero's Journey. The first obstacle of the movie is Lucius being stabbed by Noah. Noah tries to kill him because Lucius intended to marry Ivy (and Noah was in love with her). Ivy then asks her father's permission to travel to the towns to get the medicines that could save his life. After much deliberation, the council allows her to go.

The big change in the Hero's Journey is when her father tells Ivy the truth about "Those They Don't Speak Of". They are actually costumes, created by the Elders, to keep the people of the village in fear of the outside world. She sets off on her journey into the woods with two companions. They get scared and turn back. Her biggest challenge is that she is blind. She continues to make her way through the forest and is eventually found by a creature. She is chased, but manages to trick it into falling to its death, when it is revealed to be Noah. This is the last minute challenge of the Hero's Journey. She crosses the wall and makes it to a place that has medicines. She is able to return home and save Lucius. 

Basis of Comparison

Young Goodman Brown and The Village share many common themes. The main characters, for example, have similar motivations. Young Goodman Brown was motivated by his love for Faith. Ivy was also motivated for her love for Lucius.

Both Brown and Ivy are innocent at the beginning of their stories. Brown sees the best in people and Ivy, like the rest of the village, is sheltered.

Both stories have a common good and evil theme. In Young Goodman Brown, the main conflict is between Brown’s desire to be good and his temptation to fall to evil. In The Village, the line between good and evil is not as clear. The people of the village see the townspeople as evil, but the Elders could also be considered the ones at fault for some of the conflicts.

At the conclusion of both the movie and the story, the main characters are forever changed. Brown sees everyone as evil and untrustworthy. Ivy discovers the truth about the creatures.

They also end up being the only ones in their stories who know the truth.

Bibliography

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." The Literature Network. Web. 02 May 2014. <http://www.online-literature.com/poe/158/>.

The Village. Dir. M. Night Shayamalan. Perf. Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody. Touchstone Pictures, 2004. DVD.