Nathaniel Hawthornehttp://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/hawthorne.html (1804-

1864)• American author

• Ancestor was a judge in the Salem witch trials

• Preoccupied with Puritan past

Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Themes of sin and its consequences

• Complex symbolism, allegory

• Novels: The Scarlet Letter; House of Seven Gables

Types of Conflict

• Person vs. self

• Person vs. others

• Person vs. God

• Person vs. Nature

• Find evidence of each type

Movement of Events• Exposition

– Background of Faith’s love (par. 1-7)• Complication

– Goodman Brown’s discussion with the devil (par. 18-24)

– Brown’s internal deliberation (par.15, 17, 21, 39, 46, 48)

– Goody Cloyse talking with the devil (par. 27-36)– Deakon Gookin meeting the devil (par. 41)

• Climax– The service and the decision to fly (par. 55-69)

• Denouement– Living gloomily ever after (p. 310)

• Natural Setting

• Hostile

• Salem, MA, around 1690

• Sunset, night

• Dark

• Forest

• Names of Characters– Allegorical significance– Historical significance

• provides an eerie sense of authenticity

• Protagonists = Goodman Brown and Faith

• Antagonists = The Devil and townspeople

• Title– Goodman Brown could be anyone

—“Everyman”– The story is about a universal problem

—good (Goodman) versus evil (Brown)

• Point of View– Third person limited through Goodman

Brown’s eyes– Why?

Allegorical:Every aspect of the story has

significance• Names

– Faith– Goodman Brown– Goody Cloyse– Martha Carrier– Deakon Gookin

• Forest setting– Darkness of sin

• Staff– Serpent, Satan,

biblical reference

• Pink Ribbons– Innocence– Purity– Love

• Cloud– Reverse of the biblical

“cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1

Allegorical Parallels between Meeting and Church Service

• Dreadful anthem = Hymn singing• Rock = Altar or pulpit• Blazing pines = Candles• Assembled

townspeople = Church congregation

• Satan = Pastor• Swelling chorus = Church choir/organ• Presentation of

converts and basin

of blood = Baptism

• Like the characters, setting, and title, the theme is ambiguous

• Is this a dream or reality?

• Is faith really true? Can anyone be trusted?

• Is all apparent goodness mere hypocrisy?

• No clear answer is given