Young Goodman Brown

1. Goodman prepares to set out for the journey

• Young Goodman Brown was getting ready to set out on a journey into the forest to get together with a stranger, whom he had promised to meet. It was in the evening, almost sunset.
• Goodman’s wife, Faith, wasn’t so sure about her husband going at this time of the day. She told him to stay for the night and leave at sunrise.
• Goodman assured her that all would be well and convinced her that this was the one night that he had to stay away from her. He told her to pray and that no harm would befall her.

1. Goodman goes to the forest to meet the stranger

• Faith and Goodman parted ways and Goodman went to the forest
• Goodman arrives at the forest though he is late.
• He arrived at the forest and found the stranger.
• He was fifteen minutes late. After being questioned by the stranger as to why he was late, he was quick to tell the stranger that it was his Faith who had made him late.

1. Goodman discovers secrets about his father and grandfather from the stranger

• After walking for a little distance with the fellow traveler, Goodman insisted that he wanted to return to his wife since he had kept his promise of meeting with the serpent.
• He told the serpent that neither his father nor his grandfather had gone into the woods for such an errand. However, the serpent told him that both his father and grandfather were good friends to him but Goodman did not believe him. The serpent told him that he was friends with many people in New England including the Governor.

1. Goodman sees his catechism teacher and other people he did not expect to see at the forest

(A)On the way, the serpent showed him a woman. Goodman recognized the woman as Goody Cloyse, catechism teacher in his youth and was his spiritual advisor to date.

(B) Alongside the lady were a minister and Deacon Gookin. Goodman was very surprised that a woman who seemed holy was on a pathway to hell.

(C) On the way, horse riders passed them by. These horse riders were the minister and Deacon Gookin. They were chatting and Goodman happened to hear what they said. Deacon Gookin said he would rather miss a church meeting than miss this event.

1. Goodman meets the other members of the congregation

• Goodman had a number of people murmur and of those voices he heard the voice of Faith. He called out her name loudly but all he heard ere echoing sounds bouncing of the trees. He despaired and started laughing.
• After walking in the forest for a little longer, he came across an open space from which a rock that resembled an altar arose. He saw a number of people gathered at a place.The congregation had a lot of people who were famous faces of leaders.
• Goodman and the rest of the new converts are summoned to the altar
• A voice called the converts asking them to move forward. Goodman started walking towards the congregation feeling a very strong bond with the congregation.
• As he walked towards the altar, a woman tried to warn him back. He thought that it could have been his mother but this feeling was too strong and irresistible. He felt like it was his dead father pulling him towards the altar. Deacon Gookin and the minister took Goodman’s hand and walked with him to the altar.
• At the altar, a black figure welcomed them terming them as his children. Goodman saw Goody Cloyse, and Martha Carrier walking towards the altar holding the hand of a woman who was covered in a veil.
• Goodman finds his wife amidst the congregation
• While on the altar, a dark figure welcomed them and disclosed some of the secret wicked practices of members of his congregation. He then told them to face each other. He discovered that the veiled woman was his wife Faith.
• A basin, which was naturally sank into the rock, contained a red liquid that was to baptize them.
• Before they got baptized, Goodman looked into Faiths eyes and told her to look up to the heavens and rebuke the devil. He wasn’t sure if she had obeyed him or not.

1. Goodman resumes his usual life

• He woke up in the forest next to a burning branch. His cheeks were covered in dew. He went back to Salem village, looking as astonished and confused as ever.
• As he walked, he saw the minister walk towards the graveyard. The minister blessed Goodman as he passed him by.
• Deacon Gookin was at the domestic worship praying. Goodman wondered to himself which god this ‘wizard’ prayed to.
• Goody Cloyse was catechizing a girl. Goodman snatched the girl from Goody. On reaching the corner, he saw his wife Faith with her pink ribbons on her head.
• Faith was jubilant to see her husband and she hurriedly walked towards him, wanting to kiss him in front of the whole village. Goodman in turn just stared at Faith’s face and walked past her without even greeting her.

Goodman is affected adversely by this ordeal

• Goodman wasn’t certain if he had dreamt or it was real. Whether it was a dream or the reality, it turned him to be someone miserable desperate and hopeless.
• He would no longer listen to the minister’s word nor concentrate on singing a hymn in church due to guilt of sin.
• He would not even concentrate with prayers at home. When they were praying, he would just stare at his wife then look away.

Goodman and faith die in old age

• This revelation affected Goodman for the rest of his life. He died of old age and his wife followed suit shortly after.

Work cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown. Literature Network, 2010.  Retrieved 27th   October 2010 from http://www.online-literature.com/poe/158/