Analysis Of Young Goodman Brown By Nathaniel Hawthome

The Analysis

Title                 : Young Goodman Brown

Author             : Nathaniel Hawthorne

I.          Content

A.    Setting

§   Time

Actually, then main time setting in this story is set in seventh century, and the specific time are in the afternoon, at sunset, night, and in the morning.

“Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset….” First line of paragraph 1, page 1.

“…, the sky, at the hour of midnight” 8^th line of 3^rd paragraph, page 6.

§   Place

The story of Young Goodman Brown is toke place in Salem Village, at his home and the street and in the forest where Holy ritual toke place.

“Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset at Salem Village…” First line of paragraph 1, page 1.

“…after crossing the threshold….” 2^nd line of paragraph 1, page 1

“….it was deep dusk in the forest…”1^st line of paragraph 13, page 1

§   Social Background

The social background setting in this story is where the situation on that era is extreme and radical. On that’s era, the belief for God of people on the Salem Village was stronger. From they since young (the children on Salem Village), they had learn about religion, and actually many respected people are very religious.

“…..who had taught him his catechism in you, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser, jointly with the minister and Deacon Gookin” 5^th paragraph, page 3.

B.     Main Characters

The main characters are divided into two kinds, i.e.:

§   Protagonist

The protagonist in this story is Young Goodman Brown.

In this story, young Goodman Brown is described as a Puritan and religious person. Because he is very surprise when he found that many people who categorized as respected and religious people are become the firm of evil.

“….Led between Goody Cloyse,…, and Martha Carrier, who had received the devil’s promise to be queen of hell.”8^th line of 5^th paragraph, page 7.

“…….We have been a race of honest men and good Christian since …., shall I be the first of the name of Brown that ever took this path and kept—“ 3-4^th line of 5^th paragraph, page 2.

§   Antagonist

The antagonist in this story is fellow-traveler, Faith, Goody Cloyse, and Old Deacon Gookin,

Ø  The fellow-traveler

The fellow-traveler is the evil who act like human. He tried to influence Young Goodman Brown to be the firm of devil by many ways, like, for the example, he told to Young Goodman Brown that he know about Young’a father and grandfther.  And, he act as a person wo will help Youg Goodman Brown

“...., I have been as well acqquited with your family as withe ever a one among Puritans..., I helped your grandfather..., they were my good friends....” 2^nd- 8^th line of 6^th paragraph, page 2.

“...Take my staff, if you are so soon weary” 2^nd line of 2^nd paragraph, page 2

Ø  Faith

At the beginning of the story, Faith is describe as pure woman, a woman without any sin on her life and very care of his huband. But, when the Young Goodman Brown is arrived at the forest, he found that his wife is also the firm of the evil.

“Then God Bless you!”....”and may you find all well then you come back” 1^st-2^nd lines of 4th paragraph, page 1.

“...,the wretch man beheld his Faith...., trembling before that unhallowed altar...” 2^nd line of 2^nd paragraph, page 8.

Ø  Goody Cloyse

Almost same with Faith, when Young Goodman Brown was a children, Goody Cloyse was his teacher in catathism, and she was moral and spritual adviser, jointly with Deacon Gookin. But, when Young Goodman Brown met fellow-traveler, the fellow-traveler introduce her as his frind, the woman who follow to worship revere the evil.

“That old woman taught me catechism...” 1^st line of 2^nd paragraph, page 4

“....he pointed his staff at a female figure...who had taught hi hi catechismin youth, ... jointly with the minister and Deacon Gookin” 1^st-4^th line of 5^th paragraph, page 3.

Ø  Old Deacon Gookin.

Old Deacon Gookin is also including in expected person and puritan, same with Faith and Goody Cloyse, at he social environment, he is famous as a person who obey with the God and moral rule, but he is also the firm of evil.

“...Evil is nature of mankind. Evil must be ony your happiness...” line 4-5^th of 3^rd paragraph, page 8.

C.    Point of View

The point of view of Young Goodman brown is the third singular person.

§   Plot Summary

Ø  Conflicts

Ø  Climax

Ø  Resolution

D.    Theme

For me, the theme of this story is that there are no people who don’t have sin in their live, and we can judge person who if we see he or she is nice, have nice heart too.

Almost at the end of Young Goodman journey, he meet people who he know as the obey people to the God rule, or obedient Christian, are firm of evil, including his wife, Faith.