Philosophical Ending In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne provides a highly philosophical ending to his short story, “Young Goodman Brown.” The ending is meant to exemplify that there are truths to this world in which one can’t avoid or deny. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses great use of literary elements in order to support the ending to the theme. The ending of “Young Goodman Brown,” commences when Goodman Brown arises from his slump questioning if the events in his encounter with the devil was merely a dream. Moreover, he then had become more observant and aware of that which is sinful in his town. This is authenticated as Hawthorne states, “...if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream. On the Sabbath-Day when the congregation were sing a holy psalm,

he could not listen because an anthem of sin rushed loudly upon his ear and drowned all the blessed strain.” Hawthorne uses auditory imagery in order to emphasize that all of which Goodman Brown had seen as a blessing became corrupted. Furthermore, Hawthorne also uses irony and symbolism in combination as he utilizes the singing of the holy psalm which is by many seen as joyful, to that of an anthem of sin which truly shows of how one cannot avoid corruption in the world. As Goodman Brown becomes aware of his sinful surroundings, he begins to try to save children from corruption caused by the catechizer. Additionally, Goodman Brown would also suddenly awake at midnight and looks upon his wife, Faith, with utter disappointment in which he realizes that his life would be in forever gloom. This is validated as Hawthorne states, “Brown turning pale, dread lest the roof should thunder upon the gray blasphemer...a goodly procession, besides neighbors not a few, they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone for his dying hour was gloom.” In this circumstance, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses great imagery in conjunction with diction as he describes the setting turning into that of a pale color alongside proclaiming of how that Goodman Brown’s last hour was destined to be filled with a never ending gloom without hope. Overall, Nathaniel Hawthorne provides a great indeterminate ending which illuminates that one cannot stop corruption even if noticed as it is an essential part in sustaining balance in the world.