Religion In Young Goodman Brown

While reading “Young Goodman Brown” (1835) by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I noticed that there was a theme with religion throughout the story. We are introduced to Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith, who live in a small town in Salem, Massachusetts. Goodman Brown lives a Puritan lifestyle and believes in a higher power, or a God. Goodman Brown leaves his wife to travel in the woods for a special meeting. As his journey is just beginning he meets up with a man that owns a staff, also known as a walking stick. After holding conversation for a while the man offers, Goodman Brown his staff and Brown gladly accepts it. The two continued on their journey until they were stopped in their tracks by the shadow of someone. Hawthorne writes, “As he spoke, he pointed his staff at the female figure on the path, in whom Goodman Brown recognized a very pious and exemplary dame, who taught him his catechism, in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser, jointly with the minister and deacon Gookin”

(Hawthorne, 672). The woman he is referencing is Goody Cloyse, a christian woman from church. Young Goodman Brown meets up with Goody Cloyse and the man with the staff touches Cloyse with it. She yells at him. Hawthorne writes, “The traveller put forth his staff, and touched her withered neck with what seemed the serpent’s tail. “The devil!” screamed the pious old lady” (Hawthorne, 673).
They group holds conversation and realizes that Goody Cloyse, the woman, Young Goodman Brown once knew as a nice, churchgoing lady, is a now a witch and acknowledges herself to the devil. Brown starts to realize what he got himself into and wants to return home to his loving wife Faith. After contemplating whether he should continue on the journey or return home, he decides to get up and continue his walk through the deep, dark, wilderness. He later hears horses galloping into the forest along with the voice of people. One voice he recognizes clearly is his wife's. He overhears an ungodly conversation between the minister and the deacon. Hawthorne writes, “Of the two, reverend Sir,” said the voice like the deacon’s, “I had rather miss an ordination-dinner than go to-night’s meeting. They tell me that some of our community are to be here from Falmouth and beyond, and others from Connecticut and Rhode-Island; besides several of the Indian powows, who, after their fashion, know almost as much deviltry as the best of us” (Hawthorne, 674). After hearing about this devil worshiping meeting, Young Goodman Brown becomes full of emotion, he begins to question his faith. He returns to the group only to see them participating in the ceremony.
He notices his wife and tries to distract her from joining with the devil but, it’s too late.

The townspeople have converted her from once being a child of God into a woman of the Devil. Hawthorne writes, ““Faith!” shouted Goodman Brown, in a voice of agony and desperation; and the echoes of the forest mocked him, crying-”Faith! Faith!” as if bewildered wretches were seeking her, all through the wilderness” (Hawthorne, 675). The last thing Goodman Brown had of his wife were the pink ribbons from her bonnet. The next morning Young Goodman Brown returns to town only to see that everything is back to normal. He sees his deacon, but, doesn’t speak to him. Brown is confused as to why everyone is acting like none of the events that happened last night, didn’t occur. He begins to feel that there is no good left in the world. To Goodman Brown, there's nothing that can be done to make him change up his mind the world is a dark place filled with people who are devil

worshipers.
I can see this theme relating to the modern church, growing up in a very religious family and going to church as a young child, I was taught that the devil goes to church and sits in the front row at every service. Now that I look back on what my grandmother was saying I realize that it’s very similar to the famous saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”. In the story the townspeople have betrayed God by professing that the Devil is who they are now worshiping. As shocked as Young Goodman Brown sees his fellow neighbors sinning and going against God, his entire view on life changes. I can relate to this because for example, I’m a strong believer in abstinence. I believe that people who believe and respect Christ should wait until marriage to participate in sexual acts. When I find out that a lot of my peers, who do believe in God have had sex, it makes me question things. I remember for the longest time I was shocked to realize that a lot of people don’t wait until marriage to share themselves intimately with one another. Now when someone tells me about their personal lifestyle, I don’t get caught up with what they’ve done because I have no control over how they are going to live their lives.
In conclusion, I believe that this story relates to people making a sin and showing up to church on Sunday as if everything is okay. In the story we read about how the holiest people, aren’t who they say they are. It’s one thing to say you’re a Christian, but it’s a whole other thing to truly be Christian. I usually share my love and kindness with others, but sometimes I sin and it’s just human nature. I ask for forgiveness and try to make better decisions. I also think that Young Goodman Brown should still look at the world as a great place because he has God on his side. He can continue to have his authentic relationship with God while the people in his township are fraudulent believers of Christ.