Theme Of Evil In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been And Young Goodman Brown

The Overpowering Strength of Evil in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “Young Goodman Brown” Xun Zi, one of the most influential philosophers of China in the old time, states that, “Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity”. Indeed, it can be clearly seen in the figures of the protagonists in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by James Carol Oates and “Young Goodman Brown” by Natalie Hawthorne. Though written two eras apart in the past by two different authors, these two short stories have much in common. Both stories have several references to evil along with a revolution in the main characters’ lives; therefore, they explore common themes of vulnerability to evil and dangers lurking in the adult world as well as meaningful lessons about the consequences of bad decision-making. Although Goodman Brown and Connie do not seem to be identical characters at first, a closer look at their thoughts and behaviors at the encounters with the two evil figures reveal significant resemblances, suggesting that the writers’ views of human personality and human nature are quite similar.

In “Young Goodman Brown”, the stranger, also the devil in this case, approaches Brown and tries to be his guardian when he says “[Brown’s parents] were [his] good friends. merrily after midnight” (Hawthorne 3). Thus, Brown is finally convinced to make a wrong decision and continues on the journey with the stranger. His intense desire to know what he would find in the forest is greater than his feeling insecure to follow the devil. Unexpectedly, in the darkness of the forest, he meets almost every Puritan citizen of his town who he believed to be honorable and pious such as Goody Cloyse, the minister of the church and Deacon Gookin. He also sees some who seem to be the unwelcomed guests of the “celebration” - the sinners and criminals. Brown's family is also believed to be in the woods, as Hawthorne describes: “As nearly as could be discerned, the second traveller was about fifty years old, apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown, and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, though perhaps more in expression than features. Still they might have been taken for father and son” (2). Everything soon goes from bad to worse when it dawns on him that even his wife, Faith, has joined in the "celebration" in the woods. With the realization that evil could exist even in those he believed to be the most virtuous, Goodman Brown cries out and screams: "My Faith is gone!” (8).

Ever since his discovery of sins in the people who he has always considered to be virtuous due to their involvement with the figure of evil, he has forever lost his innocence and faith in life. Similarly, Connie, a young girl at an age of innocence, has little knowledge about the dangers lurking in the adult world; hence, she is easily convinced by people around her. The moment Connie stands behind the screen door is when she’s on the brink of leaping into a new world. Indeed, she stands on the threshold of adulthood and finds herself surrounded by temptations. She seems to be afraid, but at the same time raising her curiosity about what awaits her behind that doorway to adulthood. In the end, her innocent stage of life is over as she falls into the grasp of Arnold Friend. Overall, the resemblance between the two stories’ themes and meanings is remarkable.