Question

What's the theme of "Young Goodman Brown"?

Accepted Answer

The theme of "Young Goodman Brown" is humanity's weak and corruptible nature. Goodman Brown lives in Salem with his aptly-named wife Faith, whose religious conviction assures Brown that she will be safe while he meets with the Devil. Brown's faith falters when he sees Goody Cloyse, his catechism teacher, speak with the Devil. In the end, Brown's faith hinges entirely on those around him: as soon as he realizes that his friends and family are sinners, he loses all faith in humanity and joins in the Black Mass. He spends the rest of his life suspicious of everyone around him, ashamed of his weakness.

favoritethings · Answer

Goodman Brown knows that he goes into the forest for evil purposes; this is why he doesn't want to tell his wife, Faith, where he is going or why. He thinks, "Methought, as she spoke, there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done to-night." He wonders if she has some idea that he is leaving for some dark purpose. However, he decides to go anyway and vows that "after this one night, [he'll] cling to her skirts and follow her to Heaven." But this isn't really how faith works. Faith, the character, is also symbolic of faith in general: a belief in, trust in, and loyalty to God. It isn't enough to simply believe in God; one must also be loyal to God, and Goodman Brown's plan—to have one last night of sin and then ride Faith's skirts to goodness—is not how it works. Faith takes work, not rest. Therefore, Brown's unfortunate choice illuminates the theme that in choosing to be disloyal to God, no matter how short-lived one intends that disloyalty to be, one forsakes God.

herappleness · Answer

The main message of the story Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is the fight between good and evil under the scope of detouring from one's faith and succumbing to the evils of life.

Throughout the story, Hawthorne exposes the natural weakness of human nature, and the vulnerability of the human soul to fall into temptation: Nobody, not even the very GOOD-man brown, is excluded from becoming exposed to evil. This is despite of what you deem to be your faith, or in what practices you incur to avoid falling into sin. The story clearly shows that religion, spirituality and a life of righteousness does not preclude complete protection from evil. Evil is everywhere, and anybody could become its victim.

Just like young Goodman Brown left his wife, Faith, and embarked in the dark road through the forest, individuals can deviate and end up in a dark road away from a life of righteousness.

thanatassa · Answer

“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story meant to leave its readers with more questions than answers. The story may be an allegory or may simply be the memory of a dream. The "good man" leaves behind "faith" to travel into a dark forest at night to attend some sort of service associated with the Devil. He is ashamed to be seen by fellow villagers, many renowned for their piety, including the woman who taught him his catechism, members of his family, notable preachers, and even his own wife Faith.

These encounters suggest a major theme of the story, that the impulse towards evil is universal, lurking in even the most pious and good people, and that one cannot judge people truly based on one's own perceptions, because one cannot see into actions they do in private or into their hearts.

ms-charleston-yawp · Answer

This question has already been answered on eNotes. Here is a link for you: http://www.enotes.com/young-goodman-brown/q-and-a/what-main-theme-story-young-goodman-brown-what-180957