"Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Firstly, I'd like to point out this universal assumption that the night time brings harm. It seems that since the beginning of time, the time "after dark" has always been associated with danger. This is curious because, in a way, the night time could signify a time of serenity and calmness. Nevertheless, the widely accepted assumption is manifested in this sentence in "Young Goodman Brown," when Goodman Brown is speaking to his wife before his departure on his night journey:

"Say thy prayers, dear Faith, and go to bed at dusk, and no harm will come to thee" (2258).

I think this is a very fitting way to begin my blog because it lends some insight into the common assumptions regarding our class theme.

Some additional adjectives used throughout the story to describe the night time are "dreary," "evil," "wild," "frightful," "scorn," "deception," and "gloomy."

Also during the night, Goodman Brown seems to be in a dreamlike state, while embarking on his journey through the forest. At one point, while talking to the serpent at the beginning of the trip he exclaims, "'Too far, too far!' exclaimed the goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk" (2259). This calls to mind my own personal experiences with dreaming. There have been many instances in which I do not want to continue in my dream, due to fear, disgust, or any other reason, but I have no choice but to keep moving forward and see what happens next. This seems to be what Goodman Brown is doing.

The night time also breaks down barriers in the story and in real life. It seems to me that at night people are less ashamed to do more outlandish things. My theory is that, because it seems as if there is a veil of obscurity (darkness) at night, people feel as if they can do whatever they desire and they are less likely to be seen. Not only that, but there is a sort of barrier between night and day and it is as if what happens at night can be unspoken of during the day, because the daytime brings reality rushing back. The passage that brings these ideas to mind is: "It was strange to see, that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the sinners abashed by the saints" (2264). And though the night may obscure truths, it has the capacity to reveal them as well: "This night it shall be granted you to know their secret deeds; how hoary-bearded elders of the church have whispered wanton words to the young maids of their households; how many a woman, eager for widow's weeds, has given her husband a drink at bedtime, and let him sleep his last sleep in her bosom"... etc. (2265). The controversial nature of the time after dark is exemplified in "Young Goodman Brown" and I think it illustrates well some of the connotations the night time holds in peoples minds. In this respect, it was a good first piece for our class to read because it puts things into a perspective of sorts.