Description

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1835 story Young Goodman Brown, a curious young man makes good on a promise to meet with a mysterious stranger. In seventeenth century Salem, where our hero, Goodman Brown, lives, most townspeople follow a straight and narrow path of devout Christianity. Anything out of the ordinary—such as Brown’s meeting—would be considered highly unusual, but the young man has decided that his curiosity must be satisfied. As he and the stranger head deeper into the woods, however, Brown starts to wonder just what he is in for. As they make their way, he is puzzled to see other people going in the same direction—other people who look like his neighbors and friends from Salem. What would such upright citizens be doing here? When Brown and his companion come to a clearing and the young man sees what appears to be a bizarre altar readied for a ceremony, panic sets in. Goodman Brown is in for some devastating revelations—about himself, his family, and his entire community—as the dramatic conclusion of this famous American story unfolds.

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was a pivotal figure in American literature, part of the innovative and imaginative group of writers and thinkers who brought about the "American Renaissance" of the nineteenth century. Born in New Hampshire, Hawthorne was raised by his mother and other relatives after his father died while overseas. Hawthorne was sent to college, but preferred his family home. Once he returned there after graduation, he retreated to his own quarters and dabbled in writing, although he did not publish any of these early pieces. After marrying, Hawthorne brought his family to Massachusetts, where he held a steady job at the Salem Custom House to make ends meet. In later years Hawthorne again took up writing and published his masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, in 1850. The novel was well-received, and Hawthorne's legend as a master of fiction had been established. He went on to write such classics as The House of the Seven Gables and The Marble Faun, continuing to earn the favor of the American and international reading public. To this day, Hawthorne's works are beloved for their unique and haunting nature, exploring both dark and lighter aspects of American history, psychology, and landscape.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset into the street at Salem village; but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ...