Corruption In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

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“Young Goodman Brown” is a short story published in 1835 by American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was a well-known novelist, Dark Romantic, and short story writer. This story takes place in 17th century Puritan New England, a common setting for Hawthorne’s works, and addresses the Puritan belief that all humanity exists in a state of depravity or corruption, except for those born in a state of grace. In “Young Goodman Brown,” there is fear in the wilderness and innocence lost, illustrated by the ways color describes the personalities of the characters. One way color describes the personalities of the characters is how pink indicates purity of Faith, as a young married woman. Faith is portrayed as an innocent woman, who loves her husband…show more content…
Fear overcomes Goodman Brown when he sees the red light, “Thus sped the demoniac on his course, until, quivering among the trees, he saw a red light before him, as when the felled trunks and branches of a clearing have been set on fire, and throw up their lurid blaze against the sky, at the hour of midnight (Hawthorne 6).” He hides himself from all danger, until, he makes sure it is red fire glowing at the rock alter. “As the red light arose and fell, a numerous congregation alternately shone forth, then disappeared in shadow, and again grew, as it were, out of the darkness, peopling the heart of the solitary woods at once (Hawthorne 6).” Red can also mean confusion because he does not know what the people surrounding him are doing, or where the blood like water is coming from. Violence is seen when Goodman Brown sees the red water, and tries to encourage his wife, but instead loses his consciousness, “A basin was hallowed, naturally, in the rock. Did it contain water, reddened by the lurid light? Or was it blood? Or, perchance, a liquid flame? (Hawthorne 7).” Goodman Brown is like a dead man killed by red water, which can also mean death like…show more content…
Faith is very pale at the rock of alter, which is a sign that she is tired, and giving into her fate, “The husband cast one look at his pale wife, and Faith… Faith! Faith!... look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one (Hawthorne 8).” Goodman Brown sympathizes only with Faith, and loses consciousness when he tries to complete words of encouragement. Goodman Brown himself is very pale when he attends the church service and seeks intervention, “…then did Goodman Brown turn pale, dreading lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his hearers (Hawthorne 8).” He wishes for God to bring the whole church down to its knees and destroy
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