Young Goodman Brown

An allegory is a story that is symbolic of a larger hidden moral or political meaning. Usually a fictional narrative, the story does not outright point to the message. Instead, readers must critically analyze references, symbols, context, and characters to uncover the underlying message.

“Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory about the violent history of Puritanism in 17th-century America. Hawthorne, who was inspired by John Bunyon’s allegorical The Pilgrim’s Progress, comments on the violent interactions between Puritans and Quakers, events during King Philip’s War, and most notably, the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. While these events inform the narrative’s plot, they are mentioned only briefly; readers must dig deeper into Hawthorne’s passing references to unearth his purpose in writing. The traveler mentions helping Brown’s grandfather whipping a Quaker in Salem, and characters like Cloyse and Gookin are linked to the trials, as is Martha Carrier. These are individuals who were seen as innocent and good, but their infatuation with rooting out evil caused them to commit evil acts themselves.