<P> "Young Goodman Brown" is a short story published in 1835 by American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne . The story takes place in 17th century Puritan New England, a common setting for Hawthorne's works, and addresses the Calvinist / Puritan belief that all of humanity exists in a state of depravity, but that God has destined some to unconditional election through unmerited grace . Hawthorne frequently focuses on the tensions within Puritan culture, yet steeps his stories in the Puritan sense of sin . In a symbolic fashion, the story follows Young Goodman Brown's journey into self - scrutiny, which results in his loss of virtue and belief . </P> <P> The story begins at dusk in Salem Village, Massachusetts as young Goodman Brown leaves Faith, his wife of three months, for some unknown errand in the forest . Faith pleads with her husband to stay with her, but he insists that the journey must be completed that night . In the forest he meets an older man, dressed in a similar manner and bearing a physical resemblance to himself . The man carries a black serpent - shaped staff . The two encounter Goody Cloyse, an older woman, whom Young Goodman had known as a boy and who had taught him his catechism, in the woods . She complains about the need to walk and, the man rudely throws his staff on the ground for the woman and quickly leaves with Goodman . </P> <P> Other townspeople inhabit the woods that night, traveling in the same direction as Goodman Brown . When he hears his wife's voice in the trees, he calls out but is not answered . He then runs angrily through the forest, distraught that his beautiful Faith is lost somewhere in the dark, sinful forest . He soon stumbles upon a clearing at midnight where all the townspeople assembled . At the ceremony, which is carried out at a flame - lit altar of rocks, the newest acolytes are brought forth--Goodman Brown and Faith . They are the only two of the townspeople not yet initiated . Goodman Brown calls to heaven and Faith to resist and instantly the scene vanishes . Arriving back at his home in Salem the next morning, Goodman Brown is uncertain whether the previous night's events were real or a dream, but he is deeply shaken, and his belief he lives in a Christian community is distorted . He loses his faith in his wife, along with all of humanity . He lives his life an embittered and suspicious cynic, wary of everyone around him . The story concludes: "And when he had lived long, and was borne to his grave...they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom ." </P> <P> The story is set during the Salem witch trials, at which Hawthorne's great - great - grandfather John Hathorne was a judge, guilt over which inspired the author to change his family's name, adding a "w" in his early twenties, shortly after graduating from college . In his writings Hawthorne questioned established thought--most specifically New England Puritanism and contemporary Transcendentalism . In "Young Goodman Brown", as with much of his other writing, he utilizes ambiguity . </P>

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