<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> <P> "Young Goodman Brown" is often characterized as an allegory about the recognition of evil and depravity as the nature of humanity . Much of Hawthorne's fiction, such as The Scarlet Letter, is set in 17th - century colonial America, particularly Salem Village . To convey the setting, he used literary techniques such as specific diction, or colloquial expressions . Language of the period is used to enhance the setting . Hawthorne gives the characters specific names that depict abstract pure and wholesome beliefs, such as "Young Goodman Brown" and "Faith". The characters' names ultimately serve as a paradox in the conclusion of the story . The inclusion of this technique was to provide a definite contrast and irony . Hawthorne aims to critique the ideals of Puritan society and express his disdain for it, thus illustrating the difference between the appearance of those in society and their true identities . </P> <P> Literary scholar Walter Shear writes that Hawthorne structured the story in three parts . The first part shows Goodman Brown at his home in his village integrated in his society . The second part of the story is an extended dreamlike / nightmare sequence in the forest for a single night . The third part shows his return to society and to his home, yet he is so profoundly changed that in rejecting the greeting of his wife Faith, Hawthorne shows Goodman Brown has lost faith and rejected the tenets of his Puritan world during the course of the night . </P> <P> The story is about Brown's loss of faith as one of the elect, according to scholar Jane Eberwein . Believing himself to be of the elect, Goodman Brown falls into self - doubt after three months of marriage which to him represents sin and depravity as opposed to salvation . His journey to the forest is symbolic of Christian "self - exploration" in which doubt immediately supplants faith . At the end of the forest experience he loses his wife Faith, his faith in salvation, and his faith in human goodness . </P>

Setting of the short story young goodman brown