YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings always contain a central theme; many of these themes are not only evident in one particular piece of work, but can be seen in many of his works as well. In the short story “Young Goodman Brown” the settings play a major role in the story.
In Young Goodman Brown, Hawthorne tells the tale of a man and his discovery of evil. Hawthorne’s primary concern is with evil and how it affects Young Goodman Brown. Through the use of tone and setting, Hawthorne portrays the nature of evil and the psychological effects it can have on man. He shows how discovering the existence of evil brings Brown to view the world in a cynical way. Brown learns the nature of evil and, therefore, feels surrounded by its presence constantly.
Hawthorne creates a serious and somber tone throughout much of the story. From the start, the audience gets a sense that Brown will go through relentless agony from the devilish stranger. His diction in the opening paragraphs is a g...