Hawthorne, ''Young Goodman Brown'' (1835)
"Too far, too far!" exclaimed the goodman, unconsciously resuming his walk. "My father never went into the woods on such an errand, nor his father before him. We have been a race of honest men and good Christians, since the days of the martyrs. And shall I be the first of the name of Brown, that ever took this path and kept--"This text is out of copyright, so there are numerous free versions online.
"Such company, thou wouldst say," observed the elder person, interrupting his pause. "Well said, Goodman Brown! I have been as well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the Puritans; and that's no trifle to say. I helped your grandfather, the constable, when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through the streets of Salem. And it was I that brought your father a pitch-pine knot, kindled at my own hearth, to set fire to an Indian village, in King Philip's War. They were my good friends, both; and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path, and returned merrily after midnight. I would fain be friends with you, for their sake."
So that we will have a common text, and can refer to page numbers, I have prepared a simple electronic edition, using the text from Project Gutenberg. (Here is a copy in a generic word-processor format:
Hawthorne, YGB.rtf
Here is the same file as an MS-Word document:
Hawthorne, YGB.docx
If you are a visual or auditory learner, you may wish to visit the version online at the Adam Smith Academy. It features some simple illustrations and an MP3 of a narrator reading the story. But please do cite the page numbers on the electronic edition I have prepared.
"Such company, thou wouldst say," observed the elder person, interrupting his pause." (Hawthorne)
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JeremyBarrick/2009/08/el_266_american_literature.html
"pink ribbons"
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/HeatherMourick/2009/08/pink_is_my_favorite_color.html
"Among them, quivering to and fro between gloom and splendor, appeared faces that would be seen next day at the council board of the province"
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MeaganGemperlein/2009/08/everything_is_not_what_it_seem.html
" ' With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!' cried Goodman Brown."
"Either the sudden gleams of light flashing over the obscure feild bedazzled Goodman Brown or he recognized a score of the church members of Salem village famous for their especial sanctity."
These "good Christians" have a dark secret they keep hidden from the world much as all of us do. This symbolizes the errant hypocracy and untrustworthiness of man, they publicly represent their churches as "good Christians" but scurry secretly in the night like rats.
"The fiend in his own shape is less hideous than when he rages in the breast of man" (page 8).
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/KaylaLesko/2009/08/this_should_be_a_movie.html
" ' With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!' cried Goodman Brown."
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/KatieLantz/2009/08/just_a_little_faith.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DavidWilbanks/2009/08/why_does_hawthorne_always_beat.html
For some reason, my entry got screwed up so I'm posting it again. Please ignore my first comment.
The fiend in his own shape is less hideous than when he rages in the breast of man" (page 8).
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/KaylaLesko/2009/09/this_should_be_a_movie.html
"Thus far the elder traveler had listened with due gravity; but now burst into a fit of irrepressible mirth, shaking himself so violently that his snake-like staff actually seemed to wriggle in sympathy."
~pages 4
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JenniferPrex/2009/09/its_all_in_the_details.html
The journey of Young Goodman Brown!!
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JamieGrace/2009/09/journey_in_young_goodman_brown.html
"'My Faith is gone!' cried he, after one stupefied moment. 'There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.'" (8)
"then did Goodman Brown turn pale, dreading lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his bearers"
"My love and my Faith." (p.1)