1

Name: Cassana Bridgemohan

Date: April 6, 2009

Class: American Literature

Instructor: Prof. Robert Bird

“As if all Nature were laughing him to scorn”:

Transcendentalism Scrutinized in Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”

Many critics of Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” have focused their

interpretations on the obvious allusions to the flaws of Puritan Calvinism within the story. In his

article "Young Goodman Brown": An Attack on Puritan Calvinism.", Thomas Gibson argues that

Brown only loses his faith in the doctrines of Calvinism but retains his faith in God as well as

discovering the full significance of his faith. This interpretation is in contrast with most critics

who argue that he has lost his faith, evidenced by Brown’s exclamation “My Faith is gone”

(Hawthorne, 566). Paul Miller on the other hand has ventured to apply an interpretation

intending to shed light on the disposition of the author and what he means for the audience to

realize about the story. It is his conclusion that Hawthorne’s story is not a reflection of his main

character’s view of society but the effect of a certain type of society on a man like Brown. While

both aspects, from which to interpret this story, are quite valid; another view has been somewhat

overlooked; that of its Romantic elements. I believe that Hawthorne goes beyond the criticism of

Calvinism; in fact he also extends his criticism to the growing popular alternative

Transcendentalism. By analyzing the Romantic themes in “Young Goodman Brown” it will be

argued that Hawthorne’s story presents elements that seem to promote Transcendentalism but is

meant to demonstrate that there’s no positive outcome to it perusal.

Hawthorne was not a transcendentalist and actually showed himself a skeptic of this

increasingly popular belief system of the Romantic period. Commenting on Transcendentalism

he said;

He is German by birth, and is called Giant Transcendentalist, but as to his form,

his features, his substance, and his nature generally, it is the chief peculiarity of

2

this huge miscreant that neither he nor himself nor anybody for him has ever been

able to describe them. As we rushed by the cavern's mouth we caught a hasty

glimpse of him, looking somewhat like an ill-proportioned figure but considerably

more like a heap of fog and duskiness. He shouted after us, but in so strange a

phraseology that we knew not what he meant, nor whether to be encouraged or

affrighted (www.vcu.edu).

Regardless of his skepticism about Transcendentalism “Young Goodman Brown” demonstrates

some influence of his acquaintance with its proponents. It is a well known fact that Hawthorne

circle of friends included such writers as Thoreau, Amos Alcott, Emerson, and Margret Fuller.

All who were active in the transcendental movement and for whom Hawthorne had respect. In

her book Nathaniel Hawthorne Transcendental Symbolist Marjorie J. Elder writes, “When the

philosophic concepts of various Transcendentalists led them into conflict with widely accepted

theological views, Hawthorne remained unconcerned with Transcendentalism as a religion. Yet

as Artist he was always concerned …with man’s relation to God” (Elder, 3). This concern for

man’s relationship with God is evident in his stories and accounts for the many criticisms written

regarding his allusion to Calvinism. Hawthorne enjoyed the wonders of nature as well, in his

journal dated August 13, 1842 he writes, “After breakfast, I go into my garden and gather

whatever the beautiful Mother has made fit for our present sustenance…” and in “The Old

Manse” he also writes;

They (summer squashes) presented an endless diversity of urns and

vases…molded in patterns which a sculptor would do well to copy, since Art has

never invented anything more graceful. A hundred squashes in a garden were

worthy in my eyes at least, of being rendered indestructible in marble.

I cite these commentaries because it should be understood that Hawthorne did not resent the

ideologies of transcendentalists nor thought their beliefs trivial. However, as with the Puritans I

believe he was equally willing to point out their short comings.

To demonstrate Hawthorne’s skepticism towards Transcendentalism, I will examine the

themes of nature, individualism and newness, all of which were important to the way of life

encouraged by Transcendentalists. By employing these thematic elements in Brown’s journey to

3

knowledge, Hawthorne seems to promote a transcendental approach to him becoming aware of

the true nature of the people in his community. The theme of individualism is introduced at the

beginning of the story. We see Brown embarking on the journey alone; he leaves behind the wife

he loves, he has no friend with him and as far as he expected the only person he will meet is his

guide or instructor. Transcendentalists believe that the individual may find knowledge that is

more beneficial when he or she seeks communication with God on his own. By making Brown’s

guide the devil, Hawthorne begins his derision of Transcendentalism since it implies that in

one’s individual search it is not always God that one will find. Young Goodman Brown could

easily have been brought to knowledge of the evils of his brethren by an angel of light just as

well as he was by the devil.

For the transcendentalist, turning to nature for answers and soul searching was

encouraged and stood as a fundamental part of their teachings. In his discourse on Nature

Emerson states; “Let us interrogate the great apparition that shines so peacefully around us”.

Whitman recommended going “to the bank by the wood and become undisguised and naked”

(1225) and questioned whether we have reckoned a thousand acres...or the earth much” (1226).

For Thoreau one cannot help but find beauty in the words “When winter fringes every

bough/with its fantastic wreath/ and puts the seal of silence now/Upon the leaves beneath” (450)

Goodman Brown ventured into nature as advocated by these writers but his experience was not

colored with the beautiful imagery found in the writings of Emerson, Thoreau or Whitman.

Instead Hawthorne’s images of Nature are described with words like “darkened”, “gloomiest”,

hiding “devilish Indian behind every tree” and entertaining witches and heathens. Hawthorne’s

twist on the view of nature undermines the transcendental view of it. He alludes to the fact that

though it may provide revelation the knowledge may not be beneficial. The transcendental

experience that nature promises did to find itself to Goodman Brown and although he leaves the

woods with new knowledge he is not a better man for it.

Another Romantic theme that identifies Goodman Brown’s experience as being a

transcendental one is that of rebirth or “newness”. As Goodman Brown returns to the village

Hawthorne transports the scenery from dark night to morning. After his “enlightenment” in the

forest the previous night Goodman Brown walks into a new day for the first time Hawthorne

uses words and phrases that connotes light and happiness for example “sunshine” and “bursting

4

with such joy” However, he foils this imagery with the description of the new Goodman Brown.

He is “like a bewildered man”(570), he “shrank” from the minister he becomes “stern”, “sad”,

“darkly meditative” and “distrustful”. This is nothing like the newness Whitman wrote of when

he said, “Swiftly arose and spread around me the peace and joy and knowledge that pass all the

art and argument of the earth”( 1228). Again Hawthorne alludes to the fact that the rebirth that

transcendentalism promotes may not be the feel good experience its supporters write about.

Emerson wrote;

In the woods we return to reason and faith. There I feel nothing can befall me in

life, no disgrace, no calamity which nature cannot repair…In the wilderness I find

something more dear than in streets or villages…in the horizon man beholds

somewhat as beautiful as his own nature (480).

How different a revelation is received in the “woods” when the devil asserts to Goodman Brown,

“Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil is your only happiness.” (569) How ironic it is that in the

woods he loses his Faith, the life he knew and found not beauty but the “shape of evil”.

Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown” offers no lofty expectations for the transcendental

experience. The reader is left to think Goodman Brown would have been better off ignorant of

his neighbors’ hypocrisy; since the knowledge brought him no happiness or contentment.