Dear class,
This week your assignment is to begin reading the "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter Essay is due September 17th, 2013. Please feel free to SKIP the Custom House chapter. You may read it after you finish the Scarlet Letter.
Before you begin reading the Scarlet Letter please read his short story, "Young Goodman Brown" and a brief online biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Here is a link for a biography and information on Young Goodman Brown: www2.waterforduhs.k12.wi.us/staffweb/.../Nathaniel%20Hawthorne.ppt
IMPORTANT: Please copy the link and paste in google search. The first entry on google search should be this link. Click on Nathaniel Hawthorne to access the powerpoint. The powerpoint will be downloaded for you to access. (PLEASE NOTE: The powerpoint slide is not mine. There is no quiz)
Here is the link for "Young Goodman Brown" text: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rebeccal/lit/238f11/pdfs/YoungGoodmanBrown.pdf
If you have time this week I would also recommend reading, "The Minister's Veil": http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/gac017.pdf
Blog question for this week:
Yes, I believe the story of “Young Goodman Brown” includes an abundance of satire. The entire story ridicules Puritanism and Puritans, by portraying all of the allegedly pious town inhabitants as witches, who serve the Devil. On page 2, Satan tells 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.” For some reason Nathaniel Hawthorne disdained Puritans – perhaps in part because of his heritage (his grandfather was one of the judges of the Salem witch trials). Throughout his works, including “Young Goodman Brown,” he depicts Puritans as cruel, self-righteous hypocrites and witches.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Hannah! Completely agree. :)
DeleteI think the story has some satire and allegory. (Twas chunky to read though.)For the satire, you have to look at the point of view of the authors of these kinds of stories. Hawthorne's was most likely born out of people watching and his ancestors, like Hannah said about his grandfather. My immediate thought here was coming from Matthew 23 where Jesus criticizes the religious leaders. Specifically in verses 27 - 28. "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs - beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." The Puritans, in my opinion, wanted to be seen as a people who "did the right thing" (to borrow the colloquialism), a people who were blameless in the sight of God. However, the Puritans were human, as we all are, they made mistakes, as we all do. The satire simply pointed out in a rather harsh way that the Puritans looked perfect on the outside, but looked rotten and sinful on the inside.
ReplyDeleteI like the point of all the Puritans being hypocrites. And while I think Hawthorne was prejudiced, there is some truth in this.
DeleteSara? No Batman quotes this week?
DeleteSara, I completely agree with you. I had not thought about the possibility of Hawthorne writing "Young Goodman Brown" in order to set the Puritans of his day (and possibly other Christians) right. Maybe the point of his satire was to warn other Christians not to follow in his ancestors' footsteps?
DeleteHmmm... "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain..." The Puritans started out wanting to do good, to purify the church. But they overstayed their welcome and started becoming overly legalistic... So they became the villain ;)
DeleteThe definition of allegory is "A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning." I believe Nathaniel Hawthorne's satirical style can actually be found in the "hidden meaning." Hawthorne is making fun of the Church and religion in this short story as this quote from the Deacon proves, "I had rather miss an ordination dinner than to-night's meeting. They tell me that some of our community are to be here from Falmouth and beyond, and others from Connecticut and Rhode Island, besides several of the Indian powwows, who, after their fashion, know almost as much deviltry as the best of us." The leader of the Church of all people was going to the "devil's meeting." This is some serious satire against religion. Hawthorne's deep meaning in this piece is simply a dis against the Church, apparently, as this short story confirms, Hawthorne despised the Church.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but it might be that he used it as a challenge for us to be different from the hypocrites. Like that Gandhi quote in Apol: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Satirical? Definitely. Challenge? Accepted.
DeleteI think you are on to something Sam. Was it the church or the church people he was satirizing? Definitely something to ponder.
DeleteThe definition of Satire is a use of wit to criticize behavior: the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults. While reading the story I couldn't help but laugh at the authors use of Satire to mock hypocrisy in the Church, and Mock the Church in general, the mid-night meeting that the pastor attended, Goodman Browns walk with devil, and how he describes the church shows the Authors distain for religion, and his desire to mock, ridicule, and criticize it. Based on the definition this work of literature defiantly has a heavy use of Satire.
ReplyDeleteStephen Week 2
"My not Essay Blog Post"
Good point Stephen. Do you think that Hawthorne disdains religion as a whole or the religious individual more?
DeleteI think he disdains the hypocrisy of the individual.
DeleteI like how you define satire to logically prove your point.
DeleteWhile Young Goodman Brown is obviously an allegory (take for example just the names - Faith his wife, is a faithful woman who waits anxiously for her husband's return), it at the same time is a Satire. Though most satires are simply for the fun of "making fun" of something/someone, I believe that Hawthorne's satire is relevant and does make a good point. Yes he was making fun of the church in general, but he also made an interesting point about Christianity - often what "turns people off" about Christians is the fact that many of us are hypocrites and do not exercise what we often preach. Take for example the weird forest scene.
ReplyDelete"But, irreverently consorting with these grave, reputable, and pious people, these elders of the church, these chaste dames and dewy virgins, there were men of dissolute lives and women of spotted fame, wretches given over to all mean and filthy vice, and suspected even of horrid crimes." He goes on to say, "This night it shall be granted you to know their secret deeds: how hoary-bearded elders of the church have whispered wanton words to the young maids of their households; how many a woman, eager for widows' weeds, has given her husband a drink at bedtime and let him sleep his last sleep in her bosom; how beardless youths have made haste to inherit their fathers' wealth; and how fair damsels--blush not, sweet ones--have dug little graves in the garden, and
bidden me, the sole guest to an infant's funeral."
He wants to expose those in the church who are hypocrites and do not follow they're own teaching. Yes, a satire is a rude way to address this - but then again, Hawthorne was a writer and writers can be disquieting.
Haley
Haley very good response I like the way you point out, one, the hypocrisy in the church and you make the conclusion that although he is making fun it is usually true. Very good analysis I completely agree.
DeleteExactly. I think this applies even more-so in the church of today rather than the church of when this was written.
DeleteI think much of the satire is in the way Goodman Brown keeps telling the devil that he doesn't want to go with him. It's like when you're making sure everyone knows you're just going to have one more cookie, and say "I should really stop," while you finish the plate. It's the irony of the fact that Goodman Brown keeps assuring the devil that "my mind is made up. Not another step will I budge on this errand." as he continues to walk with him. That, and the fact that he keeps calling Satan "friend" belies his intention to go home.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne himself, like several people noted already, looked down on the church and the Puritans. Goodman Brown's surprise when they see the old woman at the beginning plays on the idiocy of the Puritans, that they're doing all this evil stuff but they still think everyone around them and themselves are still good people.
Basically, it freaked me out a little bit.
Hannah Lane
Those are some really interesting points! I hadn't really thought about the irony of how we continue doing the wrong thing, while still saying we're going to stop.
DeleteThe gist of this story is, as generally agreed by all you guys, a big, fat, ironic, slice of satirical pie. Yes, Hawthorne made fun of of the Church. That was the main goal behind the allegory. But I think that underneath, there was a kind of want. The sad ending almost screamed out want for a different, happier one. Maybe Hawthorne was showing us how yes, we are so hypocrites, but also a warning. We have opportunity to not be like Goodman. Hawthorne wants US to be the happy ending, and his ending was just the example.
ReplyDeleteSam Waters
Nice observation.
DeleteI find it interesting, Sam, that you see this satire as more of a challenge instead of simply a story. I hadn't seen it like that, but completely understand where you're coming from.
DeleteThat is an interesting thought Sam. However, according to what I have read, Hawthorne was far from Christian. I agree that you could certainly take such a lesson away from this story, but I doubt that it was Hawthorne's intention to challenge Christians.
DeleteI've never really thought about that Sam. I didn't really look for a deeper meaning or something underneath the skin. Although this is all assuming I like where you're coming from.
DeleteObservation- Sam posted this at 3:07, and Stephen replied at 3:09. I'm pretty sure Stephen lives on this blog...
Deletewell done sam. I think your observation made the story more bearable.
DeleteWow. That was an intense book. Plus, besides all the allegory, I did see a lot of satire. The author frequently compares most of the characters that are seemingly good (the reverend, the deacon, Goody and even Faith) but turn out to be evil, to the church of then and today. He is obviously mocking the claims some Christians state as they live a life of sin. One of my favorite quotes (by Brennan Manning) is as follows:"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
ReplyDeleteWe as the church don't always act as we should. Sometimes we are hypocritical, and we condemn the world as we participate in its activities. Ever see that kid at youth group and be like, "What's HE doing here?! I thought he had left the church and gotten involved in a bunch of bad stuff!" Just like the innocent-looking congregation in this story is secretly following the ways of the Devil himself, so can the church sometimes judge other people without "removing the plank from our own eyes." (See 'Church Clothes' by Lecrae)
Ok Nick gets huge kudos from me for referencing Lecrae in his response.
DeleteI feel really sorry for Nathaniel Hawthorne. From reading two of his works, (The Scarlett letter and Young Goodman Brown) I felt that he lost faith in his church and in his upbringing. His stories are haunting and they taught me a lot about legalism. While Hawthorne seems to have lost faith in the church, he still had many amazing insights into human character and the soul struggle between right and wrong. I think that he did use some elements of satire in Young Goodman Brown, mainly to show that we are all truly sinners, whether we look like it or not. Through his use of satire he was criticizing puritanism and Pharisee- like behavior. But his story is also an allegory, written to show mankind’s struggle with sin. I do not think that he would have written so many works on Christian principals without believing in God (even while disagreeing with the Puritans). In a strange way, he calls the reader to investigate his or her own life and to try to discover whether they are putting their faith in God or in their own good works.
ReplyDeleteThat's really good, Reesey. I didn't think about the fact that maybe, through his ridicule of Puritans, Hawthorne might be attempting to help the reader to stop and examine their own lives, and to crush any rooted hypocrisy.
DeleteI would totally agree that Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an allegory and is also a satire. The story is a satire of the Puritans because of their belief in the innate depravity of man and, a prejudiced view of non-conformists. Another way it satires Puritans is when Brown is told of his ancestors deeds and he talks of his ancestors and Puritans who would do no such thing. His pride, and ideology blinds him to the facts of reality. After reading this story you can see that Young Goodman Brown is definitely in my opinion a satire of Puritans by Nathanial Hawthorne.
ReplyDeleteHunter Grant
American Literature Class 2013
Just one question: Is Brown making fun of the Puritans?
DeleteAlthough there are certainly some elements of satire in “Young Goodman Brown,” they aren’t as clearly evident as the allegorical elements. One of the unique characteristics of a satire is that it attempts to ridicule and shame a society into realizing its own defects. While “Young Goodwin Brown” certainly tries to shame the New England society by pointing out its hypocrisy and self-righteousness, it does this primarily by allegorical images, not ridicule. However, there is a limited amount of satire that peeps through the allegory. We can almost hear the wryness in Hawthorne’s writing when he speaks of how Goody Cloyse taught Brown his catechism. When the reverend and deacon are portrayed at the meeting in the woods, the deacon still "waited at the skirts of that venerable saint, his revered pastor." Surveying the story as a whole, however, leaves us with more of a feeling of bitterness and inevitability than sarcasm and ridicule.
ReplyDeleteThe primary areas of satire I was able to identify lie within the names of the characters. I believe it is no coincidence “Good Man” Brown has a wife whose name is faith. And subsequent to Goodman Brown leaving his “faith” he has a vivid encounter with “Satin”. Through this story of Young Goodman Brown, Hawthorn disguises what he sees in the hearts of the Puritan hypocrites. A hidden corruption that is unveiled through Goodman Brown’s realization of the inherent evil in those around him. At the beginning of the story we see a man who has faith, both literally and religiously, but is influenced due to his lack of true belief. Because of this downfall he willingly enters the forest knowing the evil that lives within its borders. This story is written to reveal the evil nature that is innate in the heart of all individuals. Hawthorn uses satire to point out the hypocrisy used by Christ followers who talk one way and act another. If one does not grasp the truth in this allegory he could perish in the manner by which Goodman Brown departed, “for his dying hour was gloom” (Pg. 9).
ReplyDeleteGreat comment. It's interesting, Goodman Brown isn't tricked into going into the woods, he simply chooses to. Just another jab Hawthorne made at the hypocrisy of Puritans.
DeleteIt is not surprising that at a glance, Young Goodman Brown is seen as an allegorical piece. If one looks a bit deeper, they'll also see that satire is screaming.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne uses an immense amount of satire to point out the hypocrisy within the Puritan church. Hawthorne portrays that outwardly, the church is altruistic, deferential, and kind. But inwardly, he reveals that the church is selfish, arrogant, and frankly, evil. It's a bit shocking how grotesquely Hawthorne depicts the duplicity of Puritan behavior, but that just shows the depth of satirical writing in this story. He makes it seem almost funny, the insincerity of Puritan attitudes.
Even though it's obvious that Hawthorne described the church in an unrealistic way, one has to wonder, is it completely unrealistic? After all, the number one reason that non-christians are so turned off my christians, is because they feel judged by them. But aren't we supposed to be like Christ? Ghandi says in his infamous quote, "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are nothing like your Christ." That hurts.
Yes, Nathaniel Hawthorne did go a little bit wild with his portrayal of hypocritical Puritans/Christians, but rather than dismissing this story as crazy, it may be smart for one to think about the truth of Hawthorne's seemingly absurd satire.
I don't think that it is as wildly unrealistic as you claim Grace. Hawthorn chose to focus on the "Big bad sins" such as adultery, abortion etc. but people were also there for "smaller", easier-to-hide-things like gossip and anger. Perhaps if we were to see the same dream of our own church we would be equally shocked.
DeleteYes. Hawthorn targets the "good" puritan towns people in his story. Ironically it is the deacons, ministers and otherwise holy individuals show up at the meeting. He is exploiting the hypocrisy of the puritan church.
ReplyDeleteSatire is defined as "trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly" When satire is used it is meant to shame the group involved. 'Young Goodman Brown' while containing elements of satire was not a satirical story. Just because a piece uses one of these elements doesn't make it satirical. 'Young Goodman Brown' isn't making fun of the Puritans nor was he trying to discredit them as a whole instead he is simply presenting the truth. The experience for Goodman Brown was most likely dream therefore making it allegorical. Hawthorn did a fantastic job using irony in his allegorical piece to reveal truth but the intent of this piece wasn't to discredit the puritans but simply to reveal that they weren't perfect.
ReplyDeleteYes, everyone is a hypocrite in some way, including the Puritans, but I think Hawthorne went beyond the simple truth. He portrayed virtually every single Puritan as a servant of the devil. The Puritans took every word of the Bible very seriously. They sincerely believed in Jesus' sacrifice and God's grace toward those who believe in Him. You cannot be a servant of God and a servant of the Devil as well.
DeleteIt may be my differing personality, but I see no satire. to me the story is simply a horrible tragedy, and exactly the type of book I can't stand too read normally. Honestly it was hard for me to finish just because I wanted it too be over and done. While the author may have been satirizing about the puritans, it was simply a horrible story by my view.
ReplyDeleteSorry about this but my debater instinct saw you contradict your self you say, "It may be my differing personality, but I see no satire" then you say "While the author may have been satirizing about the puritans, it was simply a horrible story by my view" so you see satire in the story you just won't say there was cause you hated the story that is a contradiction could you clear this up for us.
DeleteYoung Goodman Brown only has the judgemental part of satire. But that is not the only element of satire. Satire uses wit, irony, and humor to accuse a said party. This story is nothing but the opposite of humor. Humor is one of the most important factors of satire, and since none can be found in this story, it has very properly been defined as an allegory.
ReplyDeleteThe question asks whether Young Goodman Brown contains some elements of satire. While people correctly characterize the story as an allegory, it definitely does contain some satirical elements.
ReplyDeleteThrough allegorical language, Hawthorne points out the fundamental truth that all men have sinned, Christians and unbelievers, religious leaders and the common man. For example, in Satan's realm of sin, he reconciles the saints and the wicked, when he says, "It was strange to see that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the sinners abashed by the saints."
As Satan surveys the multitude of those enslaved to sin he proclaims, "Ye deemed them holier than yourselves, and shrank from your own sin, contrasting it with their lives of righteousness and prayerful aspirations heavenward. Yet here are they all in my worshiping assembly." This statement summarizes Hawthorne's use of satire in this story. He satirizes the hypocrisy of Puritans by contrasting their outward display of religious "purity" and their sinful spiritual lives. Showing that the Goodman common Christian man, Faith, the sinner, and the saint are all in Satan's assembly, Hawthorne shows that, "Evil is the nature of mankind."