Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Nathaniel Hawthorne Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpSYY6mweNKcZrs Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thecodexcantina TABLE OF CONTENTS: 0:45 Publication Info 2:05 Summary 3:12 Analysis 13:12 Wrap Up and Ratings

[@SeekingStories]

It's so interesting that this story truly is required reading in so many college programs, even for introductory level English courses. I remember reading it in college, and while it's not a bad story (I fall somewhere around your and Krypto's rankings of it), you have to wonder if there aren't better stories that could be college staples instead?

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Never know. Maybe some teachers can prompt the right conversation and spark interest in ways we can't!

[@davidsabo405]

I think it is one of the best stories I've ever read. Especially for the era when literature was SO over written, the adjectives and adverbs were not bad at all.

[@SamiDC]

Funnily enough, I wasn't introduced to Young Goodman Brown in school. I came across it less than a year ago, actually and I'm in my 30s so my introduction wasn't ruined by me being forced thankfully. I like the story and I'm fine with the prose as, for me personally, it helps to immerse me in the atmosphere of fear and dread; especially with a story that's Biblically allegorical since I myself am not religious. I pretty much agree with you guys on your interpretation, but I'll add a little bit. I related to the title character as someone, who through the passage of time, has become disillusioned and jaded due to the hypocrisy, and atrocities committed by my fellow man. However, I think there's a lesson to be learned by the fate of Young Goodman Brown becoming so cynical about the world. He lived and died as someone who's absolutely miserable from his cynicism, and that, to me, is a message not to let your cynicism keep you from evolving as a person. Don't let the darkness, in reality, keep you from finding the specks of light scattered in between, and most importantly use your newfound cynicism as a tool to self-reflect and ask 'How can I be better and find contentment in my surroundings?' Young Goodman Brown sadly didn't do that and suffered right up to the day he died. I think Hawthorne used his ultimate fate as an example, a way to say 'Don't be like this guy. Be better, especially in the face of adversity.' Anyway, that's my ramble. P.S. - Krypto, I noticed your Pip-Boy. I just recently started playing Fallout 4 and I'm loving it and I have a question. How did you react to the reveal of 'Father?' It has put me in a gloomy funk but in a good way if that makes any sense. Let's me know I'm alive. xD

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Nice, yeah I'd agree with your addition. I felt similarly. I'll direct Krypto's attention to your last question. -Una

[@SamiDC]

@@TheCodeXCantina Awesome! Thanks a bunch Una. ^^

[@tesssiegel5754]

John Hawthorne the judge was the author’s great great grandfather. The trial were around 1692.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Thanks

[@superdupersnowflake]

Thank you guys so much . I feel every day I am just opening up more and more and letting the world in big by bit. Thank you

[@rorygardner4525]

Yes, I had to read Nathaniel Hawthorne's " Young Goodman Brown" in American literature class. Hawthorne doesn't put his political positions in his writings as a Democrat in the 19th century. You guys hit this one out of the ballpark. Good job 👍

[@sara_polverini]

Thank you so much for this guys! I'm an Italian girl studying for my uni American Literature exam, this short story is in the program. You saved my life!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Glad it helped

[@amybentinganan8135]

Faith can die in a variety of ways. Hawthorne displays a couple of these in Young Goodman Brown. While very close, he did not actually give into temptation but flirted with it by entering the woods to meet the second traveler. Commending himself, YGB could not forgive the sinfulness found in others. This lack of grace lead to the distancing of Faith. -Hope is mentioned several times in this story, and if not for hope, faith is easily lost. -Among the OT references, I particularly like how YGB is portrayed as shrinking “from the bosom of Faith”. As Abraham is considered the father of faith biblically. Resting in Abraham’s bosom is a biblical reference to final rest in faith. Besides loss of Faith, the topics of being overly confident in one’s ability to resist temptation and denying our true motives are also recognized at the beginning of this story.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

👍

[@davidsabo405]

Thank you

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I really enjoyed this story. From my lit classes, I discovered that Hawthorne was one of the few writers of that time that I actually enjoyed reading, so I read a ton of Hawthorne back in the day! Great analysis as always, guys!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I can see that. Thanks for sharing.

[@sharpnelshots]

Thanks this helped with my assignment! and damn. This book is old but still relates to a lot of things even today.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I hear ya.

[@davidsabo405]

The woods the wilderness is a place of temptation and meditation.

[@robertgardner5960]

The witch trials judge was an ancestor of Hawthorne, but definitely not his father. Check the dates.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Cheers

[@sulehocaoglu6685]

I love it! I love your energy! This is soo beneficial, especially for literature students. I am an English Literature student and I watched your video for study my final exams. Thank u soo much 🥰Great work! I subscribed, love from Türkiye💓

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Thanks for the kind words and sharing.

[@rationalwatcher7739]

"The wordiest wordsmith ever..." Let me tell you about a humble british yarnspinner named Algernon Blackwood. Good God. Makes Poe seem like Hemingway. Try the short story Descent Into Egypt.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

😂

[@CourtneyFerriter]

I love how dramatic this story is. Even near the beginning when Young Goodman Brown leaves Faith to go on his journey into the bad, bad woods, Hawthorne says "his heart smote him." That's pretty intense! 😂 Appreciated your analysis, which I think makes sense given the historical context. When I reread the story prior to watching this video, what stood out to me was how easily doubt creeps into Young Goodman Brown's belief system and shakes it to the core. This one night (which very well may have just been a dream) affects his views of everyone and everything around him from then on. Although he seemingly has a good life, "his dying hour was gloom" because his "Faith is gone."

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Yeah. I imagine there's a bit of a divide on this one. I wonder what the point is that something moves from dramatic to melodramatic for me?

[@CourtneyFerriter]

@@TheCodeXCantina Dramatic or melodramatic, I'm here for it in my reading. 🤣

[@hesterdunlop7948]

Just read this and I appreciate your analysis . I'm with Courtney in that I liked the skill in this story and , despite the clichéd plot line , was right in the woods . I can even forgive the verbosity but , greatest short story ever no ...so far it's The Lottery / Shirley Jackson.

[@thefont4345]

Ooh, I read this at University a million light years ago. Man, he knows how to paint a vivid image👍

[@TheCodeXCantina]

It's SOOOOO VIVID!!

[@Starscreamlive]

I have a BA in English and my teaching degree in English Language Arts and... Shhh.... don't tell anybody... I've never read this story (until today that is).☺ You know nowadays there are several prestigious universities where you can earn an English degree without having read a single work of Shakespeare. Throughout the whole story I was thinking "Don't do it, don't do it!", yet at the end when we see how miserable he was, it almost makes me wish he had given in (but I'm glad he didn't ftr). Goodman Brown reminded me of John from Dubois' Of the Coming of John. Once he held knowledge, his life became miserable. This is easily a 10/10 for me. Makes me wish I had read it years ago. I'm sorry the two of you didn't like it as much.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Your secret is safe with us! Glad you enjoyed it and it sounds like a home run!

[@Rajathon]

This story feels so familiar, I might have read it in school. Great breakdown guys.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Thanks for listening

[@iamanonymous7282]

Ohh em geee!! Thank you so much. I can attend my next lecture prepared even before my professor discuss this in the class. Thanks I appreciate it.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

You are most welcome

[@iamanonymous7282]

Tbh I didn't enjoy the story either but for the class I had to read it. Have you read Alice Munro's passion? I found that interesting.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

@@iamanonymous7282 I have a few of her stories planned

[@sayros2393]

This was really helpful thank you so much ♡♡

[@michaelsimpson6655]

I really really loved your comments. Thank you soo much :)

[@TheCodeXCantina]

My pleasure 😊

[@p0ggles775]

🌲🌳🎄🌴🎋 Thank you for another excellent video! I got an anthology of 40 short stories, so I will be binging your analyses as I chug along, scattering trees in your comments section. Cheers, lads! 🍻 -Kaylee

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Awesome. Which collection is it by chance?

[@robertchaues2570]

Just an FYI, divorce was definitely not a “Catholic thing.”

[@munira0495]

🌳

[@Ricooo6]

What does this book have to do with the enlightenment

[@jefferaraica238]

4:30

[@sheedab1174]

9:32

[@FutureNurse2025]

🌲

[@malakdarraj4943]

🌲

[@elhassen1771]

Like it

[@DebMcDonald]

🌲🍁🎀 Should’ve listened to your wife Mr. Smarty pants Brown! Ah, the pure innocence of him. It’s hard to be young and idealistic then to find out your neighbour or a family member might not live up to your standards. It takes a strong Faith to turn away from the devil. He has years of experience with humans. I was scared. No woods for me! Deb

[@TheCodeXCantina]

If I were a film director for this... I'd be REALLY tempted to add the George Michael's "Faith" song in the soundtrack somewhere...

[@JL-dx1ov]

HA HA HA lol yes, I don't think I would have volunteered to read this story if I had a choice .

[@TheCodeXCantina]

😂

[@RaisedtoWalkTV]

Sounds pretty much like today.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Lol

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

BURN LOL

[@jas_serna]

3:43 ..

[@jas_serna]

6:30

[@jas_serna]

10:25

[@jas_serna]

11:25 The woods and it being symbolized as a bad setting

[@jas_serna]

hard to follow reading but interesting

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

I really didn't like this story lol But then...Hawthorne usually annoyed me so 🤷‍♀️😆🌲🌳🎄🌴

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

It's so crazy, though, that I didn't read it in school! We read The Scarlet Letter

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I feel you, TBR Twin!

[@thomaspurol4823]

there was nothing biblical about the puritans, their name alone is a hilarious bit of grim irony that everyone but them knew

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Sounds good

[@sagher2215]

I read treasure island faster than this book ma man 🤣

[@TheCodeXCantina]

😂

[@kukuri007]

Wordiest wordsmith? Haha! Try Washington Irving sometime. Maybe they were separated at birth.😄

[@TheCodeXCantina]

😂🤣

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

🌲

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Knock on...

[@gravy3745]

🌲

[@gravy3745]

I skinned my dog