26 pages 52 minutes read

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young Goodman Brown

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1835

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Essay Topics

1.

Goodman Brown ends up a broken man who lives the remainder of his life in misery and gloom. Should readers feel bad for Brown? Is he a victim of society? Why or why not?

2.

Dreams are a significant motif in fiction written during American Romanticism. How does Hawthorne use the dream motif to reveal the inner-most fears of his central character? How does his use of dreams compare to other authors writing in Hawthorne’s time?

3.

Some readers may argue that despite Brown’s downfall as a Christian, his revelation in the wilderness leads to growth in his character. Despite Brown’s gloomy awakening, do you think he has grown? Why or why not?