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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

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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

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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

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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.