THE CONFLICT IN “YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN”

In the story, “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the character of Goodman Brown is faced with a tearing conflict. Living in Puritan society, he is on his way to participate in a satanic ritual. From the decision he makes and the actions he performs, Goodman Brown reveals the true essence of his character, asserting himself as a loyal subject of Puritan beliefs.
From the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown is very apprehensive about attending the ritual. However, he continues to walk toward the ritual site. Brown is driven by the words of the man with the staff. By the end of the story, it is clear that this man is the devil himself. A clear sign of the man’s identity comes when Brown notes the appearance of the man’s staff as resembling a serpent, a staff which the man offers to Brown several times, clearly as a means of temptation. The story reads: “‘Come, Goodman Brown!’ cried his fellow-traveler, ‘this is a dull pace for the beginning of a journey. Take my staff, if you are so soon weary.’” It is almost as if the evil within the staff will facilitate Brown with the strength to attend the ritual by counteracting the goodness within him. From Biblical records, the serpent is the embodiment of evil and the main tool used by the devil to tempt the first humans. Brown is being tempted by the devil to attend the ritual. Therefore, an element of the conflict is the man vs. man conflict between Brown and the devil. Brown knows that what he is about to do is wrong, but the devil maintains that the ceremony is not as evil as Brown thinks. Indeed, the main element of the conflict of the story is the one provoked by the man, or the devil, who is urging Brown to attend the ritual.
Additionally, the conflict also contains another element of man vs. man and man vs. society; Goodman Brown is torn because he knows that by attending the ritual, he will betray both his wife and his society. In the beginning of the story, Brown is heartbroken about leaving his wife and about lying to her regarding his destination. Brown is afraid that, if he is discovered, his wife will leave him. This fear is especially symbolic since the name of Brown’s wife is “Faith.” Symbolically, Brown is abandoning his “faith” to attend a satanic ritual. Brown is also worried about the shame he is bringing to his family by engaging in the ritual. However, the devil tells him: “I [the devil] have been as well acquainted with your family… they [Brown’s grandfather and father] were my good friends, both; and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path.” Moreover, Brown is betraying his society, a society that is known for its strict doctrines regarding “witchcraft.” Therefore, Brown is also conscious of the effects his actions will have on others, a sentiment which tears Brown and contributes to the conflict facing him.
Nevertheless, the bulk of the worry which Brown has becomes a man vs. himself conflict which nearly overwhelms Brown. After all, it is inside Brown’s mind where the conflict is taking place. Brown knows that he is better than what he is about to do. Even Brown’s name of reference, Goodman, is symbolic of the nature of Brown. In essence, he is a good man. Brown knows of his inherent goodness, but it is not until he is in the midst of committing the sin that Brown acts upon his goodness and decides to not have any part in the ritual. Truly, the most difficult element of the conflict is within Brown and it is up to him to decide which path he will take.
In conclusion, the conflict in this story has several facets. It takes on the form of man vs. man or man vs. society when Brown is tempted by the devil and when he thinks about his family and his wife or when he thinks about his society, respectively. Although the story carries a twist when Brown discovers that other citizens and his own wife are also partaking in the ritual, this discovery, instead of encouraging Brown to participate, serves as the deciding factor which drives Brown to decide not to participate in the ritual. In the end, Brown resolves his conflict by deciding not to take part in the ritual, an act symbolic of Brown’s resistance to temptation and the revelation of his existent goodness.