An interesting question, especially since some Early
American Literature relies heavily on religion in writing (consider the Quaker/Puritan
names used in the story: Faith, Goody and Goodman). Hawthorne would have known the
Puritans strongly belived in their religion's potential to transform and glorify. He
certainly plays with these elements, but also allows for the fantastical, which adds to
that ambiguity which makes the story so interesting.
What
he also would have know is the nefarious past of his birthtown Salem, NH. Famous for
the Salem Witch Trials and persecution of the Quakers, part of his upbringing is
surrounded in history, much of which shaped his writing. So, yes, in a sense Young
Goodman Brown contains elements of fantasy (and
romance).
To prove my point, let's look at a few examples
from the short story.
-Think of the setting: the woods,
both gloomy and foreboding. Brown is at a witches' sabbath deep in the forest of 17th
century MA (a big no-no in the Puritan/Quaker religion). Hawthorne also plays
with sound, distorting the natural forest 'music' into something unnatural and creepy.
By the same token Hawthorne intorduces elements of the gothic by again distorting images
of the forest (trees, clouds). The clouds 'babble,' he sees Faith's pink ribbon
and
- Brown's state of mind could be considered
delusional and slightly prone to fantasy (I mean, who can honestly say they've seen the
Devil). And, to have the Devil tell you in honest conversation that your family once
practicted the black arts might be slightly
disconcerting.
- The surreal nature of time passing (and
changing).
- Hawthorne plays with the idea of
spirit-inhabited forests, ghosts (in the form of the Devil and his absent wife), secret
meetings, terryifying and mysterious sounds and really the creation of a world in which
nothing is as it seems.
If you're interested in pursuing
the fantasy idea, I'd also recommend you look into the idea of Gothic. Hope that
helps.
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