The new age in this story comes with many changes which see a shift from the conventional practices in society to the adoption of new behavior. It is evident that there is a conflict between people's individual behavior and society's expectations of them. People's personal faith comes second to how they should behave to look moral in the eyes of society. For instance, Goodman Brown's conscience is at ease as he goes to see the Devil, however, when the deacon and minister approach his location; he is embarrassed and attempts to hide. Such situations make life the new age society frustrating. If one is to fit in, they have to observe many double standards (Wright 237).
Alienation of people in Brown's society based on their moral standing is ironical. Goodman Brown is afraid of being shunned if the morally upright society finds out that he is involved with the Devil. The funny thing is that the minister, deacon, his father, and grandfather already have a long-standing association with the Devil. His fear of getting discovered indicates that he was already alone because of his previous moral, upright nature. He would further be cast out by society if people were to find out about his association with the Devil.
Society's pride makes people afraid of bringing out their true nature. People in the new age value the respect that they receive from the society. Anything that would negatively impact society's view of an individual such as having shady dealings with the Devil is scary for people like Brown. Salem has a deeply Christian population according to the story. Therefore, it is obviously unacceptable for people to engage in evil acts, a meeting with the Devil is one of the greatest evils one would commit in such a society. People are therefore forced to use the most secretive means possible if they intend to do some wrong (Dobie 27).
Committing sins in private consequently makes a person a slave to those sins. A strongly judgmental society only makes the situation worse. It makes an individual vulnerable to blackmail and a constant fear of getting caught. Such moral slavery is, therefore, a tool of keeping people in fear and reducing their free will. Even though a person may look okay from the outside, the moral issues that plague them internally make them a slave to society's expectations.
Hawthorne uses irony and imagery in his characterization (Boonyaprasop 61). The main character's name, Goodman Brown gives the reader an expectation of a morally upright individual. However, Goodman Brown ironically commits one of the gravest sins by going to meet with the Devil. The minister and the Deacon are also people who society would expect to have unquestionable moral standing in an ideal situation. However, they turn out to be in league with the Devil. Brown's father and grandfather, who he is afraid, would scold him if they found out his evil deeds are also hypocritical (Hamilton, and Jones 151). If people who are this close to him have managed to keep him in the dark, what about the rest of society?
In this story, illusions overpower reality. People live double lives; only show society the side which it considers morally upright. Free will exists only in technical terms. Most people in society have to hide their true form, even though almost everybody has some devious dealings. As society continues to embrace civilization, people become more willing give up their liberties.
Works Cited
Boonyaprasop Marina. Hawthorne’s Wilderness: Nature and Puritanism in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet . 2013. Print.
Dobie, B, Ann. Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism, 2011, Print.
Hamilton, Geoff, and Jones, Brian. Encyclopedia of the Environment in American Literature edited. 2013, Print.
Wright, B. Sarah. Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Literary Reference to His Life. 2006, Print.
