Abstract:Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most excellent novelists in the history of American literature. “Young Goodman Brown” is one of his great works. It is full of the atmosphere of Puritanism. Based on the previous studies, I do a research on Hawthorne’s contradictory Puritanism through analyzing Brown’s tragedy. First, analyze the environment and characters Hawthorne created in the story to prove the inevitability of Brown’s tragedy. Then, through analyzing the whole process of Brown’s tragedy, understand Hawthorne’s contradictory Puritanism. On the one hand, Hawthorne approves and inherits some ideas of Puritanism. Whether Brown or other people he meets, they all have the original sin, and their behaviours show that evil is the nature of mankind. On the other hand, he criticizes Puritanism. Contrasting Brown’s attitudes towards other people before the journey and after the journey, it explains Hawthorne’s criticism of the Puritan’s hypocrisy. Brown’s hopeless life and his death show Hawthorne’s exploration of salvation. Hawthorne’s contradictory Puritanism is mainly influenced by family and social factors.

Key words: Hawthorne; contradictory Puritanism; Goodman Brown; tragedy

霍桑矛盾的清教思想——解读《年轻人古德曼·布朗》中布朗的悲剧

摘  要:纳撒尼尔·霍桑是美国文学史上最杰出的小说家之一。《年轻人古德曼·布朗》是他的优秀作品之一。这本小说充满了清教主义的氛围。基于前人的研究，通过分析布朗的悲剧，我对霍桑矛盾的清教思想进行了研究。首先，分析霍桑在故事中创造的环境和人物，以证明布朗悲剧的必然性。然后，通过分析布朗悲剧的整个过程，了解霍桑矛盾的清教思想。一方面，霍桑赞成和继承清教的一些思想。无论布朗还是他遇到的其他人，他们都有原罪，而且他们的行为表明人性本恶。另一方面，他批判清教主义。对比布朗在旅行前和旅行后对他人的态度，表明了霍桑对清教徒伪善的批判。布朗毫无希望的晚年生活和他的死亡展现了霍桑对救赎的探索。霍桑矛盾的清教思想主要受到家庭和社会因素的影响。

关键词：霍桑；矛盾的清教思想；古德曼·布朗；悲剧

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Nathaniel Hawthorne 2

2.2 Puritanism 2

3. The Inevitability of Goodman Brown’s Tragedy 4

3.1 The Time and the Place 4

3.2 Characters in “Young Goodman Brown” 4

3.2.1 The Elder Man with Snake-like Staff 4

3.2.2 Faith 5

3.2.3 Goody Cloyse, the Minister and Deacon Gookin 6

4. Hawthorne’s Contradictory Puritanism 7

4.1 The Inheritance of Puritanism 7

4.2 The Criticism of Puritanism 8

4.2.1 Condemnation on the Puritan’s Hypocrisy 8

4.2.2 Thinking of Salvation 8

5. The Causes of Hawthorne’s Contradictory Puritanism 10

5.1 Family Factor 10

5.2 Social Factor 10

6. Conclusion 11

References 12

1. Introduction

Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most famous novelists around the world. Lots of people are familiar with his works. “Young Goodman Brown” is one of these. It is recognized as a great short story, which is perfectly combined by Hawthorne’s thoughts and artistic creation. The story takes place in New England in seventeenth century. Goodman Brown is a Puritan who lives at Salem village. He ignores the discouragement of his wife Faith and leaves her to have his journey in the forest. He astonishingly finds a lot of prominent people in the village and the church. They all take part in the devil’s party, even his wife Faith. Brown is shocked by the fact, and only to find he is alone in the forest. Later, he returns to his village. He lives long, but his dying hour is gloom. The plot is simple, but this story shows much artistic merit. No matter from which aspects, “Young Goodman Brown” is worth researching.