Sexism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Sexist Young Goodman Brown

Sexist Young Goodman Brown

In reading this classic tale from 1853 which was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I became intrigued first by the theme of the 1800’s with shadowy undertones of biblical evilness. Although, in reviewing the story further I noticed a certain distinctive trends of old world flare that was unmistakable. These tones are of sexism which sadly marked the time period historically to such extent in which the structured confinements of gender responsibilities.

Hawthorne orchestrates the underpinning of chauvinism within the very first paragraph “put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street,” (1) which implies that Faith’s place is in the home which was a common place for woman during the time period. Her role was to keep house, cook the

"There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil! for to thee is this world given." Due to woman of the 1800’s is portrayed as being responsible, wholesome, act naïvely, as well as being religious and faithful in God. However, poor Brown is polluted due to his wife Faith, for which Hawthorn seems to lead threader in believing Brown’s loss of faith and innocence is her fault. Brown reflect this when returning home from the forest and see Faith in which his reaction was “But Goodman Brown looked sternly and sadly into her face, and passed on without greeting” (70). He displays this further by “Often, awaking suddenly at midnight, he shrank from the bosom of Faith, and at morning or eventide, when the family knelt down at prayer, he scowled, and muttered to himself, and gazed sternly at his wife, and turned away.” (72) because his wife caused him to his loss of faith which he displays by not praying publicly or privately showing faith in