
The short story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is set in the heart of Salem during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692; a time in which puritanism was challenged by many of its followers. A mass hysteria spread creating disorderly chaos and panic throughout the close knit community. Similarly examined in the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller a mass hysteria also breaks havoc. Miller spins the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials as commentary on the red scare during the height of the cold war. Both works of literature examine the pressure to challenge conformity during the Salem Witch Trials, thus resulting in mass hysteria; leaning toward "religious prejudice, social persecution, and superstition" (Ray 1).

In Hawthorne's story, "Young Goodman Brown," Brown clearly believes in his faith and his Christianity. He is a typical family man who stands up for both his beliefs and his father/grandfather (Hawthorne 2). Brown initially ventures into the forest on his own doing, he lives his pretty little faith behind. Young Goodman Brown possesses strong qualities of hubris as he believes he can take night off from his good faith and return back to Salem as if he never had any encounter with the devil (Hawthorne 1). Brown ventures into the forest as a sigh of relief from the strict and narrow views of the puritan lifestyle. He tells his faith that he must go away for the evening but he takes the darkest path that he could encounter. We know this because the story recalls 'Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose. He had taken a dreary road ... " Brown claims that he and his ancestors have always been good Christians, but if that was so, why would he optionally travel to the dark side to meet with "the devil," also known as the man with the staff. Brown is excited for his encounter with the devil, the strict rules of the puritan religion had caused Brown to venture into his curiosity and thus leading him to his own downfall and loss of faith (Hawthorne 1). 

Similarly, in the play, "The Crucible," by Arthur Miller, there is a dramatic downfall of the townspeople when they are under the impression of mass hysteria due to the lack of control within the Puritan religion. When conformity is challenged there is a scare that runs rapid through the town affecting everyone's mental well being. In February 1692, the Reverend of Salem, Reverend Parris discovered multiple girls dancing in the woods; what was seen as a forbidden act against puritanism (Christensen, McLauchlan, and Worthy 8). Shortly after this Betty Parris and other girls began having horrendous break outs of loud screaming that consisted mainly of little fits; these acts were examined and studied by doctors at the time who had claimed that the girls encountered the devil. The puritans believed it was supernatural and that the girls were bewitched (8). In both, "The Crucible" and "Young Goodman Brown" the setting is dominantly Salem in 1692. Salem was known as a puritan town where everyone knew each other. It was a close knit community as described in Hawthorne's short story. Both the play and the short story examine religious fervor and the panic by the townspeople due to the challenge of their own religion. The setting, Salem, was depicted as good and evil. The forests as described in "Young Goodman Brown" was clearly the evil where as the community and the home was depicted as the good. Likewise, in "The Crucible," the forest is depicted as evil where the reverend finds the girls dancing. Dancing was out of the ordinary and was seen as a challenge against the conformities of puritanism. 

"The Crucible" and "Young Goodman Brown" are also similar in which independence from one's religion leads to one's downfall. This is seen with both Young Goodman Brown as well as John Proctor. John Proctor is characterized as a prominent man, well respected, well known, and very honest (4).  Although Proctor is an honest man he deeply sins for an affair with a woman of the name, Abigail Williams. Proctor challenges his typical strict views of the puritan religion and has an affair with his servant. Abigail accuses Proctors wife of witchcraft thus leading to a growing hysteria where Proctor is put in a position to own up to the truth and lose his good name (4). The mass hysteria that grows out of the interaction with the devil is what ultimately leads to Proctors downfall where he has a choice to either lose his good name or let his wife be hanged. Although the same situation does not happen in "Young Goodman Brown," Brown is faced with a decision and he ultimately loses his faith, both his wife and his religious views. "Young Goodman Brown" allegorically references the Salem Witch Trials as well as religious differences and the loss of innocence; much like the dancing girls and John Proctor in "The Crucible." Brown ventures into the forest and encounters the devil as well as multiple witches. Witches whom at the time were known in Salem as evil spirits, ones not to be trusted and exiled by most of the community. Also at the time there was an array of religious disputes. People were afraid of losing their faith and afraid of encountering the devil. Brown encounters the devil and during this encounter he loses his faith. We learn this when faiths ribbons appear floating in the forest, this is a sign that all faith is gone. Both literally and figuratively, Brown had lost his faith to the devil (Hawthorne 8).

Going against conformity and lying in the presence of faith in both works of literature leads to the main character's downfalls. Brown leaves his wife home alone and tells her not to worry, to pray and that everything will end up okay (1). He ventures to meet the devil and continues to follow the devils lead further into the forest when he realizes multiple other members of the puritan community had been lying and had given themselves to the dark side. Brown knows exactly what he is doing, he is curious and wanted to test the waters. Brown has a sense of blind pride; as a result of this pride it leads to his downfall. He believes in his faith but he also believes he can leave it behind for a night with the devil. Lying in the presence of one's faith is also exemplified by John Proctor as he did commit adultery with Abigail, thus making himself a target for Abigail to go after (Christensen, McLauchlan, and Worthy 1). As fear began to spread and people feared being hanged as a result of abusing the puritan religion, townspeople began to act crazy and accuse one another just to save themselves. Fear is dominant in both situations where fear and hysteria lead to both Brown and Proctors downfalls as well as their loneliness. 

Salem in 1692 was a time where supernatural occurrences were seen as the explanation for any unconformity within the town. Mass hysteria and fear the broke out amongst communities began to tear them apart from the inside out. Both Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller connect their works of literature to the Salem Witch Trials. Both works of literature focus heavily on mass hysteria leading to multiple downfalls as a result of religious challenges and the loss of innocence. 

