

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 Christianity. He is a typical puritan man who stands up for both his beliefs and his father/grandfather. Brown initially ventures into the forest on his own doing, he lives his pretty wife, 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 (1). 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. In February 1692, the Reverend of Salem, Reverend Parris discovered multiple girls dancing in the woods. Dancing was seen as a forbidden act against puritanism; out of the ordinary and against the conformities of puritanism. (Christensen, McLauchlan, and Worthy 8). When conformity is challenged by the townspeople there is a scare that runs rapid through the town affecting everyone's mental well being. 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. Doctors whom at the time claimed the girls encountered the devil and were possessed by evil spirits. The puritans believed it was supernatural and that the girls were bewitched (8). 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.  Salem was known as a close community where everyone knew each other and where everyone believed in the same values. Both the play and the short story examine religious fervor and the panic by the townspeople due to the challenge within their own religion. 

"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 another woman. Proctor has an affair with his servant, Abigail Williams. Abigail then accuses Proctors' wife of witchcraft thus leading to a growing hysteria where Proctor is put in a position to own up to the truth (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 tarnish 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 values. "Young Goodman Brown" allegorically references the Salem Witch Trials as well as religious differences and the loss of innocence. Loss of innocence is much like the dancing girls and John Proctors sin in "The Crucible." Brown ventures into the forest and encounters the devil and his witches; whom at the time were known in Salem as evil spirits. Brown encounters the devil and during his meeting he loses his faith. We learn this when Faith's ribbons appear floating in the forest; a sign that all faith is gone. Both literally and figuratively, Brown had lost his faith to the devil (Hawthorne 8). Young Goodman Brown's independence and turn away from puritanism justifies his leaving the town thus losing his faith. Whereas John Proctor loses his good name due to the sinning and tarnishing of the puritan beliefs.

Going against conformity and lying in the presence of their faith leads to the main character's downfalls in both works of literature. 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 devil lead into the forest when he realizes multiple other members of the puritan community had been lying; giving themselves to the dark side. Brown knows exactly what he is doing, he is curious and wanted to test the waters. Browns blind pride is also connected to his curiosity and independence; 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 the communities of Salem, and 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. 

