century uses the words "gloomy wood" rather than "dark wood" so popular in the latter half of this century.The tale of Young Goodman Brown does not mention Dante's name, or mention La Divina Commedia, though it becomes obvious this small work is a tribute and recognition of Dante's genius.The story starts out idealistically on a Saturday morning when Young Goodman Brown leaving his house looks back and gives his wife, Faith, a kiss. He is on his way to a prearranged meeting and would not sleep in his bed that night. His wife employs him to tarry till morning but he insists that he must 'tarry away from her'. He teases her a bit, "What, my sweet, pretty wife, dost thou doubt me already, and we but three months married." He sees the concern on her face as melancholy. It is obvious she senses something amiss.Hawthorne has steeped his narrative in allegory and symbols. I chose Saturday as the departure date because the next day is Sunday when at the end of the tale he staggers back into town and sees the preacher preparing for services. As the story unfolds it becomes obvious that it is fate that has set up this meeting for him.Considering the historical period of Hawthorne's story, which was the early 19th century, when young men were apprenticed out to work until they met their obligation there was no time for a night out on the town. A young man in such an apprentice position could not afford it. He would have had to watch his reputation and his station in life. He was expected to go to bed at dusk and arise early in the morning before sunrise. Men normally did not marry until they could afford to. Young girls were chaperoned and their parents and guardians were careful to look into the reputations of the men they choose to wed. Therefore, 25 years of age was not considered early or late in life for a man to get married.Saturday as the day for the setting of this narrative is the end of the workweek for most Christians of t...
