Mankind has a history of turning away from God and embracing evil. From the days of Cain to the present, there is a chain of men and women who have forsaken the promise of salvation in favor of what we call Satanism. Literature has sought to record this turning away in many instances. Even today, alternative, rebellious youths practice pseudo-Satanism. However, what remains unclear is the surviving appeal of the essentially self-defeating religion. Dr. Faustus sells his soul to the Devil in return for worldly success. Macbeth deals with the witches for their aid in prophesying his future. Even King Solomon consults a witch to assist the Israeli forces in battle. Yet, there are no real benefits to satanic worship. Any earthly gains are offset by eternal damnation. There must be some inherent appeal to Satan worship in the human psyche. Young Goodman Brown demonstrates the appeal of Satan worship due to its aspects of conspiracy, rebellion and man's inherent attraction to evil.
Human beings have an inherent desire for the companionship that is accessory to the state of conspiracy. Human beings are social creatures. We desire and need human contact. The popularity of the Kairos retreat is an example of the appeal of brotherhood and secrecy. The appeal of underground cults, such as Satan worship or Freemasonry lies in the occult sharing of secrecy. The society described by Mr. Hawthorne certainly fits this category. Goodman Brown is described as feeling a "loathsome brotherhood" with the gathered cultists. (108) The presider promises that the catechumens will gain knowledge of the "secret deeds" of their fellow townsmen. (108) It is significant to note that all of the people whom Goodman Brown admired are included in the diabolical congregation. The power of example is undeniable. Even Fr. Wade admitted in a Cardinal interview that he joined the Jesuits because the students whom he admired were doing it. As any high school student can attest to, peer pressure is a powerful force. The initial appeal of Satan worship, then, can be defined as the appeal of a "brotherhood of conspiracy."
Rebellion, against God, society or parents, is part of the human learning experience. Why did Adam eat the apple: because it was there and because it was forbidden. The effectiveness of "reverse psychology" supports the adage that the best way to get something done is to forbid a teenager to do it. Throughout the story, Goodman Brown seems to dwell upon the notion that his actions would be somehow shocking to the authorities. He fears meeting Goody Cloyse on the road with the devil because he does not want "this Christian woman" to see him in such company. (102) He dwells as well upon the notion that neither his father nor his grandfather would have gone "into the woods on such an errand." (102) Given the hierarchical and regimented nature of Puritan life in post-revolutionary New England, Goodman Brown may be expressing a subconscious desire to break loose from the mold of normalcy. Thus, the second element of the appeal of Satan worship is the idea of rebellion.
Finally, mankind seems to have an inherent attraction to things evil or forbidden. The theology of original sin holds that man is influenced by the sin surrounding him. The result of these evil influences is the inclination of man towards sin. This theory is supported by the great number of members in the "grave and dark-clad company." (107) Goodman Brown feels a kinship with the congregation through "all that was wicked in his heart." (108) The devil character synthesizes this theme eloquently, explaining the "sympathy of your human hearts for sin." (109) "Evil is the nature of mankind," explains the fiend. (109) The final element that explains the appeal of Satan worship become clear as the supposed darkness of man's own soul is revealed.
The attraction of Satan worship can be seen as the derivative of basic evil in the human condition, the desire for rebellion and the desire for conspiracy. Since these aspects apply equally to all of the characters in the story, it logically follows that none of the members of society at large are unaffected. It appears that this seemingly isolated occurrence of Satanism is a condition of the human existence: perhaps the yan to a Christian yin. In that case, there is nowhere to hide from the all-pervasive influence of evil, not even within the confines of the human mind.
