Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dream

I agree with your opinion that it was just a wild dream. However, at first glance we cannot conclude easily because of ambiguity. Hawthorne grew up in a Puritan society. He was discussing all that in a context of rigid social order of Puritan, and in a way of uncertainty and self-doubt, to show the results of this belief system. So he concocted a character “Brown” to experience the results of belief system. The concept of dream is also a part of Puritan belief system; most of the ideas have been developed through the vision or dream. Therefore, I think it is the same scenario.