In Nathaniel Hawthorne 's short story "Young Goodman Brown”, the abundant use of symbolism, mystery and suspense captures the reader’s attention almost immediately. From the beginning and throughout the entirety of the story, Hawthorne leads the reader into asking themselves the questions, "What is all of the symbolism, mysticism, characters, and scenery actually representing?" Hawthorne masterfully uses this symbolism to show Goodman Brown’s unconscious struggle with his personal religious faith and his faith in humankind. Hawthorne immediately uses the very name of Goodman Brown 's wife, Faith, as a symbol of Brown’s own faith throughout the story. Goodman Brown 's faith is shown through the initial description of his wife Faith, "And Faith, …show more content…
Such as those of Deacon Gookin and Goody Cloyse whom are regarded in the community as most pious and highly spiritual people. Goodman Brown witnesses the deacon and Goody consorting with various sinners in the form of dissolute men and wretches of women saying that, “It was strange to see, that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the sinners abashed by the saints.” (Hawthorne 458). The path in the woods representing temptation and evil to which Brown is immediately aware of stating, “There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree,” and added, “What if the devil himself be at my elbow!” (Hawthorne 454). The staff carried by the dark figure is represented by Brown as a serpent saying, "But the only thing about him, that could be fixed upon as remarkable, was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself, like a living serpent.”(Hawthorne 453). This can also lead the reader to believe that dark figure is actually the devil because the serpent is an archetype of the devil, or some sort of evil. The pink ribbons are mentioned again later on in the story as they fall from the sky: "But something fluttered lightly down through the air, and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon." (Hawthorne 457). This symbolizes Brown 's loss of his “Faith”, referring to both his wife and his faith in
From the beginning of Hawthorne’s story one does not get that much background information about his main character, Young Goodman Brown. He lives in Salem, so naturally the assumption is the time period of the Witch Trials; Goodman has a wife named Faith, they are in love from what Hawthorne describes their relationship as, which
The names of the characters Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith are both symbolic. “Young" infers the title character is naive and new at life. Brown’s youth suggests that he is an uncorrupted and innocent young man. Moreover, "Goodman" suggests his self-righteousness thinking he is a good man. Furthermore, "Brown" indicates he is a commoner. Thus, the full name implies he is the average naive and self-righteous Puritan. Faith’s name in the story represents his need to cling to faith. She symbolizes everything that is good and Christian to Goodman Brown. Brown’s marriage to Faith is symbolic of how he clings to faith in good in the world.
During Goodman Brown’s journey, he recognized Goody Cloyse, his catechism teacher, the preacher, and Deacon Gookin is going to the devil’s meeting. However, after seeing his church members at the devil’s meeting, Goodman says, “My Faith is gone! and There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come devil! for to thee is this world given” (Hawthorne 27). “But, where is Faith?”, asked Goodman Brown (Hawthorne 29). As hope came into his heart, he trembled when he found the pink ribbon of his wife, Faith, in the forest. At that moment, Goodman Brown lost his faith in his family and church members. Goodman becomes unforgiving of others and believes only evil can be created from evil and there is nothing that anyone can do to change it. Here, Hawthorne demonstrates that a naive faith in our family, friends, and church member’s righteousness could lead to distrust. While, “Young Goodman Brown” lives a long life with Faith, he never loses his meanness toward humanity and the evil in the world, “for his dying hour was gloom” (Hawthorne
The ambiguity surrounding Young Goodman Brown's wife, Faith, immediately becomes apparent at the story's beginning. As Young Goodman Brown is leaving his comfortable and reverent Puritan home to embark upon this mysterious journey, Faith unexpectedly plunges her "pretty head into the street" allowing the wind to tousle and "play with the pink ribbons of her cap"(1199). Hawthorne uses natural imagery, such as the image of the wind "playing" with Faith's pink ribbons, to convey Faith's attachment to nature; the dark and mysterious part of life that is somewhere outside the constraints of Puritan society. In fact, the image...
The first time that Goodman Brown was approached by the Dark figure who is the devil himself in the forest and he told him why he is late, Goodman Brown replies, “Faith kept me back a while”(Hawthorne). Hawthorne once again uses the wife to symbolize young Goodman Brown's own faith, he shows us that Goodman Brown had to compromise it to even start into the forest. Goodman Brown sees many of the characters making their way toward the meeting place and is surprised to see that many of them are people of great stature, both in the religious and governmental society. Here, Hawthorne shows that all people are sinners, no matter how they appear outwardly or what position they hold in society. When Goodman Brown sees Goody Cloyse he was also shocked to see her he states “should be so far in the wilderness at nightfall” (Hawthorne) in contrast to the fact Close is his spiritual adviser who had taught him his catechism, and cannot believe she would be out this late.
The next character is the man who Brown meets up with in the woods. This man is described as, "one who knew the world, and who would not have felt abashed at the governor's dinner table or in King William's court" (Kelly, 191). This man can be seen as the devil. He possesses features that illustrate him as the devil. For example his walking staff is described as having "the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent" (Kelly, 191-192).
In the story of young Goodman brown the Author of the story, Nathaniel Hawthorne, uses symbolic characters that represent life. In the story, Young Goodman Brown goes into a journey into the cold, dark, and lonely forest. Faith, his wife is rejected by young Goodman brown when she asks him to stay with her that night and to forget about the journey. Young Goodman Brown tells her that she will be all right without him and that he has to go into that journey. This is an image of what many people do, if not all people. We do not listen to our sin or to people who only wants the best for us, for example, our family. In Young Goodman Brown, Faith does not only resemble Young Goodman Brown’s religion, but it also resembles his support and security
The dialogue, action and motivation revolve about the characters in the story (Abrams 32-33). It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate the types of characters present in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” whether static or dynamic, whether flat or round, and whether protrayed through showing or telling.
Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes symbolism throughout his short story Young Goodman Brown to impact and clarify the theme of good people sometimes doing bad things. Hawthorne uses a variety of light and dark imagery, names, and people to illustrate irony and different translations. Young Goodman Brown is a story about a man who comes to terms with the reality that people are imperfect and flawed and then dies a bitter death from the enlightenment of his journey through the woods. Images of darkness, symbolic representations of names and people and the journey through the woods all attribute to Hawthorne's theme of good people sometimes doing bad things.
Once Brown enters the forest he meets the devil, who resembles his father. The representation of his father as the devil symbolizes that even Browns own blood is evil, and that everyone has some evil inside themselves. It shoes how far back evil goes, and that...
In conclusion, we have seen how in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” the author presents the characters, dialogue, actions, setting and events which comprise the narrative in this short story, and what may be a source of ambiguity in the tale.
It is surprising, in a way, to discover how few of the many critics who have discussed "Young Goodman Brown'' agree on any aspect of the work except that it is an excellent short story. D. M. McKeithan says that its theme is "sin and its blighting effects." Richard H. Fogle observes, "Hawthorne the artist refuses to limit himself to a single and doctrinaire conclusion, proceeding instead by indirection,'' implying, presumably, that it is inartistic to say something which can be clearly understood by the readers. Gordon and Tate assert, "Hawthorne is dealing with his favorite theme: the unhappiness which the human heart suffers as a result of its innate depravity." Austin Warren says, ''His point is the devastating effect of moral scepticism." Almost all critics agree, however, that Young Goodman Brown lost his faith. Their conclusions are based, perhaps, upon the statement, "My Faith is gone!" made by Brown when he recognizes his wife's voice and ribbon. I should like to examine the story once more to show that Young Goodman Brown did not lose his faith at all. In fact, not only did he retain his faith, but during his horrible experience he actually discovered the full and frightening significance of his faith.
Notorious for his significant use of allegory and symbolism, Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals this especially in his short story “Young Goodman Brown.” In the story, Young Goodman Brown ends up leaving his wife, Faith, for the night to go meet a man near the woods. This man illustrates the devil and brings him to a ceremony within the woods. Throughout the story, Young Goodman Brown struggles to maintain the same amount of the faith he once had. Faith and the man near the woods are both examples of symbolism in this story.
The short story “Young Goodman Brown” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts Goodman’s loss of faith in good due to the evil influences. Goodman’s wife is cleverly named Faith and I think his wife act as an example of symbolism throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, Faith attempts to retain her husband for one more night before he leaves for his journey. Although she is not aware, she seems to know tonight's journey will be a dangerous one. This is clear when she said, “Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year” (Hawthorne). She seems to notice something unusual about tonight. However, Goodman insisted on leaving. I think this is a symbolism where faith is attempting to stop a prayer from turning into
Hawthorne uses many example of color and what it may represent. He tells a story of Goodman Brown’s test of faith, and how he’s shown the truth of the righteous people in his life by the devil, and comes to see the inherit sin of all man.