Examples Of Allegory In Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” presents the story of a man that is an apparent representative of men in the nineteenth century. Hawthorne presents an interesting perspective from the main character, Young Goodman Brown, who is tempted by a sinister old man. The story is based on the setting of turbulence and uncertainty with respect to beliefs and takes place mainly in and around the village of Salem, Massachusetts. In the short story, there are aspects of symbolism and allegory as well as themes about human experience that are presented in an intricate language. To begin with, there are many instances in which objects represent a more complex meaning than can be seen. One major symbol that is presented in the beginning and near the end of the story is Faith’s ribbon. The ribbon, pink in color, may be seen as representing the purity and the innocence that Faith seems to have. In comparison to the pink ribbon is the staff of the old man. The staff, as described in the story, is depicted to resemble a serpent. …show more content…
The two main characters of the story are Young Goodman Brown and his wife, Faith. The allegory that is very evident in this scenario are the names Goodman and Faith. Brown is the character who is supposed to represent the best of men and the greatest qualities that they possess. Nonetheless, in the story, Brown fails to fulfill his role, and eventually loses sight of what is good. Faith, on the other hand, represents that – Brown’s faith. Without faith, it is apparent that Brown was led into the inevitable temptation. During one part of the story, Brown yells, “My Faith is gone!” (Hawthorne 322). Brown, inadvertently, was referring to his actual belief and faith because he had fallen into the temptation that he had wanted to avoid. After the ribbon, a symbol of purity, is caught up in the branch, Goodman Brown’s purity and innocence are