Nathaniel Hawthorne and Thomas Whitecloud symbolism contribute to the development of their story themes. These symbols uncover the truths within the characters. Hawthorne’s title, “Young Goodman Brown,” itself is a symbol. Goodman Brown loses his innocence in his ability to be corrupted. The main theme of identity crisis in Whitecloud’s “Blue Winds Dancing” is shown through the use of weather symbolism.
In “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne shows contradictory aspects of Puritanism. Brown’s “every man” shows the mix of good and evil within everyone. This is established when he discovers the sins of his father and grandfather. “The Puritan has just seen the sinfulness of his neighbors and friends clearly exposed, and has become acutely aware of the evil in his own heart” (Easterly) This reveals that the Puritan society also has a darkness. As he turns away from Puritanism, Brown embraces evil thoughts and gives way to evil action. He heads into the forest taking a path with trees that create a door-like closing that separates him literally and figuratively from his village. Though he fears what lies in the forest, he wants to see how strong his faith is. Faith that is strong in public, but weakens in private. When he is told that his kin and neighbors are in alignment with the devil he …show more content…
The clear sky and the moon symbolize the narrator being guided back towards his home on the reservation. The snow symbolizes new beginnings. He has begun his life away from the reservation, but is returning to it a changed man. The main theme in Blue Winds Dancing is the narrator’s identity crisis. He is conflicted with the idea of where he now belongs. His assimilation into white culture makes him question himself. He knows that whites will never truly accept him, but is left to wonder where that leaves him in regards to his fellow Native Americans and whether they will continue to accept him as he further
In “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne shows contradictory aspects of Puritanism. Brown’s “every man” shows the mix of good and evil within everyone. This is established when he discovers the sins of his father and grandfather. “The Puritan has just seen the sinfulness of his neighbors and friends clearly exposed, and has become acutely aware of the evil in his own heart” (Easterly) This reveals that the Puritan society also has a darkness. As he turns away from Puritanism, Brown embraces evil thoughts and gives way to evil action. He heads into the forest taking a path with trees that create a door-like closing that separates him literally and figuratively from his village. Though he fears what lies in the forest, he wants to see how strong his faith is. Faith that is strong in public, but weakens in private. When he is told that his kin and neighbors are in alignment with the devil he …show more content…
The clear sky and the moon symbolize the narrator being guided back towards his home on the reservation. The snow symbolizes new beginnings. He has begun his life away from the reservation, but is returning to it a changed man. The main theme in Blue Winds Dancing is the narrator’s identity crisis. He is conflicted with the idea of where he now belongs. His assimilation into white culture makes him question himself. He knows that whites will never truly accept him, but is left to wonder where that leaves him in regards to his fellow Native Americans and whether they will continue to accept him as he further