Loss Of Innocence In A Young Goodman Brown

In a Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne explores themes of lost of innocence as well as the fault in human morality through the use of symbolism and imagery in the story. The lost of innocence can be looked at as a literal theme in the story since both Faith and Goodman Brown undergo a change to the reader from “good” people to people associated with sin. The theme of fault in human morality can be looked at as a figurative theme because it is showcased through the symbolism and the imagery created in the story.

The theme of loss of innocence can be seen throughout Young Goodman Brown first with the innocence Faith represents though her dependant nature and the pink ribbons she wears in her hair. The color of the ribbons leads to the reader associating Faith with innocence and love. The first lost of innocence felt by Goodman Brown is when his travel companion relates his relationship with past members of Goodman family, this shows Goodman Brown that his family had been corrupted before or tempted with sin in past generations such as himself. This trend continues as Goodman Brown comes face to face with some of the most important faces in his community such as the minister and Deacon Gookin further weaken Goodman Brown's spiritual certainness. All of those encounters are also examples of lose of innocence because it exposes Goodman Brown to the reality of his …show more content…
The theme of loss of innocence is seen through the discovery of Goodman Brown croupt reigion which directly parallels how corrupt National Hawthorn thought the Puritan religion was. The theme of fault in human morality can be looked at as the author suggesting that the Puritan religion had too much emphasis on how others view everyone's individual faith which National Hawthorn suggest though the story makes your religious certainty