Nathanial Hawthorne was an author that was famous for writing tales using the setting of early America to express moral values and point out hypocrisy. During his life in the early to mid-nineteenth century, Hawthorne penned nine novels and various short story collections, with one of his most famous short stories being “Young Goodman Brown.” Set during the Salem Witch Trials, “Young Goodman Brown” tells of a man who encounters the devil in the forest, but does not wish to succumb to evil because of his wife, Faith. Through his time in the forest, Goodman Brown discovers that everyone in the town partakes in evil devil ceremonies, including his wife, and later comes to distrust all of his peers (Hawthorne, 619-28). The story is written so that
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It is described as bearing the resemblance to of “a great black snake” that is so realistic that it seems animated and living (Hawthorne, 621). The uncertainty of whether the staff was real or not symbolizes the uncertainty and apprehension of Brown’s situation. Moreover, the snake is an obvious allusion to the snake of the Bible that tempts Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. This staff indicates that the man is most certainly there to test Young Goodman Brown into the ways of evil, as did the snake from the Bible. Additionally, cloaks are used to symbolize that which is concealed. Specifically, the cloak that Faith is wearing before she is revealed to Goodman Brown is a symbol for the concealment of evil within his wife (Hawthorne, 627). Another symbol that was previously mentioned are the ribbons on Faith’s hat (Hawthorne, 620). More than the color, the ribbons themselves are very child-like and symbolize Faith’s youth and purity. This, along with the color of the ribbons themselves, paints a vivid picture of the Faith character as Young Goodman Brown perceives …show more content…
Goodman Brown is one of the first symbols introduced in the story, as his description paints him as an “everyman” who is meant to be relatable to most people of the time. He is dedicated to his belief in Christianity and his wife, which makes him that much more relatable to people of the time. In reference to Faith, there is much disagreement among critics as to whether she should be viewed as purely an allegorical figure or as a more dimensional character (Levy). However, it would be amiss to ignore the obvious symbolism in her character, as she is so important to the story. Her name “Faith” indicates that she could be a symbol for Young Goodman Brown’s faith in God. Although, it may be more apt to describe her as a symbol of Brown’s purity or innocence. At the beginning of the story his purity is intact, as he has not encountered the devil. As the story progresses, though, Faith succumbs to the ways of evil, as does Brown’s innocence (Levy). These two main characters are important symbols for the Puritan lifestyle and the hypocrisy within
It is described as bearing the resemblance to of “a great black snake” that is so realistic that it seems animated and living (Hawthorne, 621). The uncertainty of whether the staff was real or not symbolizes the uncertainty and apprehension of Brown’s situation. Moreover, the snake is an obvious allusion to the snake of the Bible that tempts Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. This staff indicates that the man is most certainly there to test Young Goodman Brown into the ways of evil, as did the snake from the Bible. Additionally, cloaks are used to symbolize that which is concealed. Specifically, the cloak that Faith is wearing before she is revealed to Goodman Brown is a symbol for the concealment of evil within his wife (Hawthorne, 627). Another symbol that was previously mentioned are the ribbons on Faith’s hat (Hawthorne, 620). More than the color, the ribbons themselves are very child-like and symbolize Faith’s youth and purity. This, along with the color of the ribbons themselves, paints a vivid picture of the Faith character as Young Goodman Brown perceives …show more content…
Goodman Brown is one of the first symbols introduced in the story, as his description paints him as an “everyman” who is meant to be relatable to most people of the time. He is dedicated to his belief in Christianity and his wife, which makes him that much more relatable to people of the time. In reference to Faith, there is much disagreement among critics as to whether she should be viewed as purely an allegorical figure or as a more dimensional character (Levy). However, it would be amiss to ignore the obvious symbolism in her character, as she is so important to the story. Her name “Faith” indicates that she could be a symbol for Young Goodman Brown’s faith in God. Although, it may be more apt to describe her as a symbol of Brown’s purity or innocence. At the beginning of the story his purity is intact, as he has not encountered the devil. As the story progresses, though, Faith succumbs to the ways of evil, as does Brown’s innocence (Levy). These two main characters are important symbols for the Puritan lifestyle and the hypocrisy within