Analyzing the Symbols in Young Goodman Brown
As seen in “Young Goodman Brown”, an ambiguous story leads to many interpretations. Although there are countless interpretations involving this famous story, I will be comparing my interpretation to three others. Through careful analysis of the text, I have come to suggest that the story is symbolic of the daily challenges to one’s faith. Through Goodman Brown’s perspective, the audience may see the parallels of his struggles to fight the temptation of sin to their own struggles. This perspective will be compared to a semiotic view of the story, a comparison of the story to carnivalesque freedom, and a psychoanalytical approach. Not one interpretation can be confirmed nor disconfirmed due to the sheer inconclusiveness of the story, but through the process of analysis, rather than concluding on a certain interpretation, the audience will gain a greater understanding of the story. To begin, I will introduce my perspective of “Young Goodman Brown” by addressing the key …show more content…
This man symbolizes the devil. The man leads him through the forest, increasingly farther away from Faith, although Goodman Brown internally feels the need to turn back. The distance between Goodman Brown and Faith symbolizes the growing separation of Brown from his faith. This stranger Goodman Brown met in the forest is carrying a unique staff that resembles a large black snake. Snakes generally hold a negative connotation around the world and symbolize evil; this is no different in the story of Goodman Brown. The staff is offered to Goodman Brown as he struggles through the forest behind the stranger. This staff may represent the temptation of man to alleviate oneself of challenges which ultimately lead to corruption. Ironically, the staff, normally used to assist people, is actually accelerating his path away from Faith and closer to
As seen in “Young Goodman Brown”, an ambiguous story leads to many interpretations. Although there are countless interpretations involving this famous story, I will be comparing my interpretation to three others. Through careful analysis of the text, I have come to suggest that the story is symbolic of the daily challenges to one’s faith. Through Goodman Brown’s perspective, the audience may see the parallels of his struggles to fight the temptation of sin to their own struggles. This perspective will be compared to a semiotic view of the story, a comparison of the story to carnivalesque freedom, and a psychoanalytical approach. Not one interpretation can be confirmed nor disconfirmed due to the sheer inconclusiveness of the story, but through the process of analysis, rather than concluding on a certain interpretation, the audience will gain a greater understanding of the story. To begin, I will introduce my perspective of “Young Goodman Brown” by addressing the key …show more content…
This man symbolizes the devil. The man leads him through the forest, increasingly farther away from Faith, although Goodman Brown internally feels the need to turn back. The distance between Goodman Brown and Faith symbolizes the growing separation of Brown from his faith. This stranger Goodman Brown met in the forest is carrying a unique staff that resembles a large black snake. Snakes generally hold a negative connotation around the world and symbolize evil; this is no different in the story of Goodman Brown. The staff is offered to Goodman Brown as he struggles through the forest behind the stranger. This staff may represent the temptation of man to alleviate oneself of challenges which ultimately lead to corruption. Ironically, the staff, normally used to assist people, is actually accelerating his path away from Faith and closer to