Faustian tales normally include the main character, who sells his soul for some temporary pleasure, and the devil-like character. Authors do not always have to be blunt when referring to the Devil, but the reader will always can infer to identify the Devil in the story. The author in this story never bluntly states the figure is the devil. Instead, he uses supernatural behaviors, adjectives, and symbols to infer this character is this story’s Devil. In the short story Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne implies that the figure he encounters in the forest is the Devil.
One way Hawthorne implied that the figure that Brown encounters in the forest is the Devil is by making him seem as if the he appeared out of thin air. As Brown is in the …show more content…
Hawthorne describes the man as a “dark figure” (Hawthorne 7) and “the figure of a man in
grave and decent attire”(Hawthorne 1) to imply this figure is not dark and mysterious. If this figure was a pure individual with innocent intent, malice adjectives would not be used. The adjectives used to describe this are also common when speaking of the Devil or hellish fiend. The author also used “elder traveller” (Hawthorne 2) when referring to the figure because the figure was well acquainted with Brown’s entire family as stated. This gives off the vibe that the acquaintance has lived longer than any other human entity, nevertheless meaning he is not human. Hawthorne also uses symbolism linked to his staff to express devilish features . This staff the figure wielded had “serpent-like” features. When traveling the forest, he insisted to fellow travelers that he encountered and chatted with that they should accept to use his staff. When he was with Brown he suggests that he “take my staff if you are soon so weary”(Hawthorne 2). This is also seen as an offer for Brown to give in to the evil and worship the Devil like the others. The Devil soon meets with Goody Cloyse and says to her, “I may not spare you my arm, but here is my staff” (Hawthorne 3). Goody Cloyse is then seen in the ritual, proving her involvement with the dark figure and selling her soul to worship him. Accordingly,
One way Hawthorne implied that the figure that Brown encounters in the forest is the Devil is by making him seem as if the he appeared out of thin air. As Brown is in the …show more content…
Hawthorne describes the man as a “dark figure” (Hawthorne 7) and “the figure of a man in
grave and decent attire”(Hawthorne 1) to imply this figure is not dark and mysterious. If this figure was a pure individual with innocent intent, malice adjectives would not be used. The adjectives used to describe this are also common when speaking of the Devil or hellish fiend. The author also used “elder traveller” (Hawthorne 2) when referring to the figure because the figure was well acquainted with Brown’s entire family as stated. This gives off the vibe that the acquaintance has lived longer than any other human entity, nevertheless meaning he is not human. Hawthorne also uses symbolism linked to his staff to express devilish features . This staff the figure wielded had “serpent-like” features. When traveling the forest, he insisted to fellow travelers that he encountered and chatted with that they should accept to use his staff. When he was with Brown he suggests that he “take my staff if you are soon so weary”(Hawthorne 2). This is also seen as an offer for Brown to give in to the evil and worship the Devil like the others. The Devil soon meets with Goody Cloyse and says to her, “I may not spare you my arm, but here is my staff” (Hawthorne 3). Goody Cloyse is then seen in the ritual, proving her involvement with the dark figure and selling her soul to worship him. Accordingly,