Symbolism Young Goodman Brown

The Fall of Goodman Brown Symbolism can be used in many different ways, all to serve the same purpose of having a deeper underlying meaning. The short story “Young Goodman Brown” contains a lot of symbolism as well as the use of double entendres. The research done will more thoroughly discuss what Hawthorne’s symbolism means, where it comes from, and why it is concluded in such a manner. Upon first glance, things seem easy to grasp and understand, but with a second take on the short story one can begin to see the double meaning of what Nathaniel Hawthorne is really trying to convey. Characters and setting play a huge role in bringing out the hidden messages left behind to us by Nathaniel Hawthorn. Brown’s character will be shortly discussed …show more content…
The fact that Brown saw all these familiar faces in the forest will haunt Brown to his grave, whether it was real or not, is left up for one to decide, but according to Brown it happened and he will never forget it. “As an average human mind, Goodman Brown does not lack potential; he lacks awareness” (Jamil 145). No matter what happens the memory of seeing holy people that he knew in the forest will stay implanted in his mind, even if it was just a dream or a literal occurrence. One could assume that this is because Brown is dwelling on what he has done and he is unable to forget all the things he went through. If this were a test from the heavens then Brown would have passed, but being that he is in a huge disillusionment he closes himself into all the negative energy and allows it to consume him. Brown would have died a changed man, but instead chose to let the power of evil compel his entire …show more content…
He goes and leaves his wife, feels bad about it, but doesn’t do anything to comfort her. He enters the forest, knowing he was going to have an arrangement with the devil, but later regrets it when he sees a bunch of familiar faces. He is basically the epitome of a hypocrite. “It’s easy to view his subsequent universal disgust with sinful humans as a projection of what he doesn’t want to admit he shares with them” (Bidney 82). When he sees people that he grew up with or just faces that he recognizes in general, he is in shock and is completely distraught that someone so holy, sweet, or innocent, would be in the forest. All of this judging of other people while he was out to do the same thing these people are doing or would be doing. Whether it was an illusion created by the devil or not, Brown will never forget this and hold everyone accountable for everything he