Young Goodman Brown

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” is set in the dark period of Puritan history: the witch-trials. One follows Brown’s reluctant journey into the forest. To the Puritans, the forest has always been a place of evil, and “demonic presence, the ancestral spirits” rest there (Cook). Brown supposedly has a meeting with some witches, but he does not want to be seen with such sort, in fear of being accused of witchcraft. The setting in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” subtly brings out additional meanings through symbolism, ultimately reveals Brown’s personality and values, and drastically shows a change in Brown throughout the journey. First of all, the symbols range from the names of the characters, to the very setting in which the majority of the plot takes place. While using these symbols Hawthorne gets his points across by more then just using plot or themes, but rather by taking his opinions to another level of literary elements by using setting. This story could be analyzed as literal, or one could look at this story in an allegorical way. The additional message that Hawthorne is trying to suggest, which the stranger explains, is that “evil is the nature of mankind” (Hawthorne 454). When looking at the story Young Goodman Brown himself, and his wife Faith, create symbolism. Both have symbolic meaning in his and her names. Young Goodman Brown’s name exemplifies youth and good nature. Also, it subtly suggests that he has yet to be corrupted by the world. In addition, Faith demonstrates the good in the world. Furthermore, Faith’s pink ribbons serve to symbolize a sign of heavenly faith. When Brown is late for his meeting he states “Faith kept me back awhile” (Hawthorne 450). This suggests that Browns conscious is keeping him from accepting the evil in his companion, and his reservations about the path he is taking. Furthermore, creatures lurk
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