Symbolism in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown

A detailed Summary of Symbolism in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown


Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" is a story about a man and his faith. Goodman Brown ventures on a journey into the forest where his faith is tested, as he attempts to resist the temptations of the devil whereupon he returns to his home and wife. While in the forest, Goodman Brown encounters many well-respected citizens of his community, including his wife, Faith, engaged in a satanic meeting. This discovery causes a tremendous state of confusion for Goodman Brown and makes resisting the devil a much harder task.

Doubting his reader's ability to grasp subtle clues, Hawthorne "will hit them (readers) over the head when it fits his purposes" (Dillio, 1). The main character's names alone are prime examples of Hawthorn's blatant symbolism. The names, Goodman and Faith, indicate that Hawthorne's allegory is obviously a religious one with both Goodman and Faith soon to encounter, and fight, some (d)evil.

A goodman is a title equivalent to Mr., applied to a man ranking below a gentleman. A goodman in Hawthorne's day was a person who came from proper lineage. This is obviously the perfect name for Goodman Brown. A normal man, with no significance


important aspect of Christianity, his faith. As a last-ditch effort to save Faith he yells to her, "Faith! Faith! Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One!" (622).

DiLillio, Michael. "Young Goodman Brown." American Literature Discussion (512). On-line. Internet: http://tech.rutgers.edu/ehrlich/_disc3/00000058.htm

believes that he is devoted to God, but as the story progresses both of these devotions will be challenged.



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Approximate Word count = 1107
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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