Symbol: Love of Nature
Nature is often an important element in gothic literature. Authors may use it to create serenity and a feeling of disconnect from reality. In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the forest to create a question of reality, and a mood of mystery and evil. He creates a removed world in the forest where people are corrupt and evil. This surreal quality is enhancced when Goodman Brown suddenly finds himself in the forest alone, wondering if the devil worship he witnessed was reality or not. The forest also represents the confusing twisted nature of the devil, making Goodman Brown's experience in the forest similar to a personal Hell. Just as he is lurred into the forest and ends up stumbling away from Faith, he leaves his religious faith and moral code behind and steps towards evil.
Symbol: Faith's Pink Ribbon
Pink is the universal color for innocence, loyalty, and faithfulness. In Young Goodman Brown, Hawthorne uses this property on Faith’s pink ribbon embedded in her cap to represent purity of their soul and unfortunately, the consuming of their innocence by the Devil. It’s emphasis in the beginning in the story such as “letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap…” (Hawthorne 1) and “in spite of her pink ribbons.” (Hawthorne 2) suggests that the ribbon is an important aspect of the story. As the story progresses, Goodman Brown sees the falling ribbon while Faith’s voice is fading away, create a haunting mood that also symbolizes that Faith and Goodman’s purity has been lost. Hawthorne uses this symbol to foreshadow the upcoming events that will eventually lead to Goodman's a miserable life.
Themes: Superstitious World Vs. Real World
Nathaniel Hawthorne differentiates the superstitious world with
the real world by providing wicked elements. These elements are demonstrated
through out the story in a demonic ceremony. When Goodman Brown finds himself
next to a fire this splits open the possibility of the superstitious world
actually being the real world. By blending these two worlds the reader
automatically has a sense of mystery and adds ambiguity to the story. At this
moment the reader does not know if what just happened was a dream, a
hallucination, or reality.
the real world by providing wicked elements. These elements are demonstrated
through out the story in a demonic ceremony. When Goodman Brown finds himself
next to a fire this splits open the possibility of the superstitious world
actually being the real world. By blending these two worlds the reader
automatically has a sense of mystery and adds ambiguity to the story. At this
moment the reader does not know if what just happened was a dream, a
hallucination, or reality.
Symbol: The Forest
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, Young Goodman Brown, the wilderness
symbolizes evil. The main setting of this story, the forest, is associated with darkness, sin and
gloom. An attitude of fear of the wilderness was characteristic of Puritans in
the seventeenth century, including Goodman Brown. For example, when Goodman is walking through the woods, he says "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow" (Hawthorne
3). Simply walking among the trees frightens him and causes him to think dark
thoughts. All of the evil takes place in the forest; for instance, the devil's
ceremony. To Goodman Brown, the wilderness represents every thing that is evil.
symbolizes evil. The main setting of this story, the forest, is associated with darkness, sin and
gloom. An attitude of fear of the wilderness was characteristic of Puritans in
the seventeenth century, including Goodman Brown. For example, when Goodman is walking through the woods, he says "What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow" (Hawthorne
3). Simply walking among the trees frightens him and causes him to think dark
thoughts. All of the evil takes place in the forest; for instance, the devil's
ceremony. To Goodman Brown, the wilderness represents every thing that is evil.