Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown by Hawthorne - Essay Example

Symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” is a short story that is spiritual in nature, detailing Goodman Brown’s journey from devout faith to accepting the evil found in even the most holiest places in the world. Living in a community that strives to live for God, Brown became unnerved to find that wicked ceremonies were taking place in the nearby forest. His life takes a downward spiral when he discovers that his wife, Faith, is one of the new converts into this wicked sect.

Symbolism, most of which is spiritual, is used throughout the story to show the downfall of the once-holy community, including Goodman Brown. Faith is a symbol unto herself, from her name to the pink ribbons that she wore in her hair. As Goodman Brown sets out to meet with the devil, he talks himself into giving up such a horrid life for the sake of Faith. Whenever he thinks about the evil deed at hand, he allows his mind to turn back to Faith. This can be taken in two ways - Faith, as in his wife, and faith, as in his religious beliefs.

Faith, his wife, is a personification of Goodman Brown’s spiritual faith. He does not want to live a life of evil, but one of good, religious faith. As such, Faith symbolizes Brown’s desire to live a religiously fulfilling life while also, while also wanting to remain good for the sake of his wife. Faith’s ribbons symbolizes Faith and her purity. The ribbons are pink, a color often associated with purity and innocence. As she says goodbye to her husband as he leaves, Brown takes notice of the pink ribbons in her cap.

At this moment in the story, Faith is pure and innocent. However, as Brown is wandering through the forest towards the evil gathering, he thinks he hears her voice, calls out to her, and then notices one of her pink ribbons falling from the sky. Since the ribbons symbolize purity, then as Faith loses her ribbons, she also loses her purity. Another symbol in the story is the devil’s serpent staff, which represents evil and the descent into evil. At first, Goodman Brown refuses to take the staff from the devil, which symbolizes Brown rejecting evil.

He wants no part of the evil in the world, nor does he want anything to do with the devil, and therefore denies the devil’s offer to accept the staff. Not too long after this rejection, Brown does accept the staff, which transports him to the evil ceremony in the woods. By accepting the staff, Brown accepts the evil in the world. After being transported to the woods and witnessing the ceremony, Brown becomes aware of the evils all around him. These symbols add to the overall effect and meaning of the story by strengthening the meaning behind how easily manipulated innocent people can be.

Faith, in her pink, pure ribbons, was easily swayed into joining the devil. Even Goodman Brown, who had first rejected evil by refusing to take the staff, still eventually accepted the staff, thus accepting evil. They also reveal how evil can be found in everyday life, even by someone who has tried so hard to deny its existence, such as Goodman Brown. The unifying effect of the symbols on the overall story is to reveal the corruptness of even the most pure and innocent souls.