Symbolism In Young Goodman Brown example essay topic

Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown. Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes symbolism throughout his short story Young Goodman Brown to impact and clarify the theme of good people sometimes do bad things. Hawthorne uses a variety of light and dark imagery, names, and people to illustrate irony and different translations. Young Goodman Brown is a story about a man who comes to terms with the reality that people are imperfect and flawed and then dies a bitter death from the enlightenment of his journey through the woods. Images of darkness, symbolic representations of names and people and the journey through the woods all attribute to Hawthorne's theme of good people sometimes do bad things. The use of dark imagery throughout the story gives you a sense of fear of the unknown that lies ahead of Goodman Brown on his journey.

The beginning sentence of the story illustrates an image of a sunset and the approaching of night as Goodman Brown sets off on his mission. "Young Goodman Brown came forth, at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold". (196) Here, the light of the sun represents the knowledge that Goodman Brown already has. The imagery of darkness setting in is the unknown knowledge Goodman Brown is out to discover. Goodman Brown must first travel through the darkness of the unknown before he reaches the light of enlightenment and truth that is why he is embarking on his journey throughout the night hours. "My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done 'twist now and sunrise".

(197) The next use of symbolism is the setting of the journey and meeting in the woods. Early Americans looked at the woods as a test of strength, bravery and endurance. It took a lot of courage for someone to enter the forest because it was unknown territory and they would not emerge the same. "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all gloomiest trees of the forest... that the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks... he may be passing through an unseen multitude". (197) Goodman Brown does not face the dangers of Indians but faces the danger of reality and truth.

Goodman Brown does not emerge from the forest tougher or braver but hateful and spiteful because he becomes enlightened to the ways of world. He comes to terms with the reality that people are flawed and imperfect. He sees sin and evil surrounding him. Goodman Brown once viewed people as good, happy and pure but now turns away from everyone because he can not see the good in them anymore. He dies a bitter lonely man because he couldn't handle the truth that good people sometimes do bad things. "They carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone; for his dying hour was gloom".

(206) Throughout the story Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the names of Young Goodman Brown and his wife Faith as symbolic representations. The word "young" in Goodman Brown's name gives you the image of an inexperienced, na " ive boy who must take on an adventure instead of staying in the comfort of his surroundings. His wife, Faith, tries to stop him by saying, "Pray thee, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed to-night". (196) Here you see Faith encouraging Goodman Brown's quest for knowledge to be done in the light (sunrise) instead traveling through the unknown darkness to gain wisdom. Her fear is made clear through the use of light and dark imagery.

The use of the words "good" and "man" in Goodman Brown names leaves you to wonder if men are really good. My interpretation is that Goodman Brown is not good at all because he falls into the devil's temptation and excepts the baptism. It proves that even the best of men are subject to imperfection. The word faith throughout the story is a play on words. The first use of the word faith is the name of Goodman Brown's wife. The second use of the word faith describes Goodman Brown's belief, trust and loyalty in God.

Goodman Brown cries, "My Faith is gone!" (202) There are two ways you can look at this sentence. The first way of decoding this sentence is Goodman Brown is crying out for the safety and well being of his wife Faith as he sees her pink ribbon falling from the sky. The second way of interpreting this sentence is Goodman Brown is giving up on his belief, trust and loyalty in God. He is throwing in the towel and giving into the devil. The second example of the play on words with Faith's name and the translation of Young Goodman Brown's name is seen here, "My love and my Faith, replied Young Goodman Brown, of all nights in the year, this one night I tarry away from thee". Goodman Brown is saying to his wife Faith he must leave to go on this journey but you can also translate it as if he is speak to God explaining his intentions.

He says for one night he is going to step away from God / his wife but promises to return and be faithful forever. "Well; she's a blessed angel on earth; and after this one night, I'll cling to her skirts and follow her to Heaven". (197) Another important symbolic imagery that Hawthorne incorporates into this story is the irony of people and there occupations. Hawthorne uses all the characters in the story to prove that good people do bad things, which is the theme of the story. Along Goodman Brown's journey through the woods he comes across a woman that is hurrying along the path to attend the devil's meeting. He says in disbelief, "That old woman taught me my catechism!" (200) Next Goodman hears his Deacon Gook in saying, "I had rather miss an ordination-dinner than to-night's meeting".

(201) The use of these characters' occupation gives them creditability but the irony is that even though they are good people of the community they are sinners and evil. It proves that humankind is imperfect and flawed and bound to let you down. The use of these characters and light and dark imagery has an impact throughout the story. Once Goodman Brown gets to the meeting ground he is surprised to see so many town's people.

"Then came a stronger swell of those familiar tones, heard daily in the sunshine, at Salem village, but never, until now from a cloud of night". (202) The use of light and dark imagery in this particular sentence helps you understand Goodman Brown's despair. He has realized the truth that the people he sees in the daylight hours pretending to be pure and good are the total opposite in the dark. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolic imagery throughout his story Young Goodman Brown to impact the theme of good people sometimes do bad things. Hawthorne takes us on a journey of truth and realization. Goodman Brown was not open to the truth or the reality that the world is filled with evil and people are imperfect.

His perception of the world was it was a fun loving happy place and when he was exposed to reality he turned away from people and lost faith in them. His faith should have been in God because God will never let you down but his faith was in people and people are imperfect and subject to disappoint you..