Use of Imagery in Young Goodman Brown
According to A Handbook of Critical Approaches, the Formalistic Approach is one “with a methodology.” The Formalistic Approach requires a critic to examine the structure, or form, of a literary work. For example, studying the imagery of a literary
work can make the theme more apparent. “Images emerge as more and more important…certain images, or colors…keep coming up…. Bit by formal bit, we think we begin to see a theme emerging from the work.” (Guerin, 74-75). Young Goodman Brown is the story of an innocent young man who realizes the imperfections and flaws of the world and its people,
including himself. This knowledge is very painful and shocking to Young Goodman Brown just as knowledge was painful for
the prisoners in Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The imagery used in Young Goodman Brown amplifies the theme of the loss of
innocence. Images of the sunset and of a journey and several others appear throughout the story to amplify the theme of Young Goodman Brown.
For example, in the beginning of the story, Young Goodman Brown is leaving his wife Faith at sunset to go on a journey that cannot wait. The images of a sunset and of the approaching nighttime illustrate the fear of the unknown. Goodman Brown must travel through the darkness before he reaches the light of knowledge just as the prisoners in Allegory of the Cave must travel from the dark cave in order to reach the light. As the story continues, Hawthorne uses the image of a “dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest” to heighten the fear of the unknown. Goodman Brown has left the comfort of the cave of confusion and is beginning to discover the imperfections of the world and of its people.
A teacher, who had “an indescribable air of one who knew the world”, leads Goodman Brown from the cave. His teacher continually leads him along the path to enlightenment despite Goodman Brown’s attempts “to return whence I came.” Goodman Brown learns that people are not perfect and that “good” people sometimes do “bad” things. People who Goodman Brown views as perfect, like the governor and his Sunday school teacher are exposed as imperfect people who lie and cheat and steal by using the images of a stolen broom and a promise to be queen of Hell.
Hawthorne uses the image of a stern and darkly meditative man to describe Goodman Brown after becoming enlightened as to the ways of the world. The knowledge of the sin and evil in the world is very disturbing and painful to Goodman Brown. Before his journey from the cave, he viewed the world as a kind, sunny place with green pastures and flowing rivers for him to run and swim in without being harmed. People were generous and kind and never did terrible things. When Goodman Brown is led from the cave to enlightenment, he realizes that people are capable of hurting each other and that the world can be a very dark place full of pain and terror caused by imperfect and insecure people.
Knowledge is often painful. By using imagery, the theme of Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown is made more apparent to the reader.
Works Cited
Guerin, Wilfred L, et al. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
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