Double Meaning Of Young Goodman Brown

Young Goodman Brown: Symbolism and Double Meaning

Young Goodman Brown is definitely a story with several meanings and images. As I was reading this story I was overwhelmed with the visual and technical images that Hawthorne projected. There was so much symbolism and double meanings in the story that I believe everyone in the class was confused at one point or another. Seemingly to the degree that they re-read the story a second time just to try and "fill" themselves with the actual vision of the reading.

One question that always seems to plague classes about this story (both eng372 and other classes that I have attended in which YGB was read) is the actual meaning of Goodman Brown’s wife’s name: Faith. The double meaning

The forest seems to be hell on earth complete with vicious Indians, animals and serpents (both human and reptilian). Why would he even consider going into the forest when he knows of all the horrible things that can happen to him, especially at night? With this knowledge as well as the Web Text information that the witch trials were very real during YGB’s time the fact that he would even trust anyone in a forest at night seems to stretch the imagination. So to answer this question it seems as though YGB went into the forest to test his own faith to god. He even states that "...having kept covenant by meeting thee here, it is my purpose now to return whence I came" showing he indeed came just to tempt himself and satisfy his need to know about his faith in god. After discussing this with some of my friends I have found that they too test themselves in certain situations just to see if they can handle them . If this is true then why can’t the same be said for any truly devout

The text is so "open" that this question could be answered both ways. The class seemed to lean toward the fact that It did indeed happen. After all the story never gives any solid evidence that YGB did in fact dream this event. The Web Text even argues that the stories beginning "Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset, into the street of Salem village.." shows that there is a definite beginning to a journey not a dream. But as the story continues the reader does start to doubt this(including myself who leans toward the event actually happening) because of the imagery used by Hawthorne. Companions start to disappear and reappear without a moments notice, which simply does not happen in reality. Actually after some serious thought maybe they can happen if the devil is involved. In Christian doctrine the devil can assume various shapes and disguise himself at will. Also the serpentine staff having the qualities of a large black snake probably doesn’t exist or does it? This story has so many double meanings that the staff could indeed be a snake( in that case it was probably a dream) or it could just look like one in the dark(in which case the journey really took