Young Goodman Brown Symbolism

The short story “Young Goodman Brown”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is controversial in many ways, especially given the location of Salem during the 1700’s. This location is important to highlight the two distinctive settings in the story. The first is what appears to be a very religious, morally clean society; the second consists of a gloomy forest, suspected to be inhabited by shrieking Indians or perhaps even the devil himself. The eerie wickedness that looms in the forest represents the inner truth of a seemingly Christ-like town.

This inner and outer truth, whether it’s a dream of Goodman Brown’s or not, is symbolic to the fact that people are not always who they seem. For example, when Young Goodman Brown sees an elderly woman from Salem named Goody Cloyse, he is utterly shocked. She is regarded as a generous, God fearing woman; however, her familiar greeting with the Devil reveals her true wickedness. The same theme repeats itself time and time again with every familiar face Brown

Ironically her name stands for “trust in God” yet, her main conflict in the story is her utter urge to reside in the Devil. The reader is first introduced to her while she wears a bright ribbon on her head and recites kind, meaningful words to Goodman Brown. The entire story revolves around Goodman Brown urging and resisting the temptation of the Devil, for, essentially his wife. However, when Goodman Brown hears Faith’s screams in the forest, and encounters her at the ceremony, his one hope is diminished. This is prevalent in the following quotation from the story; “My Faith is gone!" cried he, after one stupefied moment. There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil! for to thee is this world given." (Hawthorne 331) When Young Goodman Brown realizes that the one hope he had for good (Faith) contains an inner darkness herself, he instantly loses the last ounce of hope that he