Comment on the use of symbols in the story “Young Goodman Brown.”
PremiumComment on the use of symbols in the story “Young Goodman Brown.” [NU: 2017, 19, 21] ★★★
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) “Young Goodman Brown” (1835) is a masterpiece of symbolism. Hawthorne was a Dark Romantic writer. He believed every man hides a secret sin. In this tale, nothing is simple. Every object, place, and person carries a deeper meaning. The pink ribbon, the forest, the serpent staff, Faith, the midnight meeting, and the village are all powerful symbols.
Faith’s Pink Ribbon: Faith is Goodman Brown’s wife. She wears pink ribbons. Pink is a soft color. It stands for innocence, purity, and tender love. When the ribbon falls from the sky, Brown cries,
The ribbon here symbolizes two things: his wife and his spiritual faith. Losing it symbolizes his loss of innocence, love, and religious faith. It marks the breaking of innocence.“My Faith is gone!”
The Forest:
“Dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest.” The Serpent Staff: The mysterious traveler carries a staff like a living snake. Hawthorne describes the staff in such a way,
“Bore the likeness of a great black snake.” Goody Cloyse, the Minister, and Deacon Gookin: These religious figures are also symbols. Goody Cloyse, who taught Brown his catechism, joins the Devil’s meeting. Brown says about her,
“That old woman taught me my catechism!” The Midnight Meeting: In the forest, Brown sees a fiery altar and a great crowd. There are villagers, holy men, women, and sinners. At that place, all are the same. Good and evil stand together. This meeting is a symbol of mankind’s universal sin. It shows that behind religion and social respect, every human heart hides darkness. It is the truth of human nature. Salem Village: At the end, Brown returns to Salem. But the village no longer looks pure. He sees the minister, Deacon Gookin, Goody Cloyse, and even his wife. But he feels no trust. Salem village becomes a symbol of Puritan hypocrisy. The people act holy outside, but in Brown’s eyes, they are all corrupt inside. The village is a symbol of society’s false face. Hawthorne uses symbols to turn a simple tale into a deep allegory. The ribbon, the forest, the serpent staff, Faith, the meeting, and Salem all carry hidden meanings. Each symbol shows the fall of Goodman Brown from innocence into despair. Through symbols, Hawthorne teaches that man’s outer holiness may hide inner sin. “Young Goodman Brown” proves that symbolism is the true power of Hawthorne’s art.
The dark forest is not just nature. It is a symbol of fear, temptation, and evil. The path is narrow and hidden. Shadows move and strange voices call. The forest becomes the mirror of Brown’s own soul. It shows his doubts, his secret desires, and his hidden weakness. For Hawthorne, the forest is the human heart filled with darkness.
This recalls the Biblical serpent in Eden. The serpent staff symbolizes Satan, deception, and temptation. When the traveler offers it to Brown, it shows how evil always tries to guide man’s steps. The staff is not just wood; it is a symbol of sin’s power over weak human hearts.
The Minister and Deacon Gookin, who lead Salem’s faith, also walk toward evil. They symbolize Puritan hypocrisy. They look holy outside, but inside they hide sin. Through them, Hawthorne shows that symbols of piety often carry corruption.