Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown1
"Nathaniel Hawthorne's work is typically fraught with symbolism, much of it deriving from his Puritan ancestry; a great-great uncle was actually a judge in the Salem witchcraft trials" (Roth 76). Not surprisingly, Hawthorne was obsessed with the twin themes of sin and guilt. Author John Roth notes that "A number of recurring thematic patterns and character types appear in Hawthorne's novels and tales. These repetitions show Hawthorne's emphasis on the effects of events on the human heart rather thanthe events themselves" (76). Because he is speaking of what we later would come to call the unconscious, Hawthorne extensively employed the use of symbolism, which bypasses the conscious, logical mind to tap into its more dreamlike processes. "The story begins as a conventional allegory, creating the expectation that the characters will consistently exhibit the abstractions they symbolize" (Levy 116). "Young Goodman Brown" is an allegory whose characters play a major role in displaying the determination of what to believe and what not to believe. The short story represents one man's wild journey to leave his faith, home, and security temporarily behind to take a chance with the devil on an adventure into a dark forest. In
Goodman Brown may feel, as he says, that the exploration of this inner forest may be a sin. However, this story is more symbolic than realistic, and the dangers are of the spirit. "How Ambiguous is Hawthorne?" Hawthorne: A Collection of Critical Essays. " Modern Critical Views: Nathaniel Hawthorne. Her pink ribbons symbolize her youth and innocence, and Faith in turn symbolizes her husband's childlike spirituality at the beginning of the story. What is his errand? Hawthorne never says, but clearly Goodman Brown has planned for it. I have scruples touching the matter thouwor'st of" (265). Faith, it should be noted, does not attempt to dissuade her husband out of his intentions through reason but through affection; with "her lips . His staff is later described as being "twisted" (266) as well.
Common topics in this essay:
Goodman Brown,
Nathaniel Hawthorne,
John Roth,
Faith Faith,
Riding Hood,
Goodman Brown's,
Nathaniel Hawthorne's,
QD Leavis,
Goodman Faith,
goodman brown,
Age Reason,
nathaniel hawthorne,
short story,
story goodman brown,
ed york,
2nd ed,
goodman brown's,
setting characters,
characters plot,
story goodman,
setting characters plot,
allegory determination conscious,
prentice-hall 1966,
determination conscious unconscious,
abstracted allegory determination,
|
Acceptance Essays
