Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” is a short story abundant in symbolism, effectively illustrating the loss of innocence and the pervasiveness of evil in society. Hawthorne employs various symbols, such as the forest, Faith’s pink ribbons, and the staff carried by the mysterious traveler. This analysis aims to examine how Hawthorne skillfully exposes the inherent struggle between good and evil within individuals and society as a whole, thereby revealing the darker aspects of human nature.
The forest symbolizes the unknown and dark aspects of human nature. The woods are full of psychoanalytic analogies and descriptions: “the narrow path… closed immediately behind”, “it was all as lonely as could be,” and “passing through unseen multitude” (Hawthorne, 1835, p. 1). The forest path represents Goodman Brown’s journey into the depths of his psyche, where he encounters the darker aspects of his beliefs and those of the people he thought he knew.
Faith’s pink ribbons symbolize her innocence and purity because the moment Goodman Brown sees the ribbons fluttering down from the sky, he loses hope in the goodness of humanity. The author associates a pink ribbon with the name of Faith: “Turning the corner by the meeting-house, he spied the head of Faith, with the pink ribbons, gazing anxiously forth” (Hawthorne, 1835, p. 8). The pink ribbons falling from the sky signal to Goodman Brown that even Faith, his virtuous and innocent wife, has been corrupted by the evil that pervades society.
The staff carried by the mysterious traveler, implied to be the Devil, symbolizes the temptation and deceit that Goodman Brown encounters in the forest. The author implements it in the description of the staff, “which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent” (Hawthorne, 1835, p. 2). In this context, the staff symbolizes the seductive power of evil that tempts Goodman Brown to question his faith and the goodness of those around him.
Hawthorne masterfully employs symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown” to delve into the themes of innocence, corruption, and the duality of human nature. The forest, Faith’s pink ribbons, and the mysterious traveler’s staff each contribute to the portrayal of a man’s descent into self-doubt and disillusionment with the society around him. Through these symbols, Hawthorne emphasizes the inherent struggle between good and evil within every individual.
Reference
Hawthorne, N. (1835). Young Goodman Brown. PDF File Store. Web.