Symbolism and Allegory in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

Symbolism and Allegory in Hawthornes Young Goodman BrownSymbolism, some(a)thing that figuratively represents something else, is prominent in many literary works. One piece of literature that stands out as a perfect modelling of symbolism is Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown. This tier is completely symbolic, and provides a good example of an allegory, or a story in which concrete items or characters represent abstract ideas. Hawthorne uses both objects and people as symbols to better support the allegorical tones passim Young Goodman Brown. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses different people as symbols throughout Young Goodman Brown. The largest symbolic roles in the story be goodman Brown and his wife credit. Both of the characters names are symbolic and representative of their personalities. With Heaven above and Faith below, I will stand firm against the devil cried goodman Brown, is just one of many quotes that directly relates goodman Browns record with his name (189). Goodma n Brown is truly a good man. Faith, goodman Browns wife, besides has a name that is indicative of her nature. The story directly supports this point in the phrase Faith, as the wife was aptly named . . . (184). Faith is persistent in trying to keep goodman Brown off the path of sin in the first part of the story . . . pry thee, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed to-night (184). Hawthorne does an excellent job of turning the main characters into symbols that are prominent throughout the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne also uses different objects in the story as symbols. One of these is the staff of the devil But the only thing about him, that could be fixed upon as remarkable, was his staff, which fag out the likeness of a great black snake . . . (185). This symbol shows the reader the evil that is involved with the devil character because the serpent is an archetype of the devil, or some sort of evil, which is prominent in many different cultures. Another object Hawthorne uses as a recurring symbol is the pink ribbon. The pink ribbon symbolizes the sinlessness and innocence involved with Faith. And Faith . . . thrust her own pretty had into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons in her cap, is a great example of how Hawthorne correlates Faith with the pink ribbons of innocence (184).