Young Goodman Brown is written as a journey of internal conflict, where Brown is oblivious to his ro
le and sins. This work contains wicked and evil components, and Nathaniel Hawthorne leaves Brown hop
eless and disconnected in his life. Hawthorne does not allow Brown to rise above his fears and leave
s Brown incognizant of what he is doing. Hawthorne uses subtle symbolism and foreshadowing througho
ut his story providing many layers and levels at which the story can be interpreted. Within the firs
t few paragraphs Hawthorne informs his readers of the religious elements he intends to address. For
example, the "aptly named" wife of Goodman Brown, Faith is introduced. (667) Her name alone serves
as a double meaning, one of which is simply that of which she is known and the other is that of an
unquestioning belief in God that does not require proof or evidence. Hawthorne then stresses the im
portance of the pink ribbons in Faith's hair that "play" in the wind, symbolizing Faith's childlike
innocence and purity. (667) The foreshadowing takes place through the first dialogue between Brown
and his wife. She warns him of her dreams and thoughts which plague her and begs for him to stay th
e night and leave on his journey in the morning, but he insists on leaving and questions her faith i
n him. As he starts his journey he begins to second guess his decision to leave his wife apprehensi
ve and justifies his "present evil purpose" by vowing that "after this one night, [he'll] cling to h
er skirts and follow her to heaven". (667) The foreshadowing technique is seen again shortly after B
rown enters the dark and gloomy woods by nervously stating, "What if the Devil himself should be at
my very elbow!.", and within the following paragraph Brown meets up with what will soon be recognize
d as the prince of darkness himself. (668) The Devil then goes on to question Brown's tardiness and
in response Brown replies, "Faith kept me back awhile." (668) The double meaning of Faith appears
again insinuating that his devotion to either his wife or to God has held him from being punctual to
his meeting with the Devil. Hawthorne continues to tell of this story of self conflict by illustra
ting the aesthetic similarities between these two travelers, by depicting the two to appear as fathe
r and son. Both were plainly dressed except for Satan's 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". (668) The Devil then proceeds to offer the staff to Brown symbolizing the Devil's
intent on converting Brown to Satanism. Brown declines the invitation because he does not wish to be
the first in his family to deny God and turn to the Devil for guidance. Goodman boasts and brags
about his lineage being "honest men and good Christians"; however, the Devil sets the story straight
by announcing his relationships with Brown's father and grandfather and to the extent to which he h
ad helped them. (668) Brown is shocked at the Devil's candid remarks concerning his family and cont
inues to defend the family name by insisting that, "[They] are a people of prayer and good works to
boot, and abide no such wickedness." (669) The Devil then tries another approach to assure Goodman
Brown that converting to Satanism is not as horrible as it seems. The Devil name drops all of the o
ther people that he is now associated with, people whom Brown admires and respects, all to gain Brow
n's trust and following. Young Goodman Brown is still not convinced that all of these people are, i
n fact, in cahoots with Beelzebub. The two travelers continue deeper on their journey through the su
llen woods, only to cross paths with Goody Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, and the minister. Foreshadowing a
nd symbolism are included throughout the following conversations between the Devil and Goody Cloyse
and between Deacon Gookin and the minister. During the Devil and Goody Cloyse's conversation, Brown
learns that she is on her way to a meeting because she has heard that "there is a nice young man to
be taken into communion" that night. (670) Satan then offers her his staff and she accepts, declar
ing to Goodman Brown that she too is associated with Satanism. This is too much for Brown and he de
clines to travel any further with his travel companion. Goodman Brown then overhears the discussion
between Deacon Gookin and the minister and he realizes that they are on their way to the same meeti
ng as Goody Cloyse because they heard that "there is a goodly young woman to be taken into communion
". (671) Brown thought nothing of this until a dark cloud was cast over him and a pink ribbon "flut
tered lightly down through the air, and caught on the branch of a tree". (672) Then realizing what
was going on he exclaimed, "My Faith is gone!" (672) "Faith" symbolizes his belief in God and his n
ew bride, because after that statement he yells to the Devil in defiance and continues his journey t
o regain his "Faith". He reaches the meeting and finds a "veiled female, led between Goody Cloyse ,
that pious teacher of catechism, and Martha Carrier, who had received the Devil's promise to be quee
n of hell". (674) The "veiled female" symbolizes a bride which turns out to be Faith, Brown's new w
ife. The ceremony continues on and Brown yells to his wife, "Faith! Faith! Look up to Heaven, and
resist the Wicked One!" (675) The catch is that he will never know if his wife resisted the Devil o
r if she joined his followers in worshiping him. He returns to the village skeptical of all that he
comes into contact with including his wife. He loses "faith" in the goodness of all of mankind and
becomes bitter and recluse. He denies the Devil to keep his "faith" in God, but in doing so he has
lost his "faith" in everything and everyone else. In the end Goodman Brown has lost more than he ha
s gained through his journey because he is now untrusting and cynical and remains so for the rest of
his days.
young goodman brown written journey internal conflict where brown oblivious role sins th
is work contains wicked evil components nathaniel hawthorne leaves brown hopeless disconnected life
hawthorne does allow rise above fears leaves incognizant what doing hawthorne uses subtle symbolism
foreshadowing throughout story providing many layers levels which story interpreted within first par
agraphs informs readers religious elements intends address example aptly named wife goodman faith in
troduced name alone serves double meaning which simply that which known other that unquestioning bel
ief that does require proof evidence then stresses importance pink ribbons faith hair play wind symb
olizing faith childlike innocence purity foreshadowing takes place through first dialogue between wi
fe warns dreams thoughts plague begs stay night leave journey morning insists leaving questions star
ts journey begins second guess decision leave wife apprehensive justifies present evil purpose vowin
g after this night cling skirts follow heaven foreshadowing technique seen again shortly after enter
s dark gloomy woods nervously stating what devil himself should very elbow within following paragrap
h meets with what will soon recognized prince darkness himself devil then goes question tardiness re
sponse replies kept back awhile double meaning appears again insinuating devotion either held from b
eing punctual meeting with devil continues tell this story self conflict illustrating aesthetic simi
larities between these travelers depicting appear father both were plainly dressed except satan staf
f bore likeness great black snake curiously wrought might almost seen twist wriggle itself like livi
ng serpent then proceeds offer staff symbolizing intent converting satanism declines invitation beca
use does wish first family deny turn guidance goodman boasts brags about lineage being honest good c
hristians however sets straight announcing relationships with father grandfather extent helped them
shocked candid remarks concerning family continues defend family name insisting they people prayer g
ood works boot abide such wickedness tries another approach assure converting satanism horrible seem
s name drops other people associated people whom admires respects gain trust following young still c
onvinced these fact cahoots beelzebub travelers continue deeper their through sullen woods only cros
s paths goody cloyse deacon gookin minister symbolism included throughout following conversations be
tween goody cloyse deacon gookin minister during goody cloyse conversation learns meeting because he
ard there nice young taken into communion night satan offers staff accepts declaring associated sata
nism much declines travel further travel companion overhears discussion deacon gookin minister reali
zes they their same meeting because they heard there goodly woman taken into communion thought nothi
ng until dark cloud cast over pink ribbon fluttered lightly down through caught branch tree realizin
g going exclaimed gone symbolizes belief bride after statement yells defiance continues regain reach
es finds veiled female pious teacher catechism martha carrier received promise queen hell veiled fem
ale symbolizes bride turns ceremony yells look heaven resist wicked catch will never know resisted j
oined followers worshiping returns village skeptical comes into contact including loses goodness man
kind becomes bitter recluse denies keep doing lost everything everyone else lost more than gained un
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