Puritans believed that he dwells in the forest, and as Brown notices the figure of a man, he suspects it might be Satan himself. In the context of “Young Goodman Brown,” this meaning is reinforced by the devil character that embodies evil and danger. Considering the psychological aspect of the symbol, it is evident that a forest often stands for the unconscious and the forbidden. Hawthorne uses forest setting, the name Faith, and pink color as symbols to support the theme of “Young Goodman Brown.”įirst, the author depicts the dark and gloomy forest that has a symbolic value in this short story. Overall, the short story applies allegory and numerous symbols to reveal the central motifs. Faith, her pink ribbons, and the gloomy forest create vivid images in readers’ minds. As Goodman witnesses his wife in her cap with pink ribbons to attend the unholy meeting in the forest, his doubts are dispelled, and the man gives in to the evil. Finally, the motifs of faith versus guilt are woven into Hawthorne’s story as the protagonist is torn between staying loyal to God for Faith’s sake or siding with the devil. The more respectable people turn to the devil, the weaker Goodman’s sense of morality and the stronger his temptation are. At this point, the author touches upon another important theme: morality and temptation. Throughout the story, the man discovers that many of those appearing religious and righteous, in fact, have connections with Satan. At the beginning of the short story, Brown represents innocence and piousness as he tells his wife to pray and go to bed early to avoid any harm while he is away.

Goodman and his pure-hearted wife Faith are opposed to Satan, who wishes to bring out the worst in all people. The motif of good and evil is emphasized by charactonyms and the devil’s figure, which embodies the dark side of human nature.

Thus, Hawthorne raises several themes, such as the good versus the bad, morality versus temptation, and faith versus guilt. “Young Goodman Brown” tells a story of a Puritan man whose beliefs in goodness and social morality are easily undermined as he witnesses his fellow townspeople turn to evil. Even though the historical events are not central to the literary work, they significantly define the main themes and issues addressed by the author. “Young Goodman Brown,” a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is surrounded by the historical context of Puritan New England.

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