Comment on the use of symbols in the story “Young Goodman Brown.”

Answer

Comment on the use of symbols in the story “Young Goodman Brown.” [NU: 2017, 19, 21] ★★★

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (1804-1864) “Young Goodman Brown” (1835) is a masterpiece of symbolism. Hawthorne was a Dark Romantic writer. He believed every man hides a secret sin. In this tale, nothing is simple. Every object, place, and person carries a deeper meaning. The pink ribbon, the forest, the serpent staff, Faith, the midnight meeting, and the village are all powerful symbols.

Faith’s Pink Ribbon: Faith is Goodman Brown’s wife. She wears pink ribbons. Pink is a soft color. It stands for innocence, purity, and tender love. When the ribbon falls from the sky, Brown cries, 

“My Faith is gone!” 

The ribbon here symbolizes two things: his wife and his spiritual faith. Losing it symbolizes his loss of innocence, love, and religious faith. It marks the breaking of innocence.

The Forest: The dark forest is the setting of temptation. Hawthorne writes, 

“Dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest.”

The dark forest is not just nature. It is a symbol of fear, temptation, and evil. The path is narrow and hidden. Shadows move and strange voices call. The forest becomes the mirror of Brown’s own soul. It shows his doubts, his secret desires, and his hidden weakness. For Hawthorne, the forest is the human heart filled with darkness.

The Serpent Staff: The mysterious traveler carries a staff like a living snake. Hawthorne describes the staff in such a way,

“Bore the likeness of a great black snake.”

This recalls the Biblical serpent in Eden. The serpent staff symbolizes Satan, deception, and temptation. When the traveler offers it to Brown, it shows how evil always tries to guide man’s steps. The staff is not just wood; it is a symbol of sin’s power over weak human hearts.

Goody Cloyse, the Minister, and Deacon Gookin: These religious figures are also symbols. Goody Cloyse, who taught Brown