‘The Staff’ and ‘Goody Cloyse’ Symbolize in “Young Goodman Brown

Answer

What do ‘the Staff’ and ‘Goody Cloyse’ symbolize in “Young Goodman Brown?” 

“Young Goodman Brown” (1835) by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) is set in Salem, a place with a dark history. The tale explores the conflict between good and evil. It reveals how easily a person’s faith can be shaken. Two key symbols in the story are the Staff and Goody Cloyse. They gradually represent temptation and hidden corruption.

The Staff as a Symbol of Temptation: The mysterious man carries the Staff like a serpent. This is significant because the serpent is often associated with the devil and temptation, like in the Bible. The man offers the Staff to Goodman Brown several times. He says it will help him on his journey. When Goodman Brown first sees it, he notices,

…it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent.

This shows how the Staff is connected to evil and temptation. In the end, when Goodman Brown becomes depressed, he grabs the Staff and runs toward the devil’s ceremony. This act symbolizes his surrender to temptation by letting go of his faith.

Goody Cloyse as a Symbol of Hypocrisy: Goody Cloyse represents the hidden corruption in society. She is a respected Christian woman in Salem. She is well known for teaching the Bible. However, in the forest, Goodman Brown discovers her true nature. She greets the devil warmly and complains about losing her broomstick. Goodman Brown is shocked when he realizes that the person he trusted for spiritual guidance is actually a Devil worshipper. He says,

A marvel, truly, that Goody Cloyse should be so far in the wilderness at nightfall,

This moment reveals the hypocrisy of those who pretend to be holy but are members of a secret society.

In short, the Staff and Goody Cloyse symbolize how quickly faith can be lost and how appearances can be deceiving. Through these symbols, the story teaches a lesson about the dangers of trusting too easily in what we see on the surface.