Young Goodman Brown : Literary devices

Young Goodman Brown is a notable literary work by Nathaniel Hawthorne. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Young Goodman Brown.

    

        

        
Literary devices
       
Figures of Speech

Metaphor: Definition: When one thing is compared to another without using like or as. Example: “My Faith is gone!” (Goodman Brown, forest scene) Explanation: Here the word Faith is both the name of his wife and a symbol of his spiritual faith. When the ribbon falls, Brown feels that his Faith is lost. That means he has lost both his wife and his belief. This metaphor shows the collapse of his trust and innocence.
Irony: Definition: When the actual meaning or event is the opposite of what is expected. Example: Goodman Brown sees that the most religious figures of the village, the minister, Deacon Gookin, and Goody Cloyse, are all present at the devil’s meeting. Explanation: This is ironic because those who appear as moral examples before society are secretly sinners. Brown believed them to be good people, but the truth proves the opposite. Irony here exposes the hypocrisy of Puritan society.
Simile: Definition: When a comparison is made using like or as. Example: The staff was “itself like a living serpent.” Explanation: The traveler’s staff is compared to a serpent. Using like, the text says it was like a living snake. This creates a satanic symbol and intensifies the fearful atmosphere.
Symbolism: Definition: When an object or character stands as a symbol for a particular idea. Example: Faith’s pink ribbon. Explanation: The ribbon is a symbol of innocence, love, and faith. When it falls in the forest, it suggests that Brown’s faith has collapsed. It symbolizes both the loss of his wife and of his belief.
Faith’s Pink Ribbon: Symbol: Innocence and faith. The pink ribbon represents Faith’s purity, love, and innocence. When the ribbon floats down into the forest, it symbolizes not only the loss of his wife but also the loss of spiritual belief and trust. It marks Brown’s spiritual downfall and the collapse of his innocent world.
The Forest: Symbol: The unknown, fear, and satanic temptation. The dark woods represent the darkness of the human mind and the mysteries of fear. In the forest, Brown confronts his fear, doubt, and sin. The forest is a world outside the safety of society, where every shadow hides temptation and evil.
The Serpent Staff: Symbol: The devil and temptation. The traveler’s staff looks like a serpent. In Christian symbolism, the serpent represents Satan. The staff works as a symbol of satanic power, deception, and temptation. It shows that the devil is always present in the journey of human life, controlling invisibly.
The Witches’ Sabbath (Midnight Assembly): Symbol: Social hypocrisy and hidden sins. At the midnight gathering, the minister, Deacon Gookin, and Goody Cloyse—all considered devout, worship the devil. This symbolizes that society hides sin within. Outwardly they act pious, but inwardly they are engaged in satanic deeds.
Faith (both wife and belief): Symbol: Trust, religious faith, and moral reliance. Faith is not only a wife but also a symbolic name. When Brown loses her, he also loses his spiritual faith. Finally, the line “Faith is gone” means both the loss of his personal love and the collapse of his religious belief.

Moral Lessons from Young Goodman Brown

Trust can be broken anytime.
Evil lives in every heart.
Hypocrisy destroys faith.
Doubt kills peace.