An Analysis of the short story

ANALYSIS OF THE STORY "YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN

2005

Introduction

Symbolism plays a principal role in literature , as with the help of symbols can express their individual vision . In his short story Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne , applying to his Puritan roots also uses symbols to show the way they influence various events and touch people 's hearts . Therefore , the issues of good and evil , faith and hope , sin and envy , innocence and greed , conscience and honesty are interconnected in the story

Symbolism in the story

The whole story consists

of numerous symbols that have different religious , ethical and moral meanings . The names of two heroes , Goodman and his wife Faith , are allegorically used by the author to show purity and innocence . Young Goodman Brown abandons his home and his former life and commits a dangerous trip to forest to gain life experience there and to see evil in its essence . The forest itself appears to be the embodiment of courage , strong spirit and self control , some kind of a serious test which each man has to pass to strengthen his character . The psychologist Bruno Betelheim considers that forest takes one of the central places in most fairy-tales and symbolizes people 's mysterious and dark personalities , their dishonest conscience , which they have to fight with . Further , Brown goes along a narrow path and trees are closed behind him . These signs are also clear symbols : a narrow path means that evil surrounds the main hero everywhere and trees reveal that Goodman will not get back to his life and his purity

Meeting a man with the staff which has "the likeness of a great black snake (Hawthorne 260 , Brown refuses to take it , that is , he does not want to follow the evil . But later Goodman believes in the devil 's stories about people he knows and accepts the staff . Thus , the hero shows that he is ready to take evil . Another symbol of his abandonment of innocence is the fall of a pink ribbon from the sky , when Brown cries "My faith is gone (Hawthorne 265 . This means that he looses not only his wife but also his faith in good , his faith in himself and in people . Instead of transferring into a brave man , the hero becomes destroyed , as he can 't endure the truth that people aren 't ideal

Symbolism in life

There are many symbols in real life however , not everybody pays attention to them . For instance , colors symbolize character and mood of a person : red color characterizes a passionate , strong and energetic person black is the color of pessimistic and disappointed people , while white is the symbol of purity . Those who prefer blue possess sincerity kindness , honesty , while green color expresses growth and prosperity . In some cultures , only mothers are the embodiment of a real woman , and young girls - are symbols of innocence and purity . Money has always been the symbol of power and strength , while high position associates with dishonesty and intrigues

Importance of faith...