Symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown”

Symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown”

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “Young Goodman Brown”, Hawthorne tells the tale of a young man’s journey from good to evil. Goodman Brown’s journey brings him to a forest where he encounters the devil. The devil repeatedly undermines Brown’s faith in all that he believes to be good by exposing him to evil. Through the use of symbolism, Hawthorne illustrates the story of Brown’s departure from innocence. The symbolism used in the setting, characters, and plot is an allegorical representation of Brown’s journey from good to evil.
The setting of the story symbolizes the evil that surrounds Brown. As the story begins, the time of the day is sunset. This transition from light to dark is an indication of the wicked events that are about to take place. As Brown begins his journey, it is evident that he will be traveling through a dark and dangerous forest. The description of the forest is clouded with evil underto...