Symbols and Analysis within Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne provides historical, societal, religious, scientific and biographical contexts. The story is set in the period of the capital of Oregon Witch Trials in Puritan New England. The story describes Browns journey into the depths of the forest, where he believes that he sees many of the members of his community, including his wife Faith, attending a satanic ceremony. The fabricator implies that Brown may be sleeping, but either way the buzz off was real. It affected Brown very much. The story is often read as Hawthornes condemnation of Puritan ideology, as it proposes that Puritan doctrine could strain so much doubt that believers were doomed to see evil-whether or not it rightfully existed-in themselves and especially in others. Within the short story of Young Goodman Brown, virtuoso can find evidence that collectiveness in communal life would be considered moral and that individualism would be considered unmoral in society. Eventually it beco mes clear that a communalist life style is a necessary evil. Through Goodman Browns discovery of the corruptibility that results from Puritan societys emphasis on globe morality, one can piece together the idea that man is a social being and must be included in somewhat type of community whether the community itself is moral or unmoral. When Brown is approached by another traveler with a large provide that looks like a snake the devils staff was encircled by a carved serpent. This comes from the biblical symbol of the serpent as an evil demon. In the Book of Genesis, the serpent tempts Eve into eating the forbid fruit from the forbidden tree which defied Gods will. When the devil tells Brown to use the staff travel quicker, Brown takes his advice, just as Eve, he is ... ...and he is mad when the devil tells him that this was not the case. He himself is ashamed to be seen walking in the forest and hides when Goody Cloyse, the minister, and Deacon Gookin pass. The forest is char acterized as devilish, frightening, and dark, and Goodman Brown is lucky in it only after he has given in to evil. kit and boodle CitedFolsom, James K. Mans Accidents and Gods Purposes. Multiplicity in Hawthornes Fiction. New Haven College and University Press 1963.Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown. Literature A Pocket Anthology. Ed. Gwynn, R.S.. Third Edition. New York Longman Publishers 2007. 198-209. Paey, Stephanie. Symbolism and Human Nature in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown. Yahoo Contributor Network. Apr 8, 2006. http//www.associatedcontent.com/article/27166/symbolism_and_human_nature_in_nathaniel.html