Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown - Essay ExampleYoung Goodman Brown is a satire on Puritanism and what Hawthorne perceives to be its hypocrisies. Hawthorne employs an abundance of symbolisms whole throughout the narrative to create an atmosphere of evil deeply lurking behind the faces of the characters in the story behind their benevolent faade.The story revolves around a progeny man named Goodman Brown and whizz particular night in his support which would forever change his life and his perception of the people and the world around him. That one night is the night when Goodman Brown is to finally determine whether he would finally succumb to the temptation of becoming a part of a witches coven in Salem. As he walks through the forest to the predetermined meeting place where he would take his official vow to the group, he sees a lot of things which makes him vacillate with his decision. He sees the people he often sees in the church, people who are known for their piety, wisdom a nd kindness, people who serve in the high positions of the government. He sees his old catechism teacher and spiritual counselor, the Salems minister, Deacon Gookin, other pious people and even his young wife, Faith in the company of the devil. This death revelation is the last straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. Brown decides to embrace evil having lost the wife he wants to be good for. In the rite held at the unholy altar, as Satan is about to put the mark of baptism on his and his wifes heads, Brown makes his last stand and cries out in avouch and urges his wife to resist the devil. He suddenly finds himself alone and back in the middle of the forest. Goodman Brown lives the rest of his life a miserable man, still query whether what he went through was real or merely a dream. Nevertheless, he remains suspicious of all the people around him and even of his wife and lives his life in isolation from the people in his