Symbolism and Allegory in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

symbolization and Allegory in Hawthornes Young Goodman Br birthSymbolism, something that figuratively represents something else, is outstanding in many literary works. unrivaled piece of literature that stands out as a perfect example of symbolism is Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown. This story is all told symbolic, and provides a good example of an allegory, or a story in which concrete items or timbres represent abstract ideas. Hawthorne uses both objects and battalion as symbols to better support the allegorical tones throughout Young Goodman Brown. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses different people as symbols throughout Young Goodman Brown. The largest symbolic roles in the story ar goodman Brown and his wife Faith. Both of the characters epithets are symbolic and vocalization of their personalities. With Heaven above and Faith below, I will stand riotous against the devil cried goodman Brown, is just one of many quotes that directly relates goodman Browns personality wi th his be (189). Goodman Brown is truly a good man. Faith, goodman Browns wife, also has a name that is indicative of her nature. The story directly supports this point in the phrase Faith, as the wife was aptly named . . . (184). Faith is persistent in trying to agree goodman Brown off the path of sin in the first go of the story . . . pry thee, put off your journey until sunrise, and sleep in your own bed to-night (184). Hawthorne does an excellent job of turning the main characters into symbols that are prominent throughout the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne also uses different objects in the story as symbols. One of these is the staff of the devil But the only thing about him, that could be fixed upon as remarkable, was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great disconsolate snake . . . (185). This symbol shows the reader the evil that is snarly with the devil character because the serpent is an archetype of the devil, or some sort of evil, which is prominent in many dif ferent cultures. Another object Hawthorne uses as a fall out symbol is the bump ribbon. The pink ribbon symbolizes the purity and innocence involved with Faith. And Faith . . . thrust her own pretty had into the street, letting the wind exercise with the pink ribbons in her cap, is a great example of how Hawthorne correlates Faith with the pink ribbons of innocence (184).