Allegory and Symbolism in “Young…” by Nathaniel Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an excellent example of the use of allegories and symbolism as a form of satire of the Puritan faith. According to Frank Preston Stearns, author of The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Hawthorne may have intended this story as a revelation of the inconsistency, and resulting hypocrisy, of Puritanism" (Stearns 181). Throughout the story of “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne attempts to infuse as many symbols and allegories as possible to reinforce the overall meaning of his story. He uses the village, Goodman Brown, Faith, the man of the forest, and the time spent in the forest as a symbol or allegory to convey that the Puritans are not always what they seem. The symbol Hawthorne uses in "Young Goodman Brown" is the village in which the story takes place, the village of Salem, Massachusetts. The reason the village is symbolic in the story is because of what happened in Salem's history. According to Susan Balee, an editor for The Hudson Review, “the witchcraft crisis overwhelmed Salem in 1692” (Balee 377). At that time, it was believed that the devil lived in the forests of Salem. The Puritans accused each other of being witches, which led to the deaths of many men and women. If a person were accused of being a witch, they would be considered a follower of the devil. The first assumption that can be made from this cultural symbol is the prediction that “Young Goodman Brown” will be about puritans and witches. Although the story isn't necessarily about witches, it has something to do with the fact that the Puritans believed the devil lived in Salem Forest during the trials. Also, another reason Hawthorne probably used...... middle of paper ...... e, Susan. “Captive of their imagination: Salem in 1692.” Hudson Review 56.2 (2003): 377. Questia. Internet. November 27, 2013. Ferber, Michael. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1999. Questia. Internet. November 28, 2013. Harper, Preston. "The Salvation of Puritan Works and the Quest for Community in 'THE SCARLET LETTER'." Theology today. April 2000: 51-65. Gentlemen Renaissance. Internet. November 29, 2013. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “Young Goodman Brown.” Literature: an introduction to reading and writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5th ed. compact. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 329-37. Print. Stearns, Frank Preston. The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1906. Questia. Internet. November 28, 2013. Tharpe, Jac. Nathaniel Hawthorne: Identity and Knowledge. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois UP, 1967. Questia. Internet. November 29. 2013.

Essay / Allegory and Symbolism in “Young…” by Nathaniel Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an excellent example of the use of allegories and symbolism as a form of satire of the Puritan faith. According to Frank Preston Stearns, author of The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Hawthorne may have intended this story as a revelation of the inconsistency, and resulting hypocrisy, of Puritanism" (Stearns 181). Throughout the story of “Young Goodman Brown,” Hawthorne attempts to infuse as many symbols and allegories as possible to reinforce the overall meaning of his story. He uses the village, Goodman Brown, Faith, the man of the forest, and the time spent in the forest as a symbol or allegory to convey that the Puritans are not always what they seem. The symbol Hawthorne uses in "Young Goodman Brown" is the village in which the story takes place, the village of Salem, Massachusetts. The reason the village is symbolic in the story is because of what happened in Salem's history. According to Susan Balee, an editor for The Hudson Review, “the witchcraft crisis overwhelmed Salem in 1692” (Balee 377). At that time, it was believed that the devil lived in the forests of Salem. The Puritans accused each other of being witches, which led to the deaths of many men and women. If a person were accused of being a witch, they would be considered a follower of the devil. The first assumption that can be made from this cultural symbol is the prediction that “Young Goodman Brown” will be about puritans and witches. Although the story isn't necessarily about witches, it has something to do with the fact that the Puritans believed the devil lived in Salem Forest during the trials. Also, another reason Hawthorne probably used...... middle of paper ...... e, Susan. “Captive of their imagination: Salem in 1692.” Hudson Review 56.2 (2003): 377. Questia. Internet. November 27, 2013. Ferber, Michael. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1999. Questia. Internet. November 28, 2013. Harper, Preston. "The Salvation of Puritan Works and the Quest for Community in 'THE SCARLET LETTER'." Theology today. April 2000: 51-65. Gentlemen Renaissance. Internet. November 29, 2013. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “Young Goodman Brown.” Literature: an introduction to reading and writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5th ed. compact. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 329-37. Print. Stearns, Frank Preston. The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1906. Questia. Internet. November 28, 2013. Tharpe, Jac. Nathaniel Hawthorne: Identity and Knowledge. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois UP, 1967. Questia. Internet. November 29. 2013.

Navigation

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Get In Touch