Young Goodman Brown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Young Goodman Brown - Essay Example1. Analysis of Allegory and Symbolism Allegory and symbolisation in the appellation of characters The forest and the Devil 2. Faust myth, Puritanism and the American culture Christian symbolism Salvation and fulfillment of temptation 3. The role of the unconscious mind as a key aspect of the report 4. The meaning behind Goodman Browns journey into the forest The spiritual state of mankind Conflict amongst church and state The battle between evil and good 5. The allegorical representation of Faith Faith as a fictional character pinko ribbons 6. Conclusion The tale that has been narrated in Young Goodman Brown is a representation of a plethora of emotions, understandings and feelings that individuals confront in their quest of life. However, this characteristic of Nathaniel Hawthornes narrative is only observable from a broader perspective because the centre of the story focuses on a notion that dictates the actions of the characters and especiall y those of the protagonist, Goodman Brown. As stated by Ellis Nathaniel Hawthornes pass away is the classic American short story of a guilty conscience (2). ... Indeed, the naming of Goodman Browns better half as Faith is not a coincidence or happenstance in fact this decision of Hawthornes is one of the many evidences which point towards the writers desire to spike out his narrative with Christian symbolism. Zhu identifies the naming of characters as an example of the use of allegorical devices, a comprehension of which can aid readers in comprehending the narrative and what the writer intends to offer through the journey of his protagonist into the forest (58). The purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of Christian symbolism, allegory, imagery and representations of faith in Young Goodman Brown by exploring and addressing a range of questions to enhance the scope of the discussion. Furthermore, other aspects of the narrative that are analyzed in the paper involve an interpretation of dialogues to develop a abstract understanding of their meaning and their critical role in the development of the story. According to Zhu, the first vivid representation of the use of allegorical devices is evident in the naming of the characters, for the writer the protagonists name appears to represent a striking contrast where Young is essentially indicative of the characters innocence and soreness while, Brown defines his attraction to the somber and ominous forest which is the key setting of Hawthornes short story (58). As stated previously, it is the name of the protagonists wife which comes across as striking and intriguing when used within the context of the story and what it fundamentally represents. Zhu comments on Goodman Browns exclamation of the lecture My Faith is gonewhen he