Critical Analysis of Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, “Young Goodman Brown” is a story that exhibits ambivalence, but it is so much more than this. Hawthorne in his efforts to write a story based on seventeenth century events has revealed a story that has double meaning throughout. He uses theme, plot, characters and symbolism to bring forth a story that is based on human nature and the fight between good and evil. Hawthorne is interested in exploring the psychological and social effects of guilty knowledge, whether or not that knowledge is founded on fact. He uses the combination of these such things to make the story one that everyone can relate to. The ambiguous symbolism and the allegorical nature of “Young Goodman Brown” ensure continued interest and vigorous critical attention.

Ambiguity is defined as having a double meaning. Hawthorne uses this throughout his story as one of the themes. "Young Goodman Brown" begins when Faith, Brown's wife, asks him not to go on an "errand". Goodman Brown says to Faith, his love, that "this one night I must tarry away from thee." When he refers to his love he is talking to his wife, Faith, but he is also talking to his "faith" to God. Another example is when Goodman Brown finally meets with the Devil, he declares that the reason he was late was because "Faith kept me back awhile." This statement has a double meaning because his wife physically prevented him from being on time for his meeting with the devil, but his faith to God psychologically delayed his meeting