Symbolism In Young Goodman Brown

“Young Goodman Brown” is about a normal religious man goes on a journey. In the story, the characters that are mentioned are Young Goodman Brown, Faith, Goody Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, the Old Man, and the minister. In the story, Young Goodman Brown goes on a journey into the forest and meets an Old Man who tells him things to make him doubt his faith. After seeing many things, he begins to doubt his faith. Then, he finally gives in and his opinion on everyone he looked up to is changed and cannot look at everyone the same anymore. In Young Goodman Brown, a theme that is conveyed by use of symbolism throughout the story is that many people hide behind their religion to make them seem good when they are actually liars and sinners. Throughout
Goodman Brown sees Goody Clorye waking down the forest, he hides and the Old Man talks to the old woman who addresses him as the devil. In their conversation, she admits to practicing witchcraft, “But would your worship believe it? - my broomstick hath strangely disappeared, stolen, as i suspect, by the unhanged witch, Goody Cory, and that, too, when I wall all anointed with the juice of smallage, and cinquefoil, and wolf’s bane” (3). Before seeing and hearing her confess to such an evil act, Goodman Brown claimed that she was “a very pious and exemplary dame, who had taught him his catechism in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser, jointly with the minister and Deacon Goodkin” (3). The Old Man manages to shock Goodman Brown to the point that he can not keep going on the journey anymore. He could not believe that he saw someone he looked up to for spiritual advise admit to doing witchcraft, she hid behind her religion to make herself seem as a moral woman, when in reality, she was a sinner. So, Young Goodman Brown sees that everyone is not what they seem. Once again, Young Goodman Brown sees shocking information about the people he cares about. While he is resting, Goodman Brown spies on the Deacon and minister, hearing their conversation. “...Moreover, there is a goody young woman to be taken into communion.’ ‘Mighty well, Deacon Gookin!’ replied the solemn old tones of the minister, ‘Spur up, or we shall be late’” (4). This is the last straw for Young Goodman Brown and this causes him to lose his faith. Throughout his journey, he sees that people are evil no matter who they are. Even people he considers holy, are friends with the