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What Does The Young Goodman Brown Symbolize

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Hawthorne’s symbolism Hawthorne uses great symbolism in both “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Ministers Black Veil”. I am going to point out all the excellent uses of symbolism. “The Young Goodman Brown” has symbolism throughout the story. Take the pink ribbon for instance. The pink ribbons represents pureness and overall goodness. “Then god bless you faith said with the pink ribbons”.(Hawthorne 398) Faith is kinda of a symbol of goodness herself so it makes the ribbons a symbol of being good and pure. There is another great use of symbolism and its the staff. The staff represents the evil in the traveler who carried it. Also it represents the devil or the darkness of the meeting. “But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable …show more content…

It is the fact that everyone has a secret or something they would like to hide. Everyone has their own black veil. (Enotes.com) The story is all about how when he was a young boy he accidentally killed his friend. He wants to hide his face from and keep his secret covered up. Another use of symbolism that is used throughout the whole story is that everyone is so caught up in why he is wearing the black veil that no one ever gets the point of it. They just choose to ignore it and wear the “Invisible veil” that everyone has.(K-state.edu) He might also wear the black veil to state that he doesn't believe in redemption of sin or being able to get past your mistakes. He believes that they are always with you.(K-state.edu) In the story hooper says “If i cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same” meaning that if he covers it up then other people will do the same. (Hawthorne 412) The veil is also a symbol of life and death only in death can the veil be removed. (Hillsdalesschools.org) Hawthorne is one of the greatest authors at using symbolism. He puts things in his stories that go way deeper than words. The way he describes the darkness of the forest and staff in the “Young Goodman Brown” to the way he explains how everyone has a “veil” in “The Minister's Black Veil” Its all great uses of

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