Young Goodman Brown Archetypal Analysis

The archaic way of using archetypes to explain complex biblical concepts and arduous life lessons made Puritan writing renowned. Though at times hard to accept, they teach grueling truths of human nature, In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses archetypes to accentuate the theme of losing innocent to the world and subsequently losing faith in humanity. The tiny detail of Faith’s pink ribbons “Flutter[ing] down through the air and caught on the branch” right before Young Goodman Brown goes on a demonic rage, shows how Nathaniel Hawthorne uses these ribbons symbolize Mr. Brown’s innocence and passion for the world and humanity. Red epitomizes the archetypal color of passion, representing Young Goodman Brown’s strong belief and passion

Young Goodman Brown begins with believing that all people high up in society have never walked with the devil- have never sinned. He even claims that he will be “the first of the name of Brown that ever took this path and kept,” though later revealed that strays far from the truth. As he finds out all these people he placed on a golden pedestal, merely have equal to, if not, more sins than himself, he begins to change and lose his faith in humanity along with innocence to the world. With the losing of his Faith’s ribbons, he no longer cares what others believe about him, yelling, “You may as well fear me.” When morning comes, Nathaniel Hawthorne compares him to a “bewildered man” that cannot view anyone the same way. This keeps with him, never able to return to an innocent state or return to the belief that everyone has purity in them, dying with “no hopeful verse upon his tombstone.” Young Goodman Brown had innocence to the world and believed holy people were without sin, but goes on a journey where his Faith loses her pink ribbons and learns the evils of humankind, losing all faith in