“The Transformation of Goodman

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” uses many forms of symbolism within its fictional storyline. It is this symbolism that carries Goodman Brown through a journey in his own mind. Through the use of ambiguity we must come to a conclusion of whether or not the occurrences that take place in the woods are created by Goodman’s mind or if they actually occur. I believe that these occurrences were in fact imagined by Goodman due to his own doubts of religion and the people around him. Leading me to this conclusion is that, much of the reality factor of this story is left to the reader, the analysis of the old man’s character, and the terms of Goodman’s life when he returns to the town the next day.

The use of ambiguity in this story leaves the conclusion entirely up to the reader. We must decide whether or not we trust Goodman’s recollection of the occurrences in the woods to have actually taken place. I find it very easy to believe that his own doubts of religion in fact twisted his view of reality. First, we have to ask why he even went in to the woods in the first place? He knew that he was embarking on some kind of evil journey, yet he went anyway. He left town d

The last factor that signifies all of his visions on the journey were manifested within himself is the way he acts when returning home the next day. Before he even left his wife wishes him well and hopes that when he returns ‘he’ will find everything well in the town. This foreshadows the entire theme within the story. Its exposed right there that it is Goodman that needs to be content with his view of things when he returns. An interesting fact is when he is in the woods he looks up to the sky wondering if there is a heaven up there, everything looks normal but then he hears some noises and immediately a dark cloud covers the stars above. It is Goodman’s idea of horrid blasphemy that changes the perception of the town just as it did with the sky in the woods. Every aspect of the town is the same as when he left it, he just distrusts his eyes.

The second factor that influences the fictional realm of the occurrences is the appearance of the old man as Goodman’s guide in the woods. “This appearance is not wholly unexpected,” which tells us that Goodman knew he would come across an antagonist and the temptation the old man represents. The fact that the old man bears resemblance to Goodman leads u

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