Ambiguity is the vagueness or uncertainty of meaning or intention. InYoung Goodman Brown,? there are several ambiguities that make this story a little confusing to the reader: the setting, being in Salem Village; Goodman Brown's wife, Faith; the pink ribbons from her cap; the traveler and the journey itself. This type of story can be a bit confusing to the reader but will really make him or her think about what he or she is reading.
First of all, is it a coincidence that the setting is in Salem Village? The story could have taken place anywhere but it does not. It takes place in a village that is symbolic of evil. Salem Village has a rich history of witch-hunts that ended in witch trials in 1692, where of the two hundred accused, nineteen people were hanged and four died in prison awaiting trial (Tucker 624). The fact that the story takes place in Salem Village could lead the reader to believe that something dark and evil is going to happen somewhere in the story because some people associate the name Salem with witches. On the other hand, Hawthorne speaks of a minister, a deacon, and a teacher of catechism so this could lead one to believe this might be a story about a man on a religious journey.
Then there is Faith, the young wife of Goodman Brown, married only three months to each other. Faith is Goodman Brown's new wife and it is suggested that his faith is also new to him, that he may be a new convert to his religion. When Goodman Brown first encounters the traveler, he says,Faith kept me back a while? (200). He could have meant that his wife, Faith, kept him back or his newly found religious faith kept him back; this could be interpreted either way. Also, whenever the dark cloud formed over-head and the pink ribbon fluttered down and landed on a branch, Goodman Brown says,My Faith is gone!? (204). When he says his Faith is gone he may have thought his wife had been taken away from him.
