The dictionary defines an allegory as a "Story that through events reveals the true nature of people". Young Goodman Brown written by Nathaniel Hawthorne ultimately exhibits the underlying personalities of a small Puritan town, set in Salem Massachusetts, home of the original Salem witch trials. This town is centered on the church, and the clergy are the main holders of power in the community. The protagonist, Goodman Brown, is a quiet god-fearing character, who embarks on a journey of discovery that leaves him disillusioned and miserable. Brown learns that the entire town is motivated by evil, which Hawthorne uses many written devices to portray. Hawthorne incorporates symbolism, irony and metaphors into this story, which uncover the truth of this small community, and teaches the reader that nothing is as it seems, no matter where you live, and that those who live an entirely pure life die miserable and alone.
Hawthorne uses a variety of abstract and concrete symbols in this story, beginning with his wife, whose name is appropriately, Faith. This symbolizes Brown's innocent faith in church, his community and those in it. He is also innocent in the matters concerning the institution of marriage. He tells his strange acquaintance upon meeting him, that his "Faith kept him back awhile" (643) this signifies his reluctance to embark on this journey. His own name is also metaphoric, as it means good-man, variations of which were common names for females and males during this era. The third piece of symbolism is his wife's hair ribbons, which play a large role in the story. The ribbons are pink as opposed to white, which would have symbolized innocence, but being pink they symbolize the loss thereof. .
The fourth piece of symbolism is the staff which his new friend is carrying, "which bore the likeness of a great black snake" (653). This leads the reader to first assume that the strange man is in fact the Devil, present to begin his corruption of Goodman Brown.
