Color Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”

Introduction

Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Young Goodman Brown" is packed with symbols and deeper meanings. It dives into themes like faith, morality, and human nature. One big way Hawthorne does this is through color symbolism. Colors in the story help us understand the characters and events better and add to the dark, creepy vibe. They show Goodman Brown's inner struggles, the nature of the folks he meets, and the big ideas of good versus evil. In this essay, I'll look at how Hawthorne uses colors to show Goodman Brown's turmoil, the characters' true selves, and the story's overall message.

The Color Brown

Goodman Brown's name itself is full of meaning. The color brown is linked to the earth, being humble, and everyday life. It fits Goodman Brown's initial innocence and normalcy. At the start, Brown seems like any other God-fearing Puritan. His trip into the forest is like leaving his safe, known world for a place full of moral gray areas and temptations. As he goes deeper, the earthy meaning of his name turns ironic. It shows not just his grounded nature but also how easily he can be influenced by evil. Brown's change throughout the story highlights how human nature has two sides and how innocence can quickly turn to corruption.

The Color Pink

Pink is another important color in the story, especially with Faith's pink ribbons. Pink, a mix of red and white, usually stands for love, innocence, and purity. Faith's ribbons show her innocence and Brown's faith in people and religion. But as Brown's journey goes on, seeing the pink ribbons fall from the sky during the witches' meeting becomes a sign of his lost faith. The falling ribbons show Brown's shattered illusions about the goodness of his townspeople and his own morals. This is the story's high point, where pink goes from showing innocence to showing the loss of it.

The Color Black

The color black is all over the story and stands for the evil and sin hiding in Puritan society. The dark forest Brown goes into is very different from the neat, religious village he leaves. The forest, covered in darkness, symbolizes the unknown and hidden sins. The devil, who shows up as a man in black, adds to this idea of black meaning evil and corruption. The black forest and the devil's clothes create fear and uncertainty, mirroring Brown's internal fight with what he learns on his journey. The use of black throughout the story shows that sin is a part of human nature, just under the surface.

The Color Red

Red doesn't show up as much in the story, but it still has a lot of meaning. Red is often linked to passion, sin, and the devil. In "Young Goodman Brown," flashes of red, like the fire at the witches' meeting, show the presence of evil and Brown's intense spiritual struggle. Red reminds us of the devil's influence and the strong pull of sin. It shows how eager Brown's fellow townspeople are to embrace their darker sides. The use of red adds urgency and danger to the story, highlighting the high stakes of Brown's moral descent.

Conclusion

To wrap up, Nathaniel Hawthorne's use of color symbolism in "Young Goodman Brown" is key to exploring themes like faith, morality, and human nature's duality. Through brown, pink, black, and red, Hawthorne digs into Goodman Brown's psychological journey, his community's hidden sins, and the big fight between good and evil. The colors not only set the scene but also give us a deeper look at the characters and their motives. By using color symbolism, Hawthorne makes us think about innocence, sin, and the thin line between faith and doubt.

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